This midrange Android phone also runs Windows and Linux | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAICESHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.This midrange Android phone also runs Windows and LinuxComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...TechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsThis midrange Android phone also runs Windows and LinuxWindows Phone is so back.Windows Phone is so back.by Allison JohnsonCloseAllison JohnsonPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Allison JohnsonJan 21, 2026, 4:00 PM UTCLinkShareGiftNex Computer runs both Android and this Windows Phone-esque mobile UI that they made in-house. Photo: Allison Johnson / The VergeAllison JohnsonCloseAllison JohnsonPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Allison Johnson is a senior reviewer with over a decade of experience writing about consumer tech. She has a special interest in mobile photography and telecom. Previously, she worked at DPReview.Nex Computer, a company that makes hardware designed to turn your phone into a laptop, is working on something new: the NexPhone. It’s a midrange phone that’s designed to double as your computer and comes with Android and Linux installed, both of which will offer desktop experiences when plugged into a monitor.But the NexPhone’s best trick is that it can dual-boot into Windows 11, essentially becoming a full Windows PC when hooked up to a display — and also offers a mobile UI that pays tribute to Windows Phone when it’s unplugged. It’s a delightfully geeky attempt to answer the age-old question: Why can’t your smartphone just be your whole dang computer?This isn’t Nex Computer’s first attempt to make a computer that’s not a computer. The company worked on a concept designed around Intel’s short-lived Compute Card. Currently, it sells the NexDock, a 14-inch laptop shell designed as a dock for phones that run a desktop environment over USB-C, which mainly means Samsung phones at the moment. But Android 16 is bringing that kind of support to more devices, including the NexPhone. Additionally, the NexPhone will offer Linux as an option, which is all the rage right now. It runs as an app on the phone, so you can just straight up use it on the tiny phone screen if you want, which is wild and probably not advisable.PreviousNext1/3Windows when you want it…Then there’s the Windows Phone of it all. You need to reboot and start up the phone in Windows mode to use it, and when you do, you’re greeted by a familiar interface. NexDock founder Emre Kosmaz tells me that they had to build a mobile UI using progressive web apps since Microsoft stopped supporting its Windows Subsystem for Android in March 2025.But mainly, the NexPhone is designed as a little machine to run Windows on a bigger screen when you want it, rather than a Windows Phone revival. Kosmaz demonstrated it connected to a monitor using DisplayLink, but says that once they finishing writing the driver the phone will run it over plain ‘ol USB-C.The NexPhone uses a Qualcomm QCM6490 chipset designed for IoT applications, which Kosmaz tells me they chose it because of its native support for Android, Linux, and Windows. The phone itself is rugged; meeting the MIL-STD-810H standard and rated both IP68 and IP69 for dust and water resistance. There’s a 5,000mAh battery, a 64-megapixel rear camera, and even wireless charging.So is this the phone that can finally replace your computer? We won’t know for a while — Nex Computer expects to ship the NexPhone in Q3 of 2026 for $549. The company is taking refundable $199 reservation deposits starting today.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Allison JohnsonCloseAllison JohnsonPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Allison JohnsonAndroidCloseAndroidPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AndroidGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsGoogleCloseGooglePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GoogleMicrosoftCloseMicrosoftPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All MicrosoftMobileCloseMobilePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All MobileNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechWindowsCloseWindowsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All WindowsMost PopularMost PopularSony’s TV business is being taken over by TCLHow much can a city take?What a Sony and TCL partnership means for the future of TVsHow BYD beat TeslaSamsung’s discounted microSD Express card more than doubles your Switch 2 storageThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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The NexPhone, a midrange Android phone developed by Nex Computer, represents an intriguing, albeit somewhat unconventional, attempt to bridge the gap between mobile devices and traditional computing. The device’s core functionality centers around its ability to run both Android and Windows, alongside Linux, offering a desktop-like experience when connected to a monitor. This capability is facilitated by a Qualcomm QCM6490 chipset, chosen for its native support of these operating systems, and the device's rugged design, meeting MIL-STD-810H standards and achieving IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance. Key features include a 5,000mAh battery, a 64-megapixel rear camera, and wireless charging, alongside a focus on durability.

Nex Computer is leveraging Android 16’s expanding compatibility to bring support to devices like the NexPhone. This includes offering Linux as a standard app, which, while functional on the small screen, is primarily intended for use on a connected display. The device's Windows functionality, however, is more deliberate – it needs to be rebooted to enter Windows mode. Nex Computer’s Emre Kosmaz explains this was necessary because Microsoft stopped supporting its Windows Subsystem for Android in March 2026. The UI resembles a Windows Phone aesthetic, reflecting the company’s design choices and leveraging progressive web apps. Currently, the Windows mode utilizes DisplayLink technology, though Kosmaz intends to transition to native USB-C support after driver completion.

The NexPhone isn’t attempting to be a revolutionary smartphone; instead, it focuses on providing a functional, albeit niche, desktop computing experience. The design philosophy reflects a desire to offer a truly portable computing solution. Nex Computer anticipates shipping the NexPhone in Q3 of 2026 for $549, with a refundable $199 reservation deposit available starting today. This highlights the company's confidence in the product and aims to establish early demand. The company's approach, particularly the embracing of elements reminiscent of Windows Phone, underscores a deliberate choice to cater to a specific segment of users who appreciate a retro aesthetic and a more direct control over their computing environment. The inclusion of features like wireless charging and a robust battery further enhances the device's utility and appeal.