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On the road: How two designers got rid of their hardware baggage | Figma Blog (opens in new tab)

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A simple Samsung-based setup can replace a laptop for user research, design collaboration, and even editing Figma files while traveling. By combining a Samsung phone or tablet with Chrome, a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and either a DeX dock or Chromecast, designers can work from almost any monitor or TV. The approach reduces equipment, cost, and barriers to entering the design profession.

A Lightweight Mobile Figma Setup

  • Recommended hardware includes:
    • Samsung Galaxy S8/S9 models or a Samsung Tab 2
    • A DeX dock, USB-C-to-HDMI converter, or Chromecast
    • Bluetooth keyboard and mouse
  • Designers can open Figma in Chrome on a mobile device and broadcast it to a larger display.
  • Prototype links can be shared with users or clients, who open them on their own computers or tablets.

Remote User Research Without a Laptop

  • Josh Goodwin previously carried multiple laptops and tablets loaded with Sketch or Adobe software for medical user testing.
  • With Figma, he can connect his phone to an available hospital monitor and let doctors interact with prototypes in their own browsers.
  • Feedback can be incorporated immediately during testing, allowing development teams to move faster.

Lowering the Cost of Design Work

  • The setup can provide a practical alternative for students, designers in emerging markets, or anyone on a limited budget.
  • A smartphone and inexpensive television may be enough to design and collaborate without a high-end laptop.
  • Tyrale Bloomfield uses a Samsung tablet alone for creative-direction work, sometimes commenting with his fingers instead of using a mouse.

Why Hardware Compatibility Matters

  • Samsung devices performed best in the authors’ testing because they adjust DPI when projecting to a larger screen, providing an appropriate amount of workspace.
  • The device, browser, and input hardware must correctly distinguish mouse clicks from finger touches.
  • Some systems interpret all input as touch, preventing essential actions such as resizing objects, using bounding boxes, or clicking and dragging.
  • The designers tested many phones and roughly 30 browsers before finding a reliable combination.

The article’s practical recommendation is to prioritize a compatible Android device, browser, and pointing device rather than assuming any mobile setup will work. With the right combination, a browser and Internet connection can support much of a designer’s full workflow while eliminating substantial hardware baggage.