Qualcomm says my Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus’ Snapdragon 8 Elite CPU is faster than the Intel Core Ultra 288V chip. My smartphone also has 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of semiconductor storage. In short, it’s more powerful than most of my laptops. So why not use it as a laptop?
Why not, in fact, said Google, who finally introduced – finally – an application of native Linux terminal in his March 2025 Pixel Drop function.
Of course, Android is Linux. However, it is a Linux distribution first mobile with an interface adapted to smartphones which is little like the traditional interface of Shell Linux, not to mention the Linux graphic user interfaces and their programs. It has changed now.
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Today, Linux is only available on the latest pixel devices running Android 15. When Android 16 arrives later this year, it is expected that all sufficiently robust Android phones can execute Linux. In addition to a Linux terminal, beta tests have already shown that you should be able to Run the Linux office programs from your phone – Games like Doom, for example.
The Linux terminal takes place on a Debian Linux virtual machine. This allows you to access a Shell interface directly on your Android device. And that simply scratches the surface of the Linux terminal from Google. This is actually a DIY application that allows you to download, configure and execute Debian. Under the terminal executes the Android virtualization framework (AVF). These are the APIs that allow Android devices to execute other operating systems.
To try the Linux Terminal application, you must activate the developer mode by sailing towards the settings> About the phone and by pressing the construction number seven times. I guess Google wants to make sure you want to do this. Once the developer mode has been activated, the application can be activated via parameters> System> Development options> Linux development environment.
The initial configuration can take a while because it must download Debian. It is generally a download of 500 MB. Once in place, it allows you to adjust the discs allocation, to define port commands for network communication and to recover the storage partition of the virtual machine. However, there is currently lack of support for graphic user interface applications (GUI). For this, we will have to wait until Android 16.
According to Android Mishaal Rahman specialist, “Google wants to transform Android into an appropriate office operating systemAnd to do this, he must make it better with traditional PC input methods and display options. Therefore, Google is now testing new external screens management tools in Android 16 that bring Android closer to other desktop bones. “”
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Jason Perlow of ZDNET predicted that Google would merge Android and Chrome OS to create a new hybrid / Light hybrid office operating system. I’m not sure Google does this because I see Chrome OS continue to have its own place. But marry the smartphone and the office – of course, that’s precisely what I think Google does.
Some of us were waiting for this type of smartphone / office convergence for a very, a very long time. Previous efforts included the 2007 Palm Foleo, 2009 Redfly Mobile CompanionAnd the Motorola Atrix 2011. My favorite was the canonical smartphone Ubuntu Linux 2012. Alas, it should not be.
Later, Samsung would give him the former college test with Samsung Dex. This project is still alive, but you cannot call it well. As technology with advantages has recently said it, “Dear Samsung – Please save Samsung Dex!”
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Mistes and everything, the idea has always been convincing. Now it seems that it is finally on the way. Certainly, today’s version is the one that Linux fans and developers will love. For the future, however, by allowing Joe and Jane users to use Gui Linux applications, I can easily see people replace their laptops with large Android phones and tablets.
Please note, there will not be many – just as there are not many people who use iPads to replace their laptops. However, some people will do so. When you leave your laptop in Uber and you have to work, it will be really practical to have a full Linux desk in your pocket.
