NexPhone, the multi-OS smartphone, delayed until 2027

According to a recent update shared by Nex Computer CEO Emre Kosmaz, backers and customers will need to exercise additional patience as the engineering team works to resolve persistent hardware challenges. Specifically, the delays are being driven by complex issues relating to antenna placement and the manufacturing of the device’s physical casing. These intricate hardware adjustments are crucial for ensuring that the handset performs reliably under various network bands while maintaining a durable and ergonomic exterior.

Given that it has taken an astonishing 14 years for the NexPhone to transition from a conceptual piece of vaporware into a tangible, production-bound product, long-time followers of the project will likely view this latest shift from the third quarter of 2026 to the first quarter of 2027 as a relatively minor hurdle. The community that has tracked the evolution of the concept since its earliest days is well-accustomed to the realities of pioneering niche hardware that pushes the boundaries of traditional smartphone engineering.

While the hardware team focuses on smoothing out these final physical snags, development on the software front has continued at a steady pace. In a significant upgrade from earlier plans, the NexPhone may now ship running Android 17 out of the box. Furthermore, the development team is actively modifying Android’s native desktop mode to behave much more like a traditional operating system desktop environment. Convergence—the seamless transition of a mobile device into a fully functioning desktop workstation—remains the primary unique selling proposition and the central architectural goal of the handset.

For those who may not be entirely familiar with the device’s unique heritage, the NexPhone is positioned as a mid-range smartphone that distinguishes itself through a sophisticated multi-OS architecture. The handset is designed to run Android 16 natively, alongside Debian operating as an application layer, and Windows 11 on ARM. When the concept was first conceived all the way back in 2012, the original vision was to run Ubuntu as its primary Linux flavor, reflecting the shifting landscape of mobile Linux distributions over the intervening years.

Beneath its multi-OS exterior, the NexPhone features a robust hardware specification sheet built around a 6.5-inch display boasting a smooth 120 Hz refresh rate. Processing power is handled by an 8-core Kryo 670 CPU paired with an Adreno 643 GPU, supported by a generous 12 GB of RAM. For local storage, the device offers 256 GB of capacity, while photography duties are managed by a 64-megapixel Sony IMX787 main camera sensor, ensuring it holds its own against contemporary mid-range smartphone standards.

One of the defining hardware features that enables its convergence capabilities is a fully-featured USB Type-C port. This port allows users to drive a complete desktop experience simply by connecting the handset to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse. To ensure that users are ready to take advantage of this feature immediately upon unboxing, the manufacturer has thoughtfully included a multi-function USB Type-C hub directly in the retail package, bridging the gap between mobile portability and desktop productivity.

As the production timeline stretches toward 2027, economic realities have also impacted the pricing structure of the device. The initial pre-order price of $549 has recently risen to $599 for newcomers entering the pre-order pool, a change driven largely by fluctuations and increases in memory component costs. Naturally, customers who secured their pre-orders earlier under the original pricing structure will not be affected by this cost increase, safeguarding their initial investment as the project moves closer to final manufacturing and worldwide delivery.