According to the latest report, Linux’s DisplayPort Alternate Mode driver (which on compatible devices allows for display output over USB-C) has been enabled by default in android14-5.15 & android14-6.1 GKI branches.
It may be copied, but I’m hoping Google finally releases a Pixel with display output! Current wired and wireless display output options on Pixels are very limited.
tl;dr:
- Wired: Requires DisplayLink adapter. Expensive. Laggy. Needs 3P app.
- Wireless: Google Cast. Very laggy.
- With the general large screen enhancements and features like an improved desktop mode, it would be great if you could hook up a Pixel to a monitor/TV and get some work done.
Pixel 8 will likely launch with Android 14 on top of either android14-5.15 or android14-6.1 (Pixel doesn’t do GRF), but there’s no guarantee the USB hardware will be set up to allow for DP Alt Mode. I think right now the pins they could use for that are instead set up for UART.
Having the DisplayPort Alt. Mode driver enabled in GKI has benefits for OEMs too as many actually ship products that use this feature (Samsung most notably for wired DeX), so there’s no proof that this inclusion is aimed at Pixel.
Somewhat related, but USB Gadget HAL 2.0 in Android 14 adds support for reporting whether a connected USB-C cable supports DP Alt Mode.