[thesuperbigfrog]

Out of curiosity, what GNU/Linux phone would you recommend?

Most of the ones I have read about are still fairly alpha-level products, particularly for the phone software and app ecosystem.

I would love to have a fully-functional phone running GNU/Linux that I can use as a phone and carry around in my pocket and then plug in a keyboard, mouse, and monitor and have a "good enough" computer for basic office and programming capabilities.

[cstross]

I'd like to note that Termux is totally amazeballs on a Cosmo Communicator: https://www.www3.planetcom.co.uk/cosmo-communicator

Having a proper fold-out QWERTY hardware keyboard makes for an eccentric Android experience, but Termux (or, alternatively, their dual-boot Linux solution) makes a huge difference.

[opan]

Shame about the keyboard problems, though. They rushed it out before fixing them when the Gemini had them.

A common issue is that alt-tab activates caps lock because alt is adjacent to fn, and fn-tab is caps lock. I'm not an engineer, but I assume it's poorly designed.

I have the Gemini PDA and will never give that company my money again.

[Wildgoose]

I have the Gemini PDA and love it. (I don't use it as my 'phone though, even though it has cellular). I've ordered the AstroSlide and will be using that as my 'phone when it arrives.

[rektide]

I have seen some happy & successful users of the PinePhone[1] on my social network feeds. The price is great, capabilities are all there & supported, the community has been doing a good job scratching-their-own-itches & furthering support. The only thing that's held me back from fully adopting it is that the main camera is 5MP, and I have been feeling a little short with even the 12MP camera on my Samsung S series daily driver.

[1] https://www.pine64.org/pinephone/

[fsflover]

I recommend Librem 5: https://puri.sm/products/librem-5. The company develops both hardware and software respecting the users.

Upd: Video showing Librem 5 used as desktop: https://puri.sm/posts/a-librem-5-video-made-on-a-librem-5/

[sneak]

I want one, but it says it doesn't ship for 6 months.

I think it's important to stick to things that exist today. The Librem 5 is cool, but it's still vaporware. Hopefully that changes.

[fsflover]

It technically should start shipping in November, but the preorder queue is so long that new orders have to wait for about 6 months.

[thesuperbigfrog]

Thank you for the recommendation.

I will definitely put it on my list of possible candidates for my next phone.

[heavyset_go]

Does anyone have experience running Android apps in Anbox on this phone or the PinePhone?

[fsflover]

https://puri.sm/posts/anbox-on-the-librem-5/

https://linmob.net/2020/08/15/anbox-on-the-pinephone.html

(both could already be outdated with the fast development rate).

[heavyset_go]

Cool, thanks for the resources. I'm also looking for anecdotes from users, because the last time I tried Anbox on Linux, I couldn't run much, and I'm wondering if it's any better now.

[fsflover]

https://social.librem.one/@dos/105119691527269967

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sha3R4PKSs&t=285s

[dheera]

> I would love to have a fully-functional phone running GNU/Linux that I can use as a phone and carry around in my pocket and then plug in a keyboard, mouse, and monitor and have a "good enough" computer for basic office and programming capabilities.

As much as I like the idea of 100% FOSS in my pocket, it's simply not practical because I need to use Android apps to hail rides and contact friends who often use only closed-source messenger apps.

If you're in the same boat, a very realistic alternative would be to just carry around a Raspberry Pi.

[thesuperbigfrog]

>> it's simply not practical because I need to use Android apps to hail rides and contact friends who often use only closed-source messenger apps.

That is currently where I am as well.

Termux has been a wonderful way to get simple programming tasks done on the go because I can just plug in an external keyboard, mouse, and monitor and have a command line, text editors, compilers, etc.

I am concerned about how Android 10's limitations will impact Termux since I would hate to lose such a useful tool.

Seeing what GNU/Linux phones are out there at least provides some other options about where I might want to go next once my current phone ages out.