I have been out of the loop for a while with the development of Linux/GNU based OSes on phones. However, with seeing how companies (like reddit) can change the rules as they wish, I want to see if completely switching to Linux is possible.

Long story short… what are the current phone providers that have Linux as an OS, or what is the best way to run Linux on an off-the-shelf phone?

As a side-question, is Nextcloud still the next best option for a complete service alternative to Google/iCloud?

Thank you!

  • Krik@feddit.de
    3·
    1 year ago

    Phones that run mainline Linux are seldom. The only ones that come to my mind are PinePhone Pro (outdated hardware, 400 bucks) and Librem 5 (also outdated hardware, incredibly expensive 1300$ !). If you are serious get the PinePhone Pro. But expect pitfalls because you can’t just run Android apps.

    Nextcloud is still the best option for self hosted cloud services.

    • Shatur
      1·
      1 year ago

      Want to add that PPP have kinda outdated hardware because of these:

      1. No one will buy an expensive GNU/Linux because the mobile GNU/Linux software is not ready. We don’t have much apps that are convenient to use on a small touch screen. That’s why we also have a non-pro version that is even slower.
      2. Only a few mobile ARM devices can run the mainline kernel and developing costs money.

      That’s why Pine just drops relatively affordable cheap phones and relies on community to write the software. When I first bought this phone, most of the mobile applications were raw and some hardware functions did not work (for example, the camera). But things improved over time and I currently even daily drive it. But it’s far from Android. BTW, you can run Android apps on GNU/Linux phone via Waydroid. It’s basically Android in a container. I use it for banking apps.