this post was submitted on 01 Jul 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:

  • Ubuntu Touch
  • Sailfish
  • FuriOS
  • Postmarket OS
  • Mobian
  • Pure OS
  • Plasma Mobile
  • LuneOS
  • openSUSE Mobile
  • Nemomobile
  • Droidian
  • Mobile NixOS
  • ExpidusOS
  • Maemo Leste
  • Manjaro Arm
  • Tizen
  • WebOS

Linux Mobile Hardware:

  • Fairphone 5
  • Volla Phone
  • PinePhone
  • FLX1
  • Librem 5

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No new features today, just wanted to make a short post.

It is completely possible to do linux development on the go!

Is it convenient? Probably not.

Is a laptop better? Most likely.

Is it funny? Yes.

Also a double table is definitely better: photo of a linux phone with a bluetooth keyboard and mouse

While we are mostly focused on Linux mobile development, it is easy to overlook that all you need is a bluetooth keyboard and mouse and it becomes an (albeit tiny) linux desktop!

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[–] klankin@piefed.ca 2 points 39 minutes ago

Its gonna look nerdy as shit but Id love the steam frame for a portable dev station

[–] Olgratin_Magmatoe@slrpnk.net 1 points 34 minutes ago

I've done this from time to time. It makes me wish I had magnifying glass-glasses. Very nice for emergencies.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 2 points 58 minutes ago (1 children)

need something to hold it to your face :) ala augmented reality

[–] TheMightyCat@ani.social 1 points 51 minutes ago

Hoping for steam frame to come out soon

[–] zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 38 minutes ago

This reminds me of when I was using my old Nexus phone connected through a chain of adapters to my IBM Model M. People were acting like I was committing heresy by using it out in the open. I was just impressed that it worked without issue and thought it was funny.

[–] supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (1 children)

You should really be using a logitech k780..... the inbuilt phone stand just makes it fundamentally superior to any other keyboard that doesn't have it for this usecase.

[–] tal@lemmy.today 1 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (1 children)

I have a K480, and while it's more-compact than a full-height keyboard, my guess is that he's got a mechanical keyboard there. The rubber-dome keyswitches on the K480 aren't as nice (at least in my opinion; people have different views on what they like in a keyboard). It sounds like the K780 is a rubber-dome as well.

I do agree that having some kind of stand is handy, but if you have anything that you can lean a phone against


doesn't take much


that'll also work, at least on a desk or table.

[–] supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 hour ago

I am not saying the keyboard on the K780 is better, just that the natural advantage both sitting in front of a desktop and using the K780 for both the computer and phone or just using it for your phone on the go... it makes any difference in keyboard quality kind of irrelevant. I hope people start making mechanical keyboards with this form factor but I am not holding my breath.

[–] tal@lemmy.today 10 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 42 minutes ago)

I'd probably go with a laptop too and just use the phone as a modem for it


I am typing this at a restaurant on a Linux laptop


but if you have a backpack, which you probably do if you're carrying a non-foldable keyboard


you can throw a USB-C monitor with a folding cover in it. This sort of thing:

https://www.amazon.com/MNN-Portable-15-6inch-Ultra-Slim-Speakers/dp/B0B9NNWXVP

I have a 200 Wh power bank (without an inverter, to help keep the size and weight down down). Similar to this:

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Portable-Generator-Traveling-Emergencies/dp/B0D62P85ZR

That won't work if you're on an airplane (which it looks like is the case from the image), though you are allowed to carry up to two 100 Wh power banks under FAA regs.

If you use those, you should be able to set up a hub


this sort of thing


that permits pass-through charging, power everything off the hub and use wired gear, and thinking about individual charge on a bunch of disconnected battery-powered devices goes away. I don't do that myself, just use a laptop as a hub, but for a phone-as-a-laptop configuration, that might make a lot of sense.

Another benefit of going wired is eliminating the Bluetooth privacy concerns


Google or Apple aren't plugging your location into a database just because someone with an Android or iOS phone using location services happens to be in your general vicinity.

Though if you're on an airplane, they may provide power at the seat, and you might not even need the power bank.

EDIT: The phone does need to support USB-C DisplayPort Alt-Mode if it's going to use an external monitor. searches Here's a list of models.

EDIT2: Important caveat, as this is !linuxphones@lemmy.ca


external displays using Alt Mode work on iOS and Android. I haven't tried to look up what the state of affairs is for GNU/Linux, don't know what the hardware support is like there.

[–] driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br 4 points 1 hour ago

For college I had to use my phone to program while at work but I used temux and vim.