When I go on a work trip, I always experiment with various packing setups to optimize my travel essentials. I’ve tried trips with and without my DSLR camera, sometimes just a tablet, occasionally with a VR headset together with a mouse and keyboard, and on other occasions, just my phone. Each setup has its advantages depending on the type of trip, but what about when you need a bit of everything?
Android Central Labs
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Android Quick Share has revolutionized file transfer, making it quick and easy. This feature allows ultra-fast, one-tap transfer between Android devices, Windows devices, or both. I frequently transfer files between my Windows laptop and various Android phones, streamlining my work and making my life easier.
Sharing screens or transferring mouse and keyboard input between devices can be challenging, but some companies have developed ecosystems that seamlessly work together. People have traditionally favored Apple for this reason, but now, a few Android companies have caught up, offering effortless cross-device connectivity between phones, laptops, and tablets without the need for extra apps or paid services.
I will highlight what I believe are the top three interconnectivity solutions currently available on Android, each functioning differently and having a unique scope.
Hello Moto
Out of all the solutions available, Motorola offers the easiest device simplicity. Motorola Smart Connect just requires a Motorola phone or tablet, with the rest falling into place. It may involve more setup than the other ecosystems discussed here, but this setup allows you to connect your phone or tablet with any Windows-based laptop, creating a cohesive device experience.
Once you have the Motorola Smart Connect software installed on your computer, pairing it with your Motorola smartphone or Lenovo tablet is just a QR code scan away. Subsequently, all linked devices can share a clipboard and facilitate easy file transfer. You can even access your phone or tablet’s storage on your PC as if it were a USB drive.
Another amazing feature is that you can run individual phone apps on your PC, enabling you to multitask between a favorite game and work tasks without touching the phone. Motorola lets you control your phone or tablet using the same mouse and keyboard as your PC, making them feel like an additional monitor instead of separate devices with different operating systems. Additionally, you can use your phone’s camera as a webcam for meetings, which can be useful in various scenarios.
Uncle Sam(sung)
Samsung offers a wide range of electronics, from washing machines to smartphones, creating a seamless connection between all these devices. Samsung’s smart home devices can work with non-Samsung devices through the SmartThings app, but for the purpose of this article, the interconnectivity is focused on Samsung Galaxy products.
You can easily share your Galaxy S25 Ultra screen with a Samsung TV by tapping “share screen” in the notification shade. Transferring windows and apps between a Samsung tablet and phone is straightforward with multi-control enabled. And if you own a Samsung Galaxybook laptop, you can even share your Samsung GalaxyBook’s keyboard with your phone.
You can also transfer files between devices via familiar interfaces such as the share dialog on an Android device or File Explorer on Windows, as well as share clipboards between devices. Having the ability to copy a link on your phone and instantly paste it on your PC is incredibly convenient.
Samsung DeX has been around for quite some time, providing an easy way to use your phone like a laptop by connecting it to a monitor via a USB-C cable to project a PC-like interface. Although Samsung has not made significant updates to DeX lately, it still functions well for situations where improved multitasking is required without a laptop.
It’s been an Honor
Despite the wonderful interconnectivity options from Samsung, there is still some setup required to get everything to work cohesively. Honor’s Magic Ring, the oddly named interconnectivity solution, automatically recognizes and enables connections between any Honor devices within its vicinity that are signed into the same Honor account.
Magic Ring serves as a centralized connectivity suite displaying all nearby devices with available actions for each. The consistent user interface across all devices with Magic Ring support—including Honor tablets, phones, and laptops—ensures clarity on which devices support which functions.
For example, tapping the laptop icon allows you to select screen sharing or input sharing and access the corresponding device to execute the action. During my recent work trip, tapping screen share and then selecting the tablet icon provided me with an instant second monitor for work in my hotel room.
Similarly, tapping the icon for the Honor Magic 7 Pro smartphone or the Honor Pad V9 tablet offers additional options such as taking a photo and instantly sharing it to my laptop.
Magic Ring played a crucial role in my work during Hurricane Helene last Fall when I lacked home internet for a month. Instead of opting for an unlimited hotspot package from T-Mobile, Magic Ring enabled me to split-screen my Honor Magic V3 foldable on my tablet, allowing quick file transfers and web browsing on the larger screen.
Aside from excellent interconnectivity features, Honor devices are also more suitable for me due to my PWM sensitivity.