Android 16 and the Return of Mobile/Desktop Convergence


At this year’s Google I/O, a lot of attention was (understandably) given to Gemini and the continued push into AI. But hidden among the major headlines was something that stood out to longtime open source and mobile Linux enthusiasts: Android 16 is getting a native terminal and full desktop mode.

While I’m not a daily Android user—outside of using a few budget Android tablets as digital e-readers—I found myself genuinely excited. A built-in terminal had already made a quiet appearance in earlier Android 16 betas, but now Google has officially confirmed it. And more significantly, Android will support a native desktop mode, reminiscent of what Samsung has done with DeX.

Echoes of Ubuntu Phone

If this sounds familiar, it should. Over a decade ago, Canonical tried to bring this exact idea to life with the Ubuntu Phone. The goal was simple: one device that adapts to your workflow, whether in your hand or docked at your desk.

I’ve written an excellent retrospective on Canonical’s original vision for the Ubuntu Phone project.

The YouTube channel Shane Craig, amongst many others, also covered the new features coming in Android 16 in a recent video walkthrough, including the new desktop mode.

Google Finally Catching Up

It’s kind of wild that it’s taken this long for a tech giant like Google to formally adopt what Canonical had already laid the foundation for. With Android 16, convergence isn’t just a hobbyist dream anymore - it’s finally going to be a shipping feature. When you pair it with the native terminal access, Android devices start to feel a lot more like general purpose Linux machines.

For Linux fans, mobile power users, and digital minimalists alike, this is an exciting shift.

Convergence may have once been too early when Canonical announced it in 2013, but in 2025, it finally feels right on time.