I have once fantasized about the idea that my phone could run Windows or Linux natively. I think everyone who has been tinkering with gadgets for a while has thought about it at some point. However, there are currently no serious commercial proposals beyond similar projects such as PinePhone or Librem, to give a few examples. Nex Computer, known for its NexDock concept that turns smartphones into laptops, wants to change that.
The company has just presented the NexPhone: a mid-range Android phone capable of also booting Windows 11 and Linux. Below these lines we tell you all the details.
What makes the NexPhone different. The focus of the NexPhone is not to be a mobile phone that runs desktop applications like Samsung DeX or the desktop function of Android 16. The thing goes further, as it allows three complete operating systems to boot: Android 16 as standard, Debian Linux (which runs as an app) and Windows 11 through dual-boot.
By connecting the device to an external monitor via USB-C, the NexPhone offers a complete desktop environment on any of these systems.
The Windows trick. The greatest technical curiosity of the NexPhone is its ability to run full Windows 11. To use it, you need to restart your phone in Windows mode, and when you do, you are greeted with an interface that pays homage to the defunct Windows Phone.
According to Emre Kosmaz, founder of Nex Computer, they had to build this mobile interface using progressive web applications, since Microsoft discontinued support for Android on Windows in March 2025. But the real usefulness is not to run Windows from the mobile screen, but to connect the device to a monitor to have a full PC experience.
An unconventional processor. The NexPhone features the Qualcomm QCM6490, a chip originally designed for IoT applications and enterprise devices. It is a variant of the Snapdragon 780G from the end of 2021, which places its power in the mid-range. Kosmaz explains that they chose this processor because it offers native support for Android, Linux and Windows, something they did not find in more powerful chips aimed at smartphones. Microsoft lists it as an officially compatible platform with Windows 11, and Qualcomm guarantees updates until 2036.
There are limitations. Running Windows 11 smoothly requires much more power than Android or Linux. Although the device has 12 GB of RAM, we will have to see how a 2021 mid-range processor can offer a fluid and agile Windows experience, beyond basic tasks such as checking email or browsing the internet. There is also the issue of the battery, since 5,000 mAh may not be enough for a complete desktop operating system running. However, we will have to wait to find out how the experience is.
The rest of the specifications. Beyond its peculiar multi-system capacity, the NexPhone offers a 6.58-inch LCD screen with Full HD+ resolution at 120 Hz, 64 MP main camera with Sony IMX787 sensor, wireless charging, and IP68 and IP69 certification for water and dust resistance. It has a design that resembles that type of more robust mobile phone, meeting the MIL-STD-810H military standard, with a polycarbonate finish and non-slip texture. The set weighs 256 grams and measures 13.1 mm thick, so it is not exactly compact or light.
Prices. Nex Computer has already opened the reservation period with a refundable deposit of $199. The final Price of the NexPhone will be $549, and the company hopes to begin shipping in the third quarter of 2026. If you have a mobile phone and a computer in one device, it is not a crazy price. It remains to be seen how it works.
Cover image | Nex
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