Seeing Windows 11 on a Pixel sparked my dreams of a dual-boot phone

Surface Duo 2 Hero Source: Windows Key

A developer recently managed to become Windows 11 running as a virtual machine on a Pixel 6 that was on the Android thirteen developer preview. The feat was probable washed as a scrap of fun, but it sparked my involvement in the concept of Windows on a phone in 2022. I don't call up Microsoft will return to the days of Windows Phone, only a versatile device could provide a way to get Windows back onto mobile hardware.

Rather than Microsoft creating a new Windows Phone, my dream is to have a device that runs Android when in your hand and Windows when attached to a monitor. Remember Continuum, merely with full-blown Windows 11 on ARM when you're at your desk and Android when you're on the go.

Here's why I'd honey to run into such a dual-boot device, fifty-fifty though I don't think it volition always exist.

Windows isn't built for phones

Windows 11 Start Hero Surface Book Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

Some may ask, "why non just have a mobile device run Windows?" While I was a fan of Windows Phone and Windows 10 Mobile, the full desktop version of Windows is non congenital for small devices. The UI of Windows doesn't scale downwardly to smaller screens. Microsoft is working on more gestures for Windows 11, simply those are for tablets and 2-in-1s, not phones. All of this is fine, of course, every bit devices like the Surface Pro 8 are popular.

Microsoft would have to spend an enormous corporeality of time, money, and energy to brand full-blown Windows 11 work on mobile devices. Why would Microsoft go through that hassle for such a small group of people? Even when Microsoft invested in Windows Phone, the platform lagged backside iOS and Android in terms of popularity. I tin can't imagine a Windows 11 phone would be more popular than anything from the peak days of Lumia.

If Microsoft managed to brand Windows 11 feel natural on phones, the platform would still lack critical apps. Yes, Microsoft has worked hard to close the app gap, but many of those efforts were aimed at PCs, such every bit the Microsoft Store supporting unpackaged apps. Progressive Spider web Apps are more mature than they were when Windows 10 Mobile was killed off, but they don't close all of the holes.

Windows wouldn't work on a phone in its current state, just a mobile telephone could power Windows.

Phones at present accept specs that rival PCs

Samsung Galaxy S22 Regular Plus Source: Windows Fundamental

Some of the principal components within phones now rival or surpass those seen in Windows on ARM PCs. My wife has a Lenovo C630, which runs on a Snapdragon 850 processor and has 8GB of RAM. Even a newer device like the Surface Pro X has a flake that roughly lines up with the Snapdragon 865, at least on the CPU side of things.

For context, XDA's Geekbench 5 benchmarks evidence the Snapdragon viii Gen 1 with a single-cadre score of one,235 and a multi-cadre score of three,758. The Surface Pro Ten with an SQ2 processor got a single-core score of 798 and a multi-cadre score of 3,100 in our testing.

It may exist a while before a phone's hardware could continue upwards with the all-time Windows laptops, only I certainly recollect today's flagship phones could handle a casual Windows workflow at a desk.

Haven't we tried this before?

Widnows 10 Mobile Continuum Source: Windows Fundamental

The idea of a phone expanding to a desktop when docked isn't a new concept. Microsoft did it with Continuum, and Samsung still does it with DeX. One of the biggest drawbacks to the concept is that nigh people don't walk effectually with a loose keyboard, mouse, and monitor. This is a big reason why DeX makes more sense on a tablet like the Galaxy Tab S8 than information technology does on a telephone.

A flexible Android/Windows phone wouldn't fix the hardware requirements of docking a device. It would, yet, improve the resulting desktop provided for those that decide to use the feature. Microsoft has invested heavily in Windows on ARM over the years, and it's proficient enough for many everyday workflows.

A dream of the ultimate mobile machine

HP Elite x3 with Lapdock Source: Windows Central

I would love to come across a dual-boot phone that runs Android and Windows 11, only I doubt such a device will ever exist. Samsung's DeX is already niche and goes unused by many people with the latest flagship Galaxy phones. I imagine a dual-kick device would be even more than niche.

My dream device seems unlikely to exist made merely I think it would provide a unique characteristic set for those that cover it. I practice have a monitor sitting at my desk. I could easily fix up a dock to driblet a phone into. I'd similar to think I'm not the only one that would love an Android/Windows hybrid.

If a visitor steps up to create my dream device, the phone will deliver the perfect combination of mobile and desktop computing. I could have the refined Android experience in the palm of my hand and full-diddled Windows 11 at my desk, all from a single car.