Nex Computer has been tinkering with ways to get more use out of smartphones for the better half of a decade. The company’s NexDock lineup allows compatible Android phones to power a laptop-style shell for added productivity on the go and its latest attempt is the NexPhone. This is an Android 16 smartphone that also boots Linux (Debian) and Windows 11 and can serve as your one and only computing device.
The key here is the custom NexOS, which includes Linux as an app inside its Android interface, which you can freely launch on the go. You also get the option to boot into the Arm-based version of Windows 11 and Nex Computer has designed a custom tile-based UI with progressive web apps, which will bring back some fond memories for Windows Phone users.
You can freely connect the NexPhone to a monitor via USB-C to get a real working desktop experience with your choice of Android Desktop Mode, Linux Debian or Windows 11.
Outside of the clever software, NexPhone is a midrange device equipped with Qualcomm’s QCM6490 chipset – the same SoC found inside the Fairphone 5. That’s paired with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, which is expandable via the microSD card slot.
Up front, you get a 6.58-inch IPS LCD with FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, which is protected by Gorilla Glass 3. NexPhone is IP69 rated against water and dust and features a 5,000 mAh battery with 18W wired charging and support for wireless charging. There’s a 64MP main cam with an IMX787 sensor on the back alongside a 13MP ultrawide (ISOCELL 3L6) and a 10.5 MP selfie cam using Samsung’s 3J1 sensor.
NexPhone will retail for $549, and you can reserve a unit with a $199 deposit. Actual shipments are expected in Q3 2026.
