Your phone is an entire computer
Modern smartphones are powerful enough to function as full desktop computers, yet major vendors—especially Apple—deliberately prevent them from being used that way. Commenters debate whether Apple should let iPhones run macOS or similar “lapdock” setups, weighing potential gains in flexibility and reduced e‑waste against business incentives to sell separate devices, user-security concerns, and the lackluster real‑world adoption of existing solutions like Samsung DeX. The broader theme is a clash between locked‑down, appliance‑like phones that “just work” and the desire for user freedom to repurpose hardware they own.
Why Apple Doesn’t Turn iPhones into Macs
- Many argue Apple avoids an “iPhone-as-Mac” or lapdock/macOS mode to protect hardware segmentation and App Store revenue, not because of technical limits.
- Others counter that Mac revenue is small vs iPhone, and a macOS-capable iPhone could increase iPhone and Mac sales by being a gateway into the Mac ecosystem.
- Some suggest thermals, UX, and design focus are bigger reasons: Apple prefers focused, polished device roles over “jack-of-all-trades” hybrids and may not want the complexity of a dual-UI macOS/iOS experience.
Demand, Economics, and Form Factor
- Skeptics say there’s little real-world demand: people already choose cheap laptops/iPads, and few use existing external-display + keyboard options on phones.
- Others reply that demand is artificially suppressed because vendors don’t ship good lapdocks, don’t market this use case, and current solutions are clunky.
- Several note the laptop form factor (hinged screen, integrated keyboard/trackpad) remains physically superior to juggling phone + peripherals.
Security, Lockdown, and User Freedom
- One camp sees strong lockdown (App Store, locked bootloaders, SIP, attestation) as essential: phones store banking, identity, keys, and are easily stolen; users want “unbreakable” appliances.
- The opposing camp sees profit- and control-driven gatekeeping, arguing owners should be able to unlock bootloaders, install alternative OSes, and repurpose devices.
- There is debate over whether “admin mode”/optional unlocking is viable: some fear scams, social engineering, and influencers pushing risky settings; others point to Android’s sideloading and unlockable devices as evidence it’s manageable.
Existing Phone-as-Computer Efforts
- Samsung DeX, Android desktop mode, Pixel’s Linux/terminal features, Librem 5, PinePhone, postmarketOS, and NexDock-style lapdocks are cited as partial realizations.
- Experiences are mixed: some find DeX and similar setups surprisingly usable for office work; others describe them as clunky, low-quality, or niche.
Reuse of Old Phones and E‑waste
- Multiple commenters lament drawers of capable old phones that can’t be turned into simple servers, NAS, dashboards, or Home Assistant panels due to locked bootloaders and OS support limits.
- Some succeed with Pixels, Nexus devices, or Linux phones, but note these are exceptions.
Broader Reflections on Computing Culture
- Several frame phones as “appliances” and PCs as “playgrounds,” and worry that phone-style lockdown will creep into all computing.
- Others stress generational differences: younger users are phone-native and often computer-illiterate, reinforcing the market for appliance-like devices.