My next smartphone won't be an Android one

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libadwaita ΘΔ (she/they) 2 Nov @ 8:20am

It's beautiful how far GNU/Linux has come on smartphones. When I bought my current smartphone, only halium based distros (which require the use of the modified Linux kernel that shipped with your phone) such as Ubuntu Touch were a thing. Now, you can run full-fat GNU/Linux with a bare naked unmodified Linux kernel using mainline drivers straight from Torvalds himself right on your smartphone assuming it's compatible.

I've been set on getting a GNU/Linux smartphone since the PinePhone Pro came out and especially since the OnePlus 6 has been made almost completely compatible with mobile distros like Mobian, apart from the camera which isn't a huge loss for me since I use my DSLR for most things that need one anyways. The OnePlus 6 would also be a slight spec bump compared to my current (Google Pixel 2 XL) phone.

It'll infact probably be better for me than Android. With WayDroid, I'll be able to run just about every Android app I need. I'll be able to run the various little scripts and programs I've made for my PCs without having to use Termux to do it. I'll also be able to use full desktop apps at native performance when I need them. Phones are for many mobile computers, and this will make it a better mobile computer than Android.

Everytime Google seems to open their mouth about Android, it's always something negative and almost draconian. I've been using LineageOS on my current phone, but Google seems to be making custom ROMs harder and harder to develop.

So, I'm not getting an Android phone as my next smartphone. Mobile GNU/Linux has come far enough to be a daily driver for me, and is actually superior to Android in many respects.

Would you consider on daily driving a GNU/Linux smartphone? If not, would improved hardware support (currently it's biggest flaw IMO) change anything for you?

Last edited by libadwaita ΘΔ (she/they); 2 Nov @ 8:27am

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Showing 1-15 of 27 comments

tv 2 Nov @ 8:22am

bruh, who care?

Senor Eppeb Beppers 2 Nov @ 8:27am

Originally posted by tv:
bruh, who care?

me. people who weren't given a brain by mistake.

trash nyan 2 Nov @ 8:32am

Originally posted by Senor Eppeb Beppers:
Originally posted by tv:
bruh, who care?
me. people who weren't given a brain by mistake.

can you lash out swearing at me in my comments again that was funny

trash nyan 2 Nov @ 8:33am

Anyway coping and thinking Linux is a better desktop experience is one thing but running that ♥♥♥♥ on a smartphone with a straight face takes guts so respect for that man

That said I'm still rooting for Linux future success I just don't wanna have to access a terminal to fix some dumb stuff when I need to use my phone urgently

Last edited by trash nyan; 2 Nov @ 8:41am

Apostate. 2 Nov @ 8:33am

The only problem is that they're expensive as hell. I'm going to be a minority here, but I'd rather load Linux through a much cheaper second-hand laptop for probably 1/5 of the price over a Linux-purposed smartphone.

Last edited by Apostate.; 2 Nov @ 9:01am

trash nyan 2 Nov @ 8:36am

Originally posted by Senor Eppeb Beppers:
Originally posted by trash nyan:
can you lash out swearing at me in my comments again that was funny
above is a troll who uses multiple accounts to ban people for reasons that are reversed on appeal, potentially entangling Valve in lawsuits it would lose.

lmfao is this satire

agu 2 Nov @ 8:38am

It's crazy how Google is planning to kill sideloading on Android and no one seems to care about it

OoOoOoooOOoOoorgle 2 Nov @ 8:39am

I can appreciate a nice, solid Linux device...
but man, hardcore Linux gooners just rub me the wrong way

Nülliflower 2 Nov @ 8:42am

can it run angry birds?

Last edited by Nülliflower; 2 Nov @ 8:48am

Echo 2 Nov @ 8:48am

Originally posted by Nülliflower:
it can't run angry birds natively though. it's either angry birds or nothing.

It has angry linux users though.

#10

Enterprofilenamehere 2 Nov @ 8:53am

How to tell if someone is a Linux user?

Just wait. They'll tell you.

#11

Nülliflower 2 Nov @ 9:05am

Originally posted by Enterprofilenamehere:
How to tell if someone is a Linux user?

Just wait. They'll tell you.

what did the linux user wear to the wedding?

a fancy tuxedo.

#12

Kargor 2 Nov @ 9:09am

Originally posted by libadwaita ΘΔ (she/they):
Would you consider on daily driving a GNU/Linux smartphone?

Definitely not. Android apps tend to work very well in a mobile setting, and many "apps" are offered for Android or iOS, but not for Linux.

#13

Electric Cupcake 2 Nov @ 11:05am

I like FairPhone. The /e/os fork of Lineage isn't quite free enough for the Free Software Foundation to endorse, but being compatible with Play Store apps, anonymously, along with F-droid and everything else, is nice.

And they don't try to stop you from flashing pure Lineage if you want.

Last edited by Electric Cupcake; 2 Nov @ 11:05am

#14