this post was submitted on 09 Apr 2025
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Linux Phones

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The Discussion on Linux-based Phones.


Benefits:

  • More freedom with with hardware.
  • Perfect operating-system competition.
  • Full utilization of specs.
  • Phone lifespan increases to 10+ years.
  • Less e-waste.

Linux Mobile Distros:

  • Postmarket OS
  • Ubuntu Touch
  • Mobian
  • Sailfish
  • Manjaro Arm
  • Pure OS
  • Plasma Mobile
  • LuneOS
  • FuriOS
  • Nemomobile
  • Tizen
  • WebOS

Linux Mobile Hardware:

  • Librem 5
  • PinePhone
  • Volla Phone

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A Linux phone with actually decent specs! Hopefully it actually materializes....

top 18 comments
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[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 days ago (2 children)

They say 2TB storage, but what they mean is 256 GB eMMC plus an MicroSD card reader.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

Yeah, that is a bummer for sure. I use my nextcloud server and Immich a ton for files and photos, but even so, on device storage is still necessary for a lot of things.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Which would suck, because MicroSD is slow AF. If it isn't M.2, it's not good for much more than archiving; or maybe on-demand cached swap, as supported by bcachefs.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

Android is so bad that I was going to say something like who cares, no one needs that amount of fast space on a phone. Phones could do so much more.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago

Looking forward to this, I've been wanting to escape android for a good amount of time now. I hope that this phone will also not cost an arm and a leg.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The mocked Librem5 already costs $800… I can't imagine the price of this one.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 days ago

The Librem5 is also like 6+ years old. Cost has gone down since

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

Imagine hooking this up to a monitor with a keyboard and a mouse. Probably explains the crazy specs.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago (2 children)

why such crazy specs? nobody really uses the processing power normal phones have already, and being on Linux should reduce the requirements.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 days ago (2 children)

It can be used as a desktop PC too apparently.

It sounds amazing tbh, but let's see if it ever leaves the concept phase...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

Fingers crossed, I have been sticking with samsung for its Dex desktop interface, but this could be a serious game changer!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

yeah but with the way phones are usually used 32 GB RAM is excessive and 2 TB storage is excessive. I'd assume if you are using your phone as a desktop it'll probably be for light stuff like google docs or youtube, so it's still overkill.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

From what I read it has a 256GB eMMC storage and SD card reader that supports 2TB SD cards.

The RAM.. yeah probably excessive. I wouldn't mind it but for most people it's overkill.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

didn't see that about the storage, but yeah the RAM is just extra cost for no extra utility.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Honestly the only crazy part of the specs is the 32G of RAM

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Yeah, that's beaucoups RAM. I packed my most recent micro desktop with 64GB of RAM and thought it was a bit overkill - but I just never wanted to see it swap, regardless what stupid Electron app or Firefox instance I ran.

32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage rivals my desktop. But, maybe that's the point: if the GPU of worth anything, we may finally see a universal device you could slot into a case containing a keyboard, battery, and monitor, conducted via USB4, and have a laptop. Or into a pad with a battery and touchscreen, and have a tablet. Or into a powered dock connected to a couple of monitors, and have your desktop.

Sounds fantastic. The issue is than memory and persistent storage don't come energy-free. They'll hit battery life just by existing.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I'm happy to see that the hardware is somewhat modern. That's really one of my biggest gripes with most Made For Linux products. I can understand a high price for what the hardware is, it's just a factor of economy of scale. Not as many people are going to buy these devices, there's R&D, tooling etc. So these MFL devices are going to just cost more.
That's no excuse to sell something with specs 10 or more years behind the curve. Especially with some offerings we've seen lately, rebadged products that have been on the market for a decade, with a Custom ROM that's Linux, but a price tag at or higher than an android flagship.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

Yes! "Saving the Microsoft Tax" never did result in any savings. But the sad state of old technology on linux machines, then sold at a premium, has always baffled me.

I'm looking forward to seeing the first live review video!