The NexPhone Does What Surface Duo Maybe Should Have..
NexDock, the company known for its lapdock accessories that transform smartphones into laptops, has announced its first smartphone and it’s a doozy. The NexPhone is a phone unlike anything currently available on the market and. This pocketable device aims to revive the dream of a Windows phone by offering a unique triple-boot experience. That’s right, this thing runs Android, Linux, and Windows 11, potentially fulfilling the "Continuum" vision that Microsoft once championed.
To make this transition as seamless as possible, the NexPhone even includes a 5-port USB-C hub in the box. This allows users to quickly connect peripherals like mice, keyboards, and external drives to create a desktop workstation anywhere. Most importantly though, you can connect an external display. Doing so allows users to run a full linux desktop or, quite shockingly, a full Windows 11 installation. If you prefer Android apps on your large screen, NexDock has their on Android desktop mode available as well.
The Linux desktop can be launched from within that Android desktop, but the Windows mode appears to require a reboot into that Operating System. When running in Windows mode on the phone itself, NexDock has created a new UI that looks reminiscent of the old Windows Phone Metro UI. I can’t imagine that running Windows apps on a 6.6-inch phone screen is a great experience, but that’s where plugging it into the big screen comes in. At that point, you’ve just got a PC.
Of course, you could just plug the NexPhone into a NexDock lapdock and have the world’s strangest Windows Laptop.
Mid-Range Muscle: The Specs
The NexPhone does not try to compete with flagship phones in terms of raw power. Instead, it uses a Qualcomm Dragonwing QCM6490 SoC, which is a capable mid-range chip designed for industrial and IoT applications. The rest of the hardware is quite decent for a mid-ranger:
Memory and Storage: 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Micro SD expansion is available too.
Display: A 6.58-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth navigation.
Camera: A 64MP Sony IMX787 main sensor paired with a 13MP ultrawide.
Durability: It meets MIL-STD-810H standards and features IP68 and IP69K protection against dust and water.
Battery: A 5000 mAh battery with support for 18W wired and wireless charging.
Price and Availability
The NexPhone is currently available for reservation with a $199 deposit, which goes toward the total retail price of $549. This price also includes a 5-port USB-C hub to facilitate connections to monitors and peripherals. NexDock expects to begin shipping the device in Q3 2026.