- cross-posted to:
- linux@programming.dev
- cross-posted to:
- linux@programming.dev
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Is there any device where everything works? Whenever i try to check Linux phones, there’s always trouble like “calls don’t work”, “camera doesn’t work”, “gps won’t fix” and so on… Is there a device with full working support?
purism librem 5 seems to have everything working https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Purism_Librem5_(purism-librem5)
Sigh… Thanks. I’m afraid that device was already outdated on release. These days you’ll take the full 3GB of RAM it has just by opening the browser. I don’t think that’s usable anymore by today’s requirements.
Honestly, I “upgraded” my phone to the 8 year newer model, and besides the easy numbers like CPU speed, RAM, and storage, it’s a straight downgrade. No headphone jack, slower charging, 50% chance of worse battery life (something slurps like mad sometimes), a hole in the screen, fewer buttons, a bunch of my apps don’t work anymore, fewer sensors, worse case selection, fatter & heavier, and the big G won’t stop pestering me to install malware.
I still use my old mobile more. It really just needs a new battery and some extra RAM.
The pinephone has slightly better specs, is equally outdated, but the price point is a lot better.
qemu vm. I really wanna run this with the first fairphone to become readily available in US (fp6 i assume) but there’s still a ways to go…
As far as fairphone goes, fairphone 5 is probably your best bet. Audio is almost working, that just leaves camera, VoLTE, and NFC (which I personally don’t use, so I don’t care) Everything else should work
https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Fairphone_5_(fairphone-fp5)
That’s… Quite a long list of deal breakers for me, I’m afraid. I really want a Linux phone, and i wouldn’t mind paying extra for the effort. But i need one that works with all its hardware. Calls, data, gps, camera, sensors and yes, also NFC. My country’s digital ID app uses it to verify your physical ID in order to allow you to login for some paperwork.
If you install Ubuntu Touch on it, everything works because its using the vendor’s android kernel for hardware drivers. PostmarketOS is using the standard Linux kernel and a LOT of volunteer hours have been spent by people reverse engineering the hardware without manufacturers help, to get working drivers added to the Linux kernel. That’s why not 100% of the hardware works yet on most phones postmarketOS supports.
My gripe with ubuntu Touch is I like the app ecosystem and desktop interface (gnome mobile) better with postmarketOS, so I’d rather run that instead.
Volte is a big deal when carriers are phasing out old tech.
I believe if you install Ubuntu Touch on it, VoLTE either should work now, or is being added soon.
They got camera working on FP3 and FP4. Fairphone employs a guy who basically does work to get their hardware to run Linux.
It’s partially a moving target issue, from what I see. The oneplus 6 and the pinephone were almost there until countries started mandating volte (daily drove a op6 for a bit pre-volte requirement, with the only thing not working being the camera)
i wish there were as many testimonials of people daily driving the likes of postmarketos (eg graphene, eos, etc.) so help me decide on which one to use.
i keep vacillating on which one to use based on the few testimonials i’m able to find because i realize that the person giving the testimonial has a much deeper experiences with privacy and security that i do that makes their experience incompatible with mine and it sometimes feels like i’m the only one using android auto on car that never was intended to work with it.
What alternative OS you adopt depends on your phone and needs.
If you just want to mostly degoogle you phone, but aren’t that concerned about privacy or security, LineageOS is basically that. It’s as close to a stock android experience as you can get, minus the pre-installed google apps. It supports a wide range of android phones.
If you want more security and privacy, GrapheneOS is currently king, but the downside is it only works on Google Pixel phones, and it’s possible certain apps won’t work (banking apps can be hit or miss, and the Uber app I believe blocked it). It otherwise functions just like a regular android phone and can install sandboxed google play to use any app you could need, making it just as easy to daily drive. It’s the best choice if you’re an activist, journalist, or fear state actors. But even if you’re not, I’d say it’s the best choice if you already have a pixel phone.
CalyxOS has paused development, so not currently an option.
eOS has a bigger focus on
security andprivacy than LineageOS, but isn’t as secure as Graphene. The advantage is that it supports more phones than just the google pixel.PostmarketOS is not based on Android, and instead is a real Linux Distro made for mobile. It’s still very much in an alpha stage, with varying levels of support for different phones, many of which cannot take calls or even use their camera properly. I would only recommend it to developers or people who want to tinker with a project phone.
/e/ OS is not more secure than lineage. It tends to lag behind on security updates by months.
https://eylenburg.github.io/android_comparison.htm
For privacy, security, and usability, GrapheneOS is the best alternative mobile os by far. The only downsides are if you don’t like or can’t afford Pixel phones, and even GrapheneOS won’t have certain features you may need such as mobile device management, google wallet nfc payments, certain apps especially banking apps.
Ah, wasn’t aware they were so far behind, thanks for the heads up.
Hadn’t heard of IodeOS either until seeing that chart. They also seem a bit slower than Lineage for certain updates, but for the more privacy minded, may be the best option for non-pixel folks.
… certain apps especially banking apps.
are you aware of any lists for this like other one you shared?
thanks graphene is a non-starter for me since i refuse to give google anything more than i (unwittingly) already have.
ig, you could just buy used though or wait for their own device to be released via the upcoming OEM partnership. I wouldn’t be surprised if pixels are sold at a loss or break even point anyway, supplemented by surveillance capitalism and google play store revenue.
eos looks the most likely to me because of the partnership with murena; but i still hesitate because my sub-part experience using international brands within the united states and all of the lineage phones are either prohibitively ancient or international.
do you have any information on movement with any oems & graphene?
i loathe the idea of giving google more money, so lineage via eos & murena is most likely the path i’ll take. and also, none of my phones are compatible so i’ll have to get a new phone.
i learned the hard way through buying chinese brands that international phones are hit-&-miss with wireless android auto (wired android auto works fine) and all of murena’s offerings are international. plus some bands are also not supported w international phones so they sometimes get poor coverage in some places like underground parking garages in the united states.
that’s only reason why i haven’t pulled this trigger yet and i vacillate for a couple of reasons and i think that the second biggest is that i ultimately plan to stop using this car and wonder if it’s best to wait until wireless android auto stops being a requirement.
(banking apps can be hit or miss, and the Uber app I believe blocked it).
but this is still the biggest reason. personal testimonials show me if the apps i want to use are supported
Hadn’t heard of IodeOS either until seeing that chart. They also seem a bit slower than Lineage for certain updates, but for the more privacy minded, may be the best option for non-pixel folks.
the price points w iode are much better murena but that nothing phone looks really nice.
i loathe the idea of giving google more money
If you don’t mind used or open-box phones, you could pick up a used (and more critically, carrier unlocked) Pixel off ebay, if you want to deprive them of revenue.
Unfortunately some carriers like verizon will not automatically unlock the bootloader even after unlocking the carrier restriction, so buying a used one that wasn’t factory unlocked from Google could be a slight gamble.
i only buy factory unlocked phones and i’ve never had good luck buying used phones from others; there was also something wrong with them and some esoteric policy at the places i purchased them from wouldn’t let me get a refund, so i’ve stopped trying.
there was also something wrong with them and some esoteric policy at the places i purchased them from wouldn’t let me get a refund
Ebay has very good buyer protections - arguably too good, making things hard for small sellers. Virtually impossible to not get a refund within eBay’s 30 day return period.
eBay was the final straw for me. Lol
I bought a phone from them and it got stolen because FedEx put the package outside the building (instead of inside like usual) and neither eBay, nor the seller, nor cash app will cover the loss so I’ve excised all 3 from my life permanently.
Graphene OS for the past year or two. Zero problems and only benefits.
You will need to get used to fiddling with security settings on some apps. For example, banking apps need reduced (meaning standard Android) levels of security. I consider this a feature so I can know which apps to find alternatives for
most seem to recommend graphene, but it’s a non-starter for me since i refuse to give google more than i (unwittingly) already have.
If I can answer any questions about GrapheneOS lmk. Android auto works, I don’t drive much but I’ve used it before. You can also ask on https://discuss.grapheneos.org/
was it with wireless android auto and with after-market receivers like jvc?
TBH I don’t remember if it was wired or wireless but my understanding is that GrapheneOS’s implementation is essentially the same as what is included on stock android for Pixels, so both wired and wireless work (https://grapheneos.org/usage#android-auto).
I used it with a stock system so not aftermarket. Do you have any specific reason to believe aftermarket systems wouldn’t work? If they support android auto you should be fine.
I used it with a stock system so not aftermarket. Do you have any specific reason to believe aftermarket systems wouldn’t work? If they support android auto you should be fine.
ALL of the internationally branded phones i’ve had (mostly chinese) had compatability quirks with my aftermarket jvc head unit.
if well known brands like xioami or oppo wasn’t compatible, it seemed less likely that an enthusiast project would support it.
also: graphene is a non-start for me since it requires a pixel and i refuse to give google anything more than i already (unwittingly) have.
ALL of the internationally branded phones i’ve had (mostly chinese) had compatability quirks with my aftermarket jvc head unit.
I would suspect GrapheneOS would be more likely to work than these, but you could always ask on the forum if anyone has any experience
graphene is good your honor
i loathe the idea of giving google any more money; but it’s clear graphene has to most fans here. lol
What I don’t understand is how GrapheneOS runs on any Pixel because that’s the one device that lends itself to an alternative OS, but none of the various mobile Linux distros support anything past the Pixel 3.
Or am I coming at this from the wrong direction?
