submitted by froggy to Linux10 monthsJun 30, 2023 12:59:35 ago (+5/-0) (Linux)
Anyone actively using a Linux OS phone as a daily driver? If you currently use one, how is it with normal daily activities? Web Browser? Music players? Map/GPS? From what I've read, web sites have said it's not ready for general useage, but I'm curious to know just how behind it is. Especially given that big OS's like Manjaro offer images that can be used.
I don't have any hands-on experience with it (yet), but the PinePhone Pro is probably the best option currently for a functional daily driver Linux phone.
It's not quite the full flagship phone experience, but it's getting close to it. And it comes with a lot of privacy features like physical switches for things like mic, camera, etc. Unlike the Librem 5, which turned out to be overpriced almost-vaporware, it's also reasonably priced and actually gets delivered from the looks of it.
Have a look around for videos / reviews from people who have one.
The other option would be flashing an android phone with a custom rom. But, from when I looked into doing that (which was a while back, so may be outdated), it seemed like you were severely limited in which phones were supported, many had issues, you risked bricking the phone, etc. The PinePhone comes with Manjaro Plasma out of the box.
Edit: Reading up on it a bit, it seems many people report the Pro version goes through the battery pretty fast and gets quite warm due to the processor they used. The older non-Pro PinePhone didn't have that problem, but is very slow. So still not quite ready for regular use, unless you're willing to put up with those limitations. Maybe in a couple of years.
DO NOT GIVE MONEY TO PINEPHONE! Do some research first and then make your decision. They've made people wait years and then denied them refunds years later when they were asked. They suck and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
I... Umm... While I do value some anonymity, I'm very well known in the Linux community.
Sadly, a Linux-based phone is still something you're only going to put up with if you're a zealot and willing to give up on a whole lot of things.
My daily is a Oneplus One running Ubuntu Touch. 3 years at least. I'm pretty happy with it but I'm no power user. Camera, phone, text, browser, etc are all good. Pretty mature but still has some quirks. Like, slow browsing, etc. The big one(haven't checked lately): the text messaging app has never been able to send or receive attachments, incl images. Community maintained and updated, but not very actively. All in all, it's cheap and it works--if you can still find the hardware. Choices are Oneplus One, Nexus 5, and Fairphone 2. https://phone.docs.ubuntu.com/en/devices/devices
Also bought the first version Pinephone a coupla years ago and found it unusable. Which, to be fair, was how it was offered: a community release for devs only. That isn't me, but I wanted to see for myself. Maybe I'll try a software update and give it another chance.
Indeed, so why bother trying to use Linux on a phone? All the apps are built for Android. And there's F-Droid if you want open source apps, and several options for de-Googled Android versions.
[ - ] froggy [op] 1 point 10 monthsJun 30, 2023 15:06:47 ago (+1/-0)
Because I'd like to use something that Google does not have it's hand in at all. Given the changes at YouTube and the rumors that they're going to begin banning accounts that ad block their platform, I would be willing to be that it's only a matter of time before they use someone's Google account against them. Similar to the situation with Amazon where a man's entire house was locked out because someone said Nigger. Even if I'm paranoid, I don't want to give them the CHANCE to do it.
I get that, but I think the de-Googled operating systems is something like a 99.9% safeguard. There's not going to be any Google account on that phone unless you go out of your way to create one.
Google has their in the Linux kernel, too. They also maintain Chromium, which you can also find on Linux. How are they ever going to get your Google account if you never login to Google on a de-Googled Android?
[ + ] Kozel
[ - ] Kozel 1 point 9 monthsJul 22, 2023 19:55:45 ago (+1/-0)
I use GrapheneOS, btw.
[ + ] GloryBeckons
[ - ] GloryBeckons 2 points 10 monthsJun 30, 2023 15:52:03 ago (+2/-0)*
It's not quite the full flagship phone experience, but it's getting close to it. And it comes with a lot of privacy features like physical switches for things like mic, camera, etc. Unlike the Librem 5, which turned out to be overpriced almost-vaporware, it's also reasonably priced and actually gets delivered from the looks of it.
Have a look around for videos / reviews from people who have one.
The other option would be flashing an android phone with a custom rom. But, from when I looked into doing that (which was a while back, so may be outdated), it seemed like you were severely limited in which phones were supported, many had issues, you risked bricking the phone, etc. The PinePhone comes with Manjaro Plasma out of the box.
Edit: Reading up on it a bit, it seems many people report the Pro version goes through the battery pretty fast and gets quite warm due to the processor they used. The older non-Pro PinePhone didn't have that problem, but is very slow. So still not quite ready for regular use, unless you're willing to put up with those limitations. Maybe in a couple of years.
Edit2: You may find these interesting--
- https://inv.makerlab.tech/watch?v=wOmRMg546UY
- https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Devices
- https://postmarketos.org/
[ + ] iocane
[ - ] iocane 0 points 9 monthsJul 22, 2023 23:12:05 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] TheRealBuddha
[ - ] TheRealBuddha 0 points 8 monthsSep 1, 2023 20:32:04 ago (+0/-0)
I... Umm... While I do value some anonymity, I'm very well known in the Linux community.
Sadly, a Linux-based phone is still something you're only going to put up with if you're a zealot and willing to give up on a whole lot of things.
[ + ] wolfe
[ - ] wolfe 1 point 10 monthsJun 30, 2023 19:26:36 ago (+1/-0)
My daily is a Oneplus One running Ubuntu Touch. 3 years at least. I'm pretty happy with it but I'm no power user.
Camera, phone, text, browser, etc are all good. Pretty mature but still has some quirks. Like, slow browsing, etc. The big one(haven't checked lately): the text messaging app has never been able to send or receive attachments, incl images.
Community maintained and updated, but not very actively.
All in all, it's cheap and it works--if you can still find the hardware. Choices are Oneplus One, Nexus 5, and Fairphone 2. https://phone.docs.ubuntu.com/en/devices/devices
Also bought the first version Pinephone a coupla years ago and found it unusable. Which, to be fair, was how it was offered: a community release for devs only. That isn't me, but I wanted to see for myself.
Maybe I'll try a software update and give it another chance.
[ + ] RepublicanNerd
[ - ] RepublicanNerd 1 point 10 monthsJun 30, 2023 17:45:53 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] germ22
[ - ] germ22 1 point 10 monthsJun 30, 2023 13:07:45 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] froggy
[ - ] froggy [op] 5 points 10 monthsJun 30, 2023 13:19:43 ago (+5/-0)
[ + ] germ22
[ - ] germ22 1 point 10 monthsJun 30, 2023 13:48:26 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] froggy
[ - ] froggy [op] 2 points 10 monthsJun 30, 2023 13:55:37 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ]deleted
[ - ] deleted -1 points 10 monthsJun 30, 2023 14:04:57 ago (+0/-1)
[ + ] froggy
[ - ] froggy [op] 0 points 10 monthsJun 30, 2023 14:37:54 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] chrimony
[ - ] chrimony 0 points 10 monthsJun 30, 2023 14:51:41 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] froggy
[ - ] froggy [op] 1 point 10 monthsJun 30, 2023 15:06:47 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] chrimony
[ - ] chrimony 0 points 10 monthsJun 30, 2023 15:30:55 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] chrimony
[ - ] chrimony 0 points 10 monthsJun 30, 2023 18:43:31 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] deleted
[ - ] deleted 0 points 10 monthsJun 30, 2023 18:58:25 ago (+0/-0)