In 2026, a year of increasingly homogenized smartphones, a niche manufacturer is finally willing to unveil something "unusual." Nex Computer recently announced that it will launch a mid-range smartphone called NexPhone in the third quarter of this year. The selling point of this product is not its superior camera or large screen, but rather its support for switching between three operating systems: Android, Linux, and Windows 11. Furthermore, it utilizes Qualcomm's Dragonwing processor, designed for industrial IoT applications.
Instead of using a Snapdragon processor, they opted for an industrial-grade, long-life chip.
The most unique feature of the NexPhone is that it does not use the Snapdragon series processors that are familiar to most consumers, but instead uses the Qualcomm Dragonwing QCM6490 computing platform.
This chip is typically used in Internet of Things (IoT) devices such as rugged tablets, POS machines, or vehicle monitoring systems. The reason NexPhone chose it is because it has an extremely long lifecycle support (officially supported until 2036). Compared to consumer-grade chips, it has relatively fewer design restrictions, which is more conducive to the development of multiple systems and low-level calls. It also has full 5G, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity.
A tribute to Windows Phone? Seamless switching between three systems
On the software side, the NexPhone runs a customized version of NexOS. According to the official description, Linux is integrated into the Android system as an application, so users can switch between Android and Linux environments without restarting the device.
Windows 11 is implemented through the Windows on Arm architecture, and Nex Computer even designed a special interface for the NexPhone that pays homage to the original Windows Phone Live Tiles.
In addition, this phone also supports outputting the screen via USB-C, allowing connection to an external screen, mouse, and keyboard to turn the NexPhone into a "PC," or to become a "laptop" with the separately released NexDock accessory (but through a laptop-like accessory and connected via a wired connection).
Mid-range specifications, priced at $549
The hardware specifications are relatively standard, featuring a 6.58-inch IPS screen with Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The body also meets MIL-STD-810H US military standard protection certification, corresponding to IP68 and IP69K protection specifications. It also has a 5000mAh battery, but the charging speed is only 18W. The camera uses a 5000-megapixel wide-angle lens with a Sony IMX787 sensor, along with an ultra-wide-angle lens and a front-facing camera.
The NexPhone is currently available for pre-order on the Nex Computer website. A pre-order can be completed for $199, and a free 5-port USB-C hub accessory is also included. It is expected to officially ship in the third quarter of this year, with a suggested retail price of $549 (approximately NT$1.8).
Analysis of viewpoints
The emergence of the NexPhone inevitably evokes memories of the geeky era of the HTC HD2, where "everything could be flashed." For developers who enjoy tinkering or Linux enthusiasts, this is definitely a fun toy.
However, from the perspective of the mass consumer market, this product faces two major concerns: First, the licensing issue. Is running Windows 11 on an Android phone officially licensed by Microsoft, or is it a "trial version" operating in a gray area? And does its Android operating system have Google GMS certification? If it's only developed based on AOSP, its practicality may be significantly reduced.
The second factor is performance and maintenance. While the Dragonwing QCM6490 computing platform has a long lifespan, its performance is only roughly equivalent to a mid-to-high-end mobile phone chip from a few years ago, which may struggle to power Windows 11 for complex tasks. Furthermore, given that Nex Computer is a small company, whether it has the capacity to maintain and update three operating systems long-term is a risk that consumers must consider before placing an order.
In summary, this is a nostalgic creation for hardcore geeks; general users are advised to just admire it from afar.
In fact, Nex Computer had already proposed the concept of NexPhone 13 years ago. At that time, they envisioned turning the mobile phone into a computing hub and transforming it into a desktop, laptop, or tablet device through wired connections. They even later launched the adapter accessory Nextdock. However, similar design features later appeared on Google Android devices, which may have prompted Nex Computer to rethink its product design.
