Nex Computer, the brand that is popularly known to make Linux work on Android has launched its first all-in-one smartphone, the NexPhone. The pitch here is a single device that can run Android, Linux and Windows. It is the world's first fully functional and consumer-ready multi-boot smartphone.
NexPhone can switch between a smartphone and computer with ease
The key USP of the NexPhone is its NexOS. It brings multi-boot functionality to the smartphone. This essentially allows NexPhone to ship with Android 16. However, keep the Linux (Debian) terminal ready to load in the form of an application.
All a user will need to do is plug it into a monitor and launch Linux. By following the same principle, the smartphone can also load Windows 11. However, the smartphone will need to reboot everytime the Windows terminal is accessed.
Moreover, keeping versatility and portability in mind, NexPhone can also run Windows 11 and Linux within the smartphone itself. However, it is not the full-fledged terminal that a dedicated PC system can run. NexOS makes use of a custom mobile UI to achieve this.
That is where the pitch for the NexPhone ends, as it is basically a 2010 smartphone tweaked to offer a unique proposition in the current smartphone space. It packs an almost decade-old Qualcomm QCM6490 chipset with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage.
It gets a dated 6.58-inch 120 Hz IPS LCD display and there is also a 5,000mAh battery inside. It also brings 18W wired charging and wireless charging support. Aside from that, the phone brings a 64 MP main camera, a 13 MP ultra-wide lens and a 10.5 MP selfie shooter.
That said, the retail price of NexPhone is set at $549 (approximately Rs 50,500). It will be available in the USA starting Q3 2026. It definitely is targeting a niche audience and is not winning the best phone under Rs 60,000 title, if ever launched in India.
