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My main issue with modern phones (aside from the lack of privacy obviously) is how big they are. I have an iPhone mini and I wish it was smaller. Are there any Linux (or privacy focused) phones that are small?

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[-] onipa@feddit.org 9 points 1 week ago

Pixel 3a and Samsung Galaxy S III are old thus I guess rather small and supported by postmarketOS https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Devices

[-] bowsertattoo@piefed.social 5 points 1 week ago

yeah i guess that's not so so big. i'd love something the size of the side phone or jelly star

[-] erebion@news.erebion.eu 9 points 1 week ago

The smallest that is actually somewhat usable is the Pixel 3a. I've ported Mobian to it, but it's getting old and isn't the fastest device.

I'd like something smaller, but there isn't. So now I use a Fairphone while constantly complaining about it's size, not a perfect solution, I know. xD

[-] bowsertattoo@piefed.social 8 points 1 week ago

id love to see fairphone make a small budget phone

[-] 13igtyme@startrek.website 1 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

I just bought a fair phone and it's a tiny bit smaller than my last phone, which was a Motorola. So it works for me. My hands are big.

[-] YummyEntropy@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 week ago

Ugh I have a pixel 3a, and I hate how huge it is. :(

[-] erebion@news.erebion.eu 1 points 1 week ago

I'd also like something even smaller, but it does not exist.

At least not if you don't want to buy something with questionable software from China. One manufacturer even had malware on their phones.

So... Yeah, no way currently.

[-] ok_effect@feddit.dk 8 points 1 week ago

Commodore is launching a hybrid phone between a dumb- and a smartphone with a version of the Sailfish operating system. It’s a flip phone with a retro look:

Commodore Callback 8020

[-] Twig@sopuli.xyz 3 points 6 days ago

Just wish it was a bit cheaper, then I'd get one

[-] 13igtyme@startrek.website 2 points 20 hours ago

Yeah. $399 seems wrong for a clam shell.

[-] bowsertattoo@piefed.social 2 points 6 days ago

hah this rocks

[-] ChrisG@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago

Problem for Linux on phones is ARM limitations require a unique device tree for every OS deployed per device.

When I retire to Asia next year I'm considering just getting one of those simple feature phones sold in India which has Firefox OS. Limit myself to Vox/SMS/Email.

I'm showing my age but I fondly remember those lipstick case Nokia's from back in the day. Couldn't get much smaller than that.

[-] bowsertattoo@piefed.social 1 points 6 days ago

can you link me? I've never heard of this

[-] box@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 week ago

It's not Linux, but it is more privacy focused: Commodore callback 8020

[-] hexagonwin@lemmy.today 4 points 1 week ago

i have a xperia xz1c and it runs lineageos, small enough for me.

there's xz2c which has a unofficial sailfishos port iirc

[-] one_old_coder@piefed.social 3 points 1 week ago

Maybe the smallest Sony Xperia with Sailfish OS?

[-] es_eskaliert@feddit.org 3 points 1 week ago

The Galaxy S10e maybe? It does not have particularily good Linux support though (https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_S10e_(samsung-beyond0lte)) and thus is not daily-drivable, but at least is something? Its sister model, the S10 has a bit more contents on its wiki page. Apart from Linux, they are both fantasic devices for Lineageos (typing this on one), however due to the old kernel it might not get Android 17 anymore.

But yeah, have not heard of any usable small Linux phones, would love to see one though.

[-] bowsertattoo@piefed.social 2 points 1 week ago
[-] es_eskaliert@feddit.org 1 points 1 week ago

Understandable. Well, below that I only heard of people getting a Lineageos GSI image running on the jelly star max. Not Linux, but still some more privacy i guess

[-] PennyRoyal@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 week ago

Dunno, but watching with interest. The Brax3 is massive, and even most of the stuff Graphene runs on is too big for my taste

[-] SubArcticTundra@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I have a King Kong Mini 2, it's 4". Not shre what the Linux situation on it would be though

[-] hanrahan@slrpnk.net 1 points 1 week ago

i use a Moto Fold 50u for that reason, I can do a fair bit of stuff on the external screen (reply to Signal messages, read emails etc) and then fold it out for more

caveat: it's a Moto with Android, i don't know if future Moto flips will have graphene support, or it's just their future signature series.

[-] 13igtyme@startrek.website 1 points 20 hours ago

So far, everyone I've seen with a flip ends up with a line on the screen.

[-] leftascenter@jlai.lu 1 points 1 week ago

So not a Linux phone.

[-] leftascenter@jlai.lu 1 points 1 week ago

An older pixel 3a or oneplus 6 can run pmos

this post was submitted on 15 Sep 2026
61 points (100.0% liked)

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