[rob74]

Still, the "Conclusions" section isn't that encouraging either:

> My hardware has held up well, [...], I am not affected by a failing WiFi/BT chip (an issue not too uncommon by my anecdata). [...]

> I know, some people will wonder if they should buy a PinePhone after reading this, and I can't really answer this question for you. Read up on PINE64's return policy, maybe; check whether your current phone network is compatible and decide whether you could live with the available applications. Watch some videos and decide if you can live with the time Firefox takes to launch and a lack of notifications. Make sure to have the willingness and time to tinker, to get the deeper "Linux knowledge" necessary if you don't have it, to make whatever distribution you start with your own [...]"

...so, to sum up, if you want a nerdy toy to tinker with, get a PinePhone. If you want something that works "out of the box", go look somewhere else.

[linmob]

I agree with your summary. I enjoy PinePhone and Mobile Linux a lot, but if someone hates tinkering (or has no time for it) and wants a seamless experience, they should just get a different device.

That said, it does not have to be a lot of work for basic functionality these days in my experience - e.g. postmarketOS 22.06 is a solid base.

[rob74]

Thanks for the reply and for the work you put into Mobile Linux! I enjoy (a moderate amount of) tinkering and use Linux on both my work and home PCs, but my requirements for a phone are a bit more demanding - a phone has to be a device which I can depend on to work e.g. when I get a call, if I forget to charge it overnight, when I need to quickly scan a QR code to access some website on the go etc. So I'm afraid I'm not in the market for a Linux phone right now, but I hope (thanks to people like you) it will get to that level one day...

[3np]

You might consider getting a refurbished Google Pixel and put in your choice of GrapheneOS or Calyx. For someone like you it may be a good compromise, and maybe at some point you get a side Linux phone to eventually transition towards.

[mpol]

Based on what you write, a Sony phone with Sailfish might still be fitting and polished enough.

[3np]

Yeah, that's reasonable.

With some differences (better in some way, worse in others), it feels at a similar stage to desktop Linux on commodity hardware ca 2000~2005.

Both GNOME and KDE seem surprisingly serious with their mobile efforts but unless you're happy with a mostly console experience it's probably at least another year or two until basic apps like e-mail are in place for non-enthusiast non-tinker users.

As for distros, I am yet try try Mobian but other than that postmarket is the most reliable experience right now so far (Danct Arch may be catching up though :))