- Top 5 Linux Phones that You Should Consider
- The Top Five Linux Phones to Buy
- Librem 5
- Volla Phone
- FairPhone 4
- Pro 1X
- Pros of Linux Phones
- Cons of Linux Phones
- Conclusion
- The 5 Best Linux Smartphones of 2023 – Linux on the Go
- Best 5 Linux Phones For the Linux and Terminal Enthusiasts
- PinePhone (PINE64) – Best Linux Phone
- Librem 5 by Purism – Top Linux Phone in the list
- Pro1-X Ubuntu Phone – Best Linux Phone Running Ubuntu
- Volla Phone – Reliable Linux Phone
- Cosmo Communicator – Best Kali Linux Phone
- PinePhone Pro – Flagship level Linux OS Phone
- Conclusion: Will you ever use a Linux Phone?
Top 5 Linux Phones that You Should Consider
Are you looking for an impenetrable phone in terms of security and privacy? If your answer is ‘Yes’, you should consider buying Linux phones.
These phones are not very ordinary, unlike android or iOS, as they are user-specific, and not everyone will like them. These phones are built to handle server-related problems as they are compatible with Linux distros. Other than that, programmers and developers can also use these phones if they want less distraction.
With this in mind, we will discuss the top 5 Linux phones in this article that you should consider.
The Top Five Linux Phones to Buy
Before going any further, you should know that
- You may not have access to many popular applications
- You might get bored with Linux phones, especially if you are a beginner.
- PinePhone – Pine64
Finding it hard to travel with your laptop? Then look no further because PinePhone by Pine64 allows you to connect with an external monitor and your desktop environment. Several Linux-based OS can be installed on it without any fuss.
Using the five kill switches on its back, you can manually disable the Microphone, Camera, WIFI, Bluetooth, and LTE Modem. It has six pogo pins for customized hardware extensions like wireless charging, thermal camera, or NFC.
It is perhaps the most widely used Linux Phone because of the following specifications.
Display | 5.95” with 1440 x 720 resolution |
RAM | 3 GB |
CPU | Allwinner A64 (4X1.1 GHz) |
GPU | 500 MHz (Allwinner A64) |
Internal Storage | 32GB |
Camera | Front (2MP), Back (5MP) |
USB Type-C | Yes |
Headphone Jack | Yes |
Battery | 3000mAh |
Sim | Yes, 1x nano sim slot. |
Librem 5
Librem 5 is built for those who want more privacy, and it is based on PUREOS, which is user-friendly, secure, and gives you all the control you need.
Five kill switches on the right side of the phone let you manually disconnect WIFI, Microphone, Cellular network, Camera, and Bluetooth.
It is manufactured by Purism, who claim that they built this phone by keeping your needs in mind by adding the following specifications.
Display | 5.7” IPS with 720 x 1440 resolution |
RAM | 3 GB |
CPU | NXP i.MX 8M (4X1.5 GHz) |
GPU | 1000 MHz (NXP i.MX 8M) |
Internal Storage | 32GB |
Camera | Front (13MP), Back (13MP) |
USB Type-C | Yes |
Headphone Jack | Yes |
Battery | 4500mAh (Replaceable) |
Sim | Yes, 1x nano sim slot. |
Volla Phone
Volla Phone resembles all the characteristics of modern phones with a v shape notch, a big battery, Dual-sim card support, a fast processor and ram, and a solid camera.
The OS on this phone is called Volla OS, based on AOSP (Ubuntu touch can also be installed), which has some impressive built-in features like
- Fast, efficiency, and keeps your privacy safe
- Pre-built VPN
- Dual sim and Fingerprint sensor
- All open-source apps
- 8-core processor and 4GB RAM
The key specifications of the Volla Phone include
Display | 6.3” IPS with 720 x 1440 resolution |
RAM | 4 GB |
CPU | Mediatek Helio P23 (Octa Core 2.0 GHz) |
GPU | 700 MHz (ARM Mali-G71 MP2) |
Internal Storage | 64GB |
Camera | Front (16MP), Back (16MP + 2MP) |
USB Type-C | Yes |
Headphone Jack | Yes |
Battery | 5000mAh (Wireless Charging) |
Sim | Yes, 1x nano sim slot. |
FairPhone 4
Phone with a 5-year warranty? Yes, we have FairPhone, which protects your privacy while using recycled products that are easily repairable.
It is not a Linux OS phone but a version of Android with more privacy and is open source. Some Linux OS can be installed on it, but it is not recommended unless you know what you are doing and it goes head-to-head with other phones with the following specifications.
Display | 6.3” AMOLED with 1080 x 2340 resolution |
RAM | 8 GB |
CPU | Snapdragon 750G (2133MHz) |
GPU | 950 MHz (Snapdragon 750G) |
Internal Storage | 256GB |
Camera | Front (25MP), Back (48MP + 48MP) |
USB Type-C | Yes |
Headphone Jack | No |
Battery | 3905mAh |
Sim | Dual sim (Nano, eSIM) |
Pro 1X
Pro 1X is one of the few phones that support Android, Ubuntu Touch, and Lineage OS, and also has a smart QWERTY physical keyboard that brings back memories. It also packs a fast processor, 6 Gigs of ram, and a beautiful Full HD AMOLED display.
The only thing we don’t like about Pro 1X is its camera, which is OK and could’ve been better.
Pro 1X comes with the following powerful specifications
Display | 5.99” AMOLED (Curved Edges) with 1080 x 2340 resolution |
RAM | 6 or 8GB |
CPU | Snapdragon 662 (2133MHz) |
GPU | 610 MHz (Qualcomm Adreno) |
Internal Storage | 128 GB |
Camera | Front (8MP), Back (12MP) |
USB Type-C | Yes |
Headphone Jack | No |
Battery | 3200mAh |
Sim | Dual sim (Nano, eSIM) |
Pros of Linux Phones
Linux Phones have the following advantages over other phones
- Better Security
- Excellent support and no hardware restriction for updates
- USB dock to function as an energy-efficient PC
- Fully customizable OS
- Dual booting to install multiple systems on one phone
Cons of Linux Phones
These are the trending top 5 Linux phones.
Conclusion
Everybody knows top tech Giants like APPLE, SAMSUNG, OR XIAOMI, but only a few people are familiar with Linux Phones. They value their customers’ privacy far more extended than the others. So, if you are looking for a phone with far more privacy and security than anyone else, you should consider these top 5 Linux phones.
The 5 Best Linux Smartphones of 2023 – Linux on the Go
Today our data is becoming vulnerable each day. This is attributed to how some operating systems are not giving enough attention to privacy or malware, phishing, and viruses which with time are becoming powerful.
We need to opt for OS which provides the most privacy features and you know that all of the base, backend, and source code is open source. This is why we have recommended some of the best Linux smartphones that you can choose.
Keep in mind a few things if you opt for a Linux phone:
Point #1: Loss of access to apps like Google Photos, Instagram, and Facebook as they might not be available on OS.
Point #2: As these apps are well-known to collect user data, thus you are not at a loss either.
Contrary, you might find apps with fewer or the same functions but they could be difficult to use.
Best 5 Linux Phones For the Linux and Terminal Enthusiasts
PinePhone (PINE64) – Best Linux Phone
The company named Pine 64 helps people to make their data more private, for this they have launched a product called PinePhone. Though you can get up to 17 OS of personal choice, the latest version of PostMarket OS comes pre-installed with this. It is powered by Linux.
You shall get impressive specifications with this. It comes with:
- Allwinner A64 Quad Core SoC.
- Mali 400 MP2 GPU.
- 2GB LPDR3 which helps to use work device without any lag.
It comes with some downsides:
- 16 GB eMMC is insufficient; you might need an external SD card.
- Its display outmatches Librem 5 as it comes with a 5.95-inch hardened glass LCD.
- 5 MP rear camera and 2 MP front camera does not give sharp quality.
- With 3000 mAh battery, you might need to charge the phone many times but is can be removed.
Like PinePhone it carries killswitches for the camera, wifi, microphone, mobile connectivity, and speakers.
With this, you shall miss out on many apps which are there on the Google Play store but you shall have to make this compromise to have privacy. On the bright side, you can get alternative apps. For now, it is available for $149.
Librem 5 by Purism – Top Linux Phone in the list
If you are looking for a phone which keeps your privacy while using Linux OS then this is the one. It provides full privacy as they have added free and open-source software to this. Moreover, it allows users to:
- Physically disconnect microphone, camera, Bluetooth, wifi, and network connectivity through different Killswitches present on the sides of the device.
It has PureOS; a Linux-based distro that provides security and freedom to users. The best thing is that it comes with high-end specifications.
- MX 8M Quad-Core processor.
- Vivante GC7000Lite GPU for top-notch 3D rendering.
- 3 GB of RAM.
- 32 GB of eMMC storage.
- Install all applications smoothly.
- 7 inch IPS TFT screen.
- 45000 mAh battery, which is user-replaceable.
- 13 MP primary camera and 8 MP front camera.
There shall be some scarcity of available apps; you shall have to access all important apps from categories like video, internet, sound, programming, education, and so on. As we know of Google’s user data policies, it shall have DuckDuckGo as a default search engine. The device gives you more control over data and comes at a $799 price.
Pro1-X Ubuntu Phone – Best Linux Phone Running Ubuntu
When it comes to design its makers have had a unique approach. With a regular touch screen, you shall have an ol’ Qwerty keypad which at some point we all loved. It gives users great privacy. Moreover, you can select from 3 different OS; Android, Lineage OS, and Ubuntu Touch. Select Ubuntu Touch if privacy is your priority though opt for Lineage if you want to have more apps.
It has the following specifications:
- Pro 1 X sports an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chip along with Adreno 540 graphics.
- 6GB RAM.
- 256GB storage space.
- Allows portrait photography all thanks to dual-cameras at back (12 MP Sony IMXX363 + 5MP), take selfies with 8 MP fixed focus front camera.
- Has a display of a 5.99 inches, AMOLED Gorilla Glass 3 display.
- It has 2 SIM slots one word as a micro SD card reader as well.
- The fingerprint reader on side of the phone so that no one can have access to it.
It has the following downside:
- It has a 3200 mAh battery which is non-removable thus you would have to charge your phone again and again.
Volla Phone – Reliable Linux Phone
If you want a phone with high-end specs with some compromise on privacy then get this one. It does not have hardware kill switches though you can get this with Android-powered Volla OS; there is another option in Ubuntu Touch. The makers have prioritized user privacy so rest assured that the phone is a safe yet good option for all privacy needs.
It has the following specifications:
- Octa-core MediaTek Helo P23 with 2.3 GHz processing speed.
- For graphic chip, it features a Mali-G71 MP2 GPU to play games smoothly.
- 4 GB RAM.
- 64 GB storage space.
- 3-inch V-notch display.
- 5000 mAh non-removable battery.
- Finger sensor on the back.
- 16 MP camera both front and back.
- It has two SIM slots.
Such specifications give a tough time to top Android phones available. All thanks to Ubuntu touch your data shall be private as much as it can. It costs around $650.
Cosmo Communicator – Best Kali Linux Phone
If you cannot make a choice out of all then have a look at this one. Though it comes with Android 9 for now, you can manually get other ora like Sailfish OS and Linux Debian. It is similar to Pro 1 X when it comes to design.
It has the following features:
- 6-inch display and a physical QWERTY keypad.
- A 2-inch screen on the back of the device is used to check time and notifications.
- Octa-core MediaTek Helio P70 processor.
- Mali-G72 MP3 GPU guarantees high performance.
- 6 GB RAM.
- 128 GB storage.
- 24 MP rear camera.
- 5 MP front camera.
- 4220 mAh long-lasting battery.
- Fingerprint reader.
- Dual-sim support.
PinePhone Pro – Flagship level Linux OS Phone
This is the upgraded version of the original PinePhone. It has been released with additional RAM, a faster processor and 128 GB of built-in storage. This smartphone can now also send and receive SMS messages along with phone calls because of the RK3399S chip.
The biggest benefit is that it is fully designed around privacy. There are hardware buttons for the camera, WiFi and Bluetooth. These are great as they can then not be turned on by the software.
The camera has also been upgraded with a total of 13 MegaPixel for the main sensor and 5 MegaPixel front shooters. There are currently two versions, a developer edition and a normal edition that you can pre-order.
Conclusion: Will you ever use a Linux Phone?
Today the most popular mobile operating systems are Android or iOS. However, both at core are very identical and have basic terminal functionality. I hope you have liked our selection of the best Linux phones that you can potentially get and experience the Unix experience and stability that they have to offer at the core.