That's intended, yes. Cell infrastructure sucks and very little people want it. Those who want enough to write software for it will experience how much it sucks slightly behind the surface and will probably not want it anymore.
this post was submitted on 14 Aug 2026
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Linux Phones
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The Discussion on Linux-based Phones.
Benefits:
- Hardware freedom.
- Perfect operating-system competition.
- Full utilization of specs.
- Phone lifespan raises to 10+ years.
- Less e-waste.
Linux Mobile Distros:
- Sailfish🇫🇮
- FuriOS🇺🇸
- Ubuntu Touch🇩🇪
- Postmarket OS🇨🇭
- Mobian
- Pure OS🇺🇸
- Plasma Mobile🇩🇪
- LuneOS
- openSUSE Mobile🇩🇪
- Nemomobile
- Droidian
- Mobile NixOS
- ExpidusOS
- Maemo Leste
- Manjaro Arm
- Tizen
- WebOS
Linux Mobile Hardware:
- Jolla Phone🇫🇮
- Shift Phone🇩🇪
- FLX1🇺🇸
- Fairphone 5🇳🇱
- Volla Phone🇩🇪
- Librem 5🇺🇸
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As an enthusiastic idiot, why is it apparently so difficult for linux to provide basic telephone functionality? That seems like an oddly low tech thing to be struggling with.
Because basic telephony functionality is not basic at all.
I got it working here, but it was the hardest part of this project by far: https://ani.social/post/34656971
But what makes it hard is that you're dealing with very obsfucated hardware that really doesn't want to cooporate with a complex protocol that every carrier also implements slightly differently.
I'll buy a fairphone if they release a larger model, like 6.8-6.9 ok inches and it works in us
Holy smokes, and here I am thinking that 6" is too big but no mainstream devices are below that anymore. I remember when we called these phablets and IMO 4.5" was acceptable and very pocketable.
I assume people craving a 7" phone are using it as one of their main media consumption devices instead of a desktop, laptop, or TV.
I have Sailfish OS, just got the new Jolla Phone and I am quite happy with it. Surprisingly daily driveable for my requirements. My phone isn't a tiny laptop. Mic, IEM and camera work without issues. So does 4G VoLTE.
I know, its controversial for having some closed source UI parts (that are the reason why it doesn't feel like a tiny laptop) but the Linux/GNU underneath is open source. To those who are not requiring 100% FOSS purity it is an interesting choice.
Just needs a phone app. Then it's a phone. That's how all the other phones work.
I hope that was a joke. Or that you meant VoIP.
It’s a small price to pay to shatter android chains.
Pretty big price actually.
It needs help from regulators to break up the monopsonies in the manufacturing of smarphone parts and regulate open firmware standards.
Planning to install PostmarketOS, feeling called out.
SailfishOS is quite nice, I've used it over ten years.
But now I am considering whether a minimal phone for voice, chat, and WiFi thethering, plus a small Linux handheld/palmtop with x86_64 hardware, PC BIOS, a physical keyboard and running, say, Debian is not the better option. (I've been running a Gemini PDA for keeping notes and expenses using Ledger, and it is absolutely great for that).
Honestly the biggest problem is how much people are overthinking trying to make a Linux OS for a phone. Starting from zero and making a mess instead of just forking asop and redoing the UI/storage framework. We don't necessarily need something made from scratch just something that's actually open and in our control
The main issue is all the closed source hardware firmware for basic things like the microphones, cameras and radios.
The UI and OS is the easy part. It reverse engineering the firmware that is the issue
The UI userland is the easiest part of a linux phone, its basically all the stuff that is already running on desktop. Forking AOSP and redoing the UI/storage framework is a ton of effort and not the problem.
The issue is the kernel, even if you use a AOSP userland you still need to get all the hardware working in the kernel, unless you use vendor kernels but that contradicts the open and in our control part.
If you didn't start from scratch you can't be in control. Simply said. Also, the most difficult part is hardware and chipset drivers, stable supply of parts and so on. It's not that easy and no wonder to me why it takes literally an infinite amount of time to get a "linux phone" going - aaand keep it up.
I'm probably going halium/ubports until power gets sorted. I REALLY want Nixos on a phone, But I need to be able to have reliable inbound calls, data and full day battery.
Not seeing the problem here lol
When I tried Droidian, this was absolutely true, lol. Ubuntu Touch feels more like an os made for a phone, but has a lack of applications outside of waydroid and push notifications barely work
What? Droidian works perfectly (Moto ThinkPhone)!
Mobile linux is not ready to be an OS for a phone.
It's an OS for a tiny Linux laptop, pay attention.
I've been using it for years, runs smoothly. Phones are not ready for mobile GNU/Linux is more the reality. Low level firmware and drivers specific to each phone that is, else the OS is pretty solid.
Calls, texts, web browsing with full Firefox all work. Android app emulation bridges the gap, you can install from Google Play
I have used it since rhe initial ubu touch and every OS I've used is comically buggy and short on features, both major and qol. So I guess our mileage may vary.
I hear you for sure, used to be a lot more bugs. My comments are based on Mobian Trixie, Bookworm was buggy, I hear PostmarketOS is also pretty good.
What do you need for it to be ready?
I've seen people post this, but never say what they are actually missing
OEM support.
So if a phone is fully 100% working but not OEM supported its unusable for you?
Hard to have a new phone and be 100% working. As cool as functionality is, it's hard to gain mass appeal when it relies on owning the device already or relying on the used market.
Well do i have good news! if you count the Fairphone 6 (Q2 2025) as new i soon have it 100% working if you look at my posts here.
And as soon as the FP6+ releases i will do that one aswell.
Im going to sell it preflashed too once i hit that 100%, so in the hope to get that mass market appeal.
Absolute legend!
Good luck mate.
Hate to be that obligatory guy, but here we go - GrapheneOS is still the only non-corporate mobile OS that's fully suitable to be your daily drivers.
All the rest are just gadgets that you may want to fiddle with from time to time, unless you are a true purist, in which case you are probably well acquainted with your postal services and the community would benefit greatly if you also become interested in chemistry.
I prefer Lineage.
But either one is fine.
Not the only, but possibly the best available. You didn't try other options, though.