How to use a smartphone as a PC

Smartphone technology has begun to catch up with the power of modern-day PCs, and in many cases, they can be used as a substitute given the right accessories and set up, according to The Wall Street Journal. This ‘one device to rule them all’ idea isn’t new but some of the first examples of companies integrating smartphones with desktop functionality, such as Motorola’s Lapdock in 2011, suffered from the hardware’s lack of power and software flexibility.

Flash forward to 2018, however, and the latest iPhones come equipped with processors that rival their MacBook counterparts, and many popular applications have been ported over to the mobile operating systems.

Using a smartphone as a desktop computer at home or in the office will require purchasing an external keyboard and, depending on the circumstances, maybe a larger screen or TV as well. Many relatively inexpensive options exist today, and Apple has Logitech’s Keys-To-Go bundled with an iPhone stand for $70 in their store. Using a television will require either an HDMI-to-lightning or HDMI-to-USB cable for iPhone and Android users, respectively, to connect directly for a mirrored image of the phone. For wireless viewing, Apple TV or a Chromecast is available with a bit more setup required to get started.

Once connected to a bigger screen and keyboard, a smartphone won’t be drastically different from a home PC for basic computing tasks. Productivity applications like Word and Excel will work natively, albeit with slightly less robust options for power users. Taking notes, checking in on social media, and responding to email can all be easily handled as well.

In the future, an option for using a mouse will be highly beneficial, and hardware builders will likely continue to develop more integrated and seamless solutions for using the phones.