What are the best smartphones for GNU/Linux enthusiasts?

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10

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267

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Apr 5, 2021

Last
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Here’s the Deal

3 Options Considered

Best smartphones for GNU/Linux enthusiasts	Price	License	Based On
-- Any unlocked Android smartphone with LineageOS	-	-	-
-- Nokia N900	$199.99	-	-
-- GEMINI PDA	$761	-	-

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score 37 · Answer 1

Any unlocked Android smartphone with LineageOS

Top Pro

Opensource

LineageOS is completly open source. See More

Top Con

Warranty

In some countries(excluding all counties in the EU) you can lose your warranty if you flash new software to it. See More

DynamicHanbi's Experience

I bought a XCover4 (SAMSUNG) because my ACE 1 lost all support- no WA no TG after allmost 10 years.... I thought it would be similar with that one XCover4-- CustomRoms more than you can ever try ,,, wrong! 0 .. the display broke and as it took very log to repair I bought a Redmi 8 for half the price of the XCover4... but more than dobble better -- Lineage ... In think I have Android 11 on it with Lineage, even Xiomi Redmi has the most reworked ,customized Rom from fabric ,, I wanted a Rom that has the needed codes ,,, and no estra code for spying---- Redmi itself makes it easy for their customers to Root , to TWRP and finaly flas a custom Rom on it ----- even its chinese -- 4 that Spirit and honesty --- 1ß points ,, ans samn its 8 cores and and - compared the XCover4 is a spy in a wheelchair, twice as expensive. and rude....There are mobilemanufactures that , based on custom Roms , produce supersecure mobiles-- for the customer secure--- but are Expensive and not innovative -- i think its still Android 7 based...We, mainstream consumer , have to protect our privacy ,, an at th moment best is Custom Rom and a CR friendly hardware ---- Bootloader ----- Samsung --- very very very Bad See More

Top Pro

You can choose your favorit phone

You can choose between many devices. See More

IntuitiveAbundantia's Experience

LineageOS is too closely related to android See More

Top Pro

microG

there is a port "LineageOS for microG" that already has microG included, an opensource alternative to the proprietary GApps: https://lineage.microg.org See More

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score 23 · Answer 2

Nokia N900

Top Con

Outdated

The N900 was first released in 2009 and it shows. The hardware is outdated (256MB RAM for example) and there are no more software updates being released. See More

Top Pro

Has an active community developing applications and OS updates

The N900 has an active community, developing applications and OS updates and updating packages for the device when needed. You won't get facebook for it, because facebook itself cut off the leash to the older phone OS's, but if you want that you shouldn't want this device either unless you can live with the browser version. It's for those that want a pocketable PC. See More

ResponsibleXiwangmu's Experience

I've been using it off and on since it first came out in 2009, and it still holds up to what I need in 2018. I was never satisfied with the modern smartphones with nothing other than capacitive touchscreens. The resistive one on the n900 + the lovely physical keyboard are much better for me, and I'm quite used to classic blackberries. See More

Top Con

Old and bad

Top Pro

Very compatible with Linux

The N900 comes with Maemo 5 installed which is a Linux distribution. There are also some Debian versions that work on this phone. See More

IntuitiveAbundantia's Experience

Crap See More

Top Pro

Has a physical keyboard

The N900 has a physical keyboard that can be opened by sliding the screen up or down from the side. See More

Top Pro

64 GB internal storage. Best phone ever!!

See All

score 7 · Answer 3

GEMINI PDA

Top Pro

Has a physical keyboard

It has a physical keyboard so it can be used as a very portable net/notebook alternative. See More

IntuitiveAbundantia's Experience

Not really a mobile phone See More

Top Pro

Supports other Operating systems

There are other Operating Systems available like: SailfishOS or Debian. See More

See All

score 49 · Answer 4

KDE Plasma Mobile

score 20 · Answer 5

3 Options Considered

My Recommendation for Any unlocked Android smartphone with LineageOS

My Recommendation for Any unlocked Android smartphone with LineageOS

Opensource

Warranty

You can choose your favorit phone

microG

My Recommendation for Nokia N900

My Recommendation for Nokia N900

Outdated

Has an active community developing applications and OS updates

Old and bad

Very compatible with Linux

Has a physical keyboard

64 GB internal storage. Best phone ever!!

My Recommendation for GEMINI PDA

My Recommendation for GEMINI PDA

Has a physical keyboard

Supports other Operating systems

Don't see your favorite option? Add it.

My Recommendation for KDE Plasma Mobile

My Recommendation for KDE Plasma Mobile

My Recommendation for PinePhone

My Recommendation for PinePhone

My Recommendation for Meizu MX4

My Recommendation for Meizu MX4

My Recommendation for Librem 5

My Recommendation for Librem 5

My Recommendation for Fairphone 2

My Recommendation for Fairphone 2

My Recommendation for Ubuntu Touch

My Recommendation for Ubuntu Touch

My Recommendation for Sailfish OS

My Recommendation for Sailfish OS

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