The hack relies on an exploit that tricks the iPhone’s operating system into thinking it’s running on an iPad. This unlocks small changes like a landscape home screen, an iPad-style app switcher, and more Dock items. But it also offers transformative changes like running desktop-grade apps that aren’t available for the iPhone, full windowed multitasking, and optimal external display support. Apple is sweating everything without silicon.
deskblocked
The exploit has already been patched in the iOS 26.2 beta, and the Redditor accused Apple of locking out iPhone users and artificially limiting older devices to push upgrades. But are things really that simple?
It’s not that the “phone as PC” dream is new. Android has been pursuing this since the introduction of DeX in 2017. Hardly anyone cares about it. So why should Apple do this? Perhaps this concept is a typical silly fantasy. And it’s a long-standing argument that if you want to do “proper” work, you need a “proper” computer. If even iPad cannot replace computer then how can iPhone replace it?
Except, as WIRED demonstrated, an iPad can do Replace computers for a lot of people—you just need the right accessories. So it follows that the same is true for iPhones running the exact same software. But where will any momentum for this future come from?
Android 16 is technically ready for another crack at desktop mode, with a new system that’s built on DeX. But even now, having finally escaped the beta, it is hidden in the developer settings. This may be due to the dire state of large-screen Android apps, or the desktop experience itself may feel, politely, “rocky.”
Paradoxically, Apple appears to be ahead of the curve despite never making any announcements about this. It already has a deep ecosystem of desktop-grade iPad apps. And iPad features running on iPhone already look better. Sure, some interface quirks remain, and you may need to enter your fingers at one point to hit window controls. But the performance is fast, fluid and snappy. So if the experience is so good, why is Apple so determined to hide it?
Benefits by Design
One argument is practical. Apple likes each device to be its own thing, optimized for a specific form factor. It’s keen to make the transition between platforms smarter rather than having one tool to rule them all. The phone lacks a large screen and a physical keyboard. Plugging those things in on the train isn’t as elegant as opening a MacBook or using an iPad connected to the Magic Keyboard. However, with imagination, you can see the outlines of a new ecosystem of profitable accessories for a more capable iPhone.
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