The return of Windows Phone: NexPhone with Android, Linux, and Windows 11

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2026 already brings some potential upheavals in the smartphone market. Not only is a European alternative to the duopoly of the heavyweights Android and iOS set to launch with the Jolla Phone, but Windows is also returning to smartphones.

At the Build developer conference in 2015, Microsoft introduced its mobile desktop environment Continuum for Windows 10 Mobile. The idea behind it: the smartphone functions as a desktop PC at the same time. The start-up Nex Computer from California developed the NexDock to match this at the time. A laptop without a “core,” consisting only of a screen, keyboard, and mouse, as well as a battery. The smartphone serves as the control center. The sixth generation of the dock is now available. It can be used with the various Android desktop variants of smartphones or devices like a Raspberry Pi.

Mid-range performance at a mid-range price

With the NexPhone, the company is now taking a step further. Unlike the original concept, it not only integrates Android and Linux into a smartphone but also Windows 11. The device's chipset is a Dragonwing QCM6490. This is based on the Snapdragon 778 G from 2021. However, this is not a dedicated smartphone processor but an IoT platform. As a result, this SoC will be supported until 2036. The Fairphone 5, introduced in 2023, also uses this chip.

The remaining specifications of the NexPhone also come from the mid-range. According to founder Emre Kosmaz, this is due to the company's limited financial resources. The device's processor is complemented by 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, the latter of which can be expanded by 512 GB via a MicroSD card. It is currently unclear whether this will block a slot for the second SIM card. The smartphone has a 6.58-inch screen with a resolution of 1080 x 2403 pixels.

On the back, there is a 64 MP wide-angle camera and a 13 MP ultra-wide-angle camera. Selfies can be taken with 10 MP. The full technical details can be found in the announcement. The device can be pre-ordered for $199. Upon delivery, which is scheduled for the third quarter of 2026, an additional $350 plus shipping and taxes will be due. It is currently unknown whether the device price of $549 will change after the pre-order period ends.

Android, Linux, and Windows 11

The special feature of the NexPhone is, however, that the user can utilize three operating systems. The company uses a de-Googled Android 16 named “NexOS” as its base. Linux, specifically the distribution Debian, can be launched as an app from there. For this, the manufacturer relies on the Lindroid project, which enables the execution of Linux systems on Android. Since it is an application, the Linux environment has full access to the Android file system. When the user connects the smartphone to an external monitor via USB-C, they can use both the native desktop mode of Android and Linux.

However, the ability to use Windows 11 on the smartphone is unique. By restarting the device, the user switches between the systems. To enable this on the smartphone, Nex Computer has developed its own interface. Its appearance and usage will be very familiar to Windows Phone users. It is identical to the Windows Phone interface. It is currently questionable to what extent applications can be used on the smartphone. Only a few of them are likely to be designed for use on small screens.

If the user connects the NexPhone to an external monitor via cable, the full Windows desktop is available. However, unlike in the Linux environment, the user cannot access the Android data. Windows runs in a separate partition. In initial test videos from CES 2026, some indications suggest that the chip's performance might be sufficient for simple tasks. However, more demanding tasks like video editing are unlikely to be possible. The manufacturer also supplies a USB hub that allows the battery to be charged simultaneously. The battery has a capacity of 5000 mAh.

Exciting concept with some question marks

While the NexPhone is an ambitious and exciting project, some questions remain open. The big unknown is how performant Windows 11 will run on the device. It is also currently unclear how seamlessly other components, such as the camera, can be used outside of Android. Whether the manufacturer will ultimately provide new Android updates for the full lifespan of the chip is also uncertain.

After all, the founder's vision is coming true after 14 years. With the NexPhone, a smartphone is launching that is also a desktop computer and, thanks to Windows 11 and Linux, offers an alternative to Android's desktop environment. Who knows, perhaps the smartphone will also attract interest from Microsoft. After all, Satya Nadella called the exit from Windows Phone a difficult decision in an interview.

(olb)