[createful]

Linux phones exist but work on a limited number of devices (see PostMarketOS) or Linux primary devices like Purism or Pinephone (which I've heard are expensive). That's the primary issue, you either need to buy an expensive and potentially underpowered phone OR have one that is supported most of the way with PostMarketOS (Wifi, SIM card, GPU, etc. sometimes may not work even though the phone can boot PostMarketOS).

I personally don't have a problem with a mediocre-performance phone but it should not be expensive. Not to mention app ecosystems - there aren't a lot of Linux apps for Linux phones.

[zzril]

I've paid 200€ for my PinePhone. It is underpowered, but at least it doesn't have to waste its resources on rendering ads.

Where Android/iPhone users have "apps", I mostly end up writing small shell scripts around existing linux tools. My alarm clock "app" is realized via cron jobs; my TOTP "app" is a one-liner around `oathtool`.

Messenger apps are a bit tricky; I'll probably end up hosting my own matrix homeserver and then have bridges running for Signal and the likes.

[createful]

I'm not saying Linux phones are junk, but if you want more people to adopt these phones you do need "easier" solutions. Not everyone will want a cron job alarm.

Because if we leave linux phones in their current state then getting hardware for them will be difficult and the software will end up being a pain.

Adoption of Linux phones is kind of the only way that hardware for them will get more mainstream and will allow more people to use Linux phones. And adoption is partly helped by ease of use.

[righthand]

There are plenty of apps for Linux phones because you get all of the Linux software automatically. What there isn’t plenty of is commercial pop culture apps from social media companies, banks, and other businesses but for some of those you can run an android emulator or use their website.