I want a Linux phone but the only ones I know are old tech and not for primetime yet. Any suggestions?
this post was submitted on 27 Feb 2024
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Linux Phones
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Community about running GNU/Linux on phones. Projects like Ubuntu Touch, Plasma Mobile, PostmarketOS, Mobian etc. Either on former Android phones or hardware like the PinePhone.
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@800XL I can suggest Pixel 3a/3a XL, it works very well with Ubuntu Touch. Unfortunately, there is not so much apps yet for Ubuntu Touch just because you can't simply install any app like on regular Linux distro - it either should be listed on OpenStore, or at Ubuntu's 20.04 APT repos (in this case, it's possible to install them via Libertine). Snaps/flatpaks is not supported yet.
Ubuntu Touch itself is in a pretty good shape now. But the tradeoff is a lack of apps
can anyone recommend a linux phone that's not old tech
Suggests 6 year old phone
@dadarobot actually, Pixel 3a was announced at Google I/O at May 2019, so it's even less than 5 years old (if we count it right after announce) so you're lying right now.
P.S. do you have better ideas? Pixel 3a has 100% compatibility rate at UBports site and I personally use it as my secondary phone. Don't like my recommendation? Fine, recommend something else. Probably something that you have been used for some time
The Pixel 3a is a great phone. Last time I checked years ago there was no way to get Linux onto one with a locked bootloader tho. Is that still the case?
I should have been more specific. When I said old tech I meant phones or SoC that were ~10 y old.
I got the bootloader unlocked pretty easily.
Sweet! Have any guides you can pass my way?
@800XL I think guides even aren't needed) Before flashing Pixel 3a with UT, you will need to flash it to Android 9. The easiest way is doing it via Google's web-based flasher, you don't even need to download firmware to your PC. This flasher will download selected firmware automatically and will unlock bootloader also automatically.. or at least semi-automatically, you will still need to follow some steps that is displayed on your PC's screen (not phone' screen!).
Check UT site for firmware code
What if the bootloader is encrypted? Am I out of luck?
@800XL I'm afraid, yes. You can try but there is no guarantees that it is possible at all. I have checked it across some forums and looks like it's pretty uncommon situation when Pixels are locked. Anyway, Pixel 3a is pretty cheap today (I've bought one in less than $100 with ideal condition) so if you have the version with encrypted bootloader, you can try to sell your current model and buy a new one without encrypted bootloader (probably it may cost a little more if you search specifically 🤷♂️)
I might just do that. Thanks for the info!
It's an important discussion to have. Gripping up the existing ecosystems and deciding on the principles and directions to take linux mobile forward with is a conversation that needs to happen.
I wonder if there would be a way to front load say ten bucks to a global store that then disperses funds monthly. So a user could do one "big" transfer then pay up to that for apps. Transaction cost would be more reasonable and then that org pays out to the devs via bank account linking.
This sounds a lot like the Flattr model - a service that had its moment in 2010/2011, but ultimately failed: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flattr
Payments are a challenge, with processing fees and taxes in an international context, small sums don't work out well - there's a reason why services like Liberapay push you to do bigger amounts at one time instead of small amounts at multiple points in time.
Ya know, the biggest thing stopping me from a Linux phone right now is the fact I use my phone for games that backup my save data using gøøg|e. As much as I hate it, I don't know if there are any sandbox apps that would allow me to play my mobile games like Project Sekai (I don't know whether it uses gøøg|e to back up my save or not, but I needed an example since I know most other games I play use different methods).
This may seem odd, but from a person that has a two-digit amount of phones: You know that it's possible two own more than one phone at a time, e.g., a Linux Phone and a Game Phone? ;-)
You can copy the app data with adb to back up locally stored saves to your computer
Some day I'll have to get around to learning how to do that. Though, I'd have to look and see what games have locally stored saves. The only games I know have a locally stored save are the ones I use on JoiPlay. And PvZ Reflourished
As soon as there is a full feature native signal App i would switch to Linux phone. axolotl or Android emulation didnt work for me :/
Hosting a Matrix server, with bridge to Signal would work. This could even work locally.
@smileyhead @John calls don't work through bridges - as long as you only want chats bridge works nicely
Did you try Flare yet?
I thought its not a standalone signal App is it?
Not yet. You can link it to a phone or register with signal-cli and link it to that.