Every few years someone claims they’ve cracked the “phone that becomes your PC.” Most fade into vaporware. This time, however, the prototype is sitting on a desk, running Android, Ubuntu, and even a custom Windows 11 Mobile-like interface — all on the same device. The NexPhone is real, it’s shipping internationally and early hands-on videos are already circulating online.
At first glance, the device doesn’t win any design awards. It looks like a rugged Android phone from 2018, complete with a waterdrop notch and an oversized chin. But its purpose isn’t aesthetics. The NexPhone is built entirely around functionality: quick OS switching, universal port compatibility, and the ability to replace your laptop if you want it to. Android handles the day-to-day tasks, Ubuntu Touch provides a Linux-first environment, and a modified build of Windows 11 brings back a Lumia-style tile interface optimized for touch — surprisingly close to Windows Phone 8.1 in spirit.
The hardware is far more modern than the exterior suggests. Inside you get a Snapdragon-class industrial chipset (Qualcomm QCM6490), paired with 12GB of RAM, 256GB of UFS storage, and a microSD slot supporting up to 512GB. The 6.58-inch LCD runs at 1080×2403 with a variable 60–120Hz refresh rate, protected by Gorilla Glass 3. The camera system is unexpectedly capable too: a 64MP Sony IMX787 main shooter, a 13MP ultrawide, and a 10MP selfie sensor, with 4K 30fps recording and slow-motion modes up to 240fps. If you expected compromises, they aren’t here.
What truly defines the NexPhone, however, is I/O. USB-C 3.1 support means you can output video, connect peripherals, and drive a full external monitor without hacks or dongle gymnastics. Plug it into the bundled USB-C/HDMI hub and the phone instantly transforms into a desktop. Windows 11 boots into a full PC view on the monitor, Ubuntu offers a standard desktop session, and Android extends into a DeX-like workspace. In practice, the NexPhone becomes a workstation small enough to fit in your pocket — and rugged enough to survive it. MIL-STD-810H certification, IP68/IP69K water resistance, and a 5000mAh battery with wireless charging round out the package.
International press has already tested the device, posting demos showing the triple-OS workflow, gaming benchmarks on Android, and desktop scenarios on Windows 11. The system isn’t perfect — heavy coding projects and long video renders still push the chipset beyond its thermal comfort zone, and some desktop-grade apps remain better suited to traditional hardware. But for cloud-centric work, communication, writing, light editing, and travel-friendly productivity, the NexPhone covers more ground than expected.
The idea behind the device is not new, but this may be the closest anyone has come to making it practical. Nex Computer’s founder Emre Kosmaz points to a decade of progress: better performance-per-watt, widespread USB-C standards, cloud-based workflows, and the company’s own experience building NexDock laptop shells. “One device, one set of apps and files — no syncing dance,” Kosmaz says. That continuity is the NexPhone’s main pitch: your phone is your computer.
The NexPhone is priced at 549 USD with a 199 USD reservation fee on nexphone.com. Shipping is expected later this year, and yes — Romania is on the delivery list.
via nexphone