this post was submitted on 04 Sep 2025
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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E: apparently it needs to be said that I am not suggesting you switch to Linux on your phone today; just that development needs to accelerate. Please don't be one of the 34 people that replied to tell me Linux is not ready.

Android has always been a fairly open platform, especially if you were deliberate about getting it that way, but we've seen in recent months an extremely rapid devolution of the Android ecosystem:

  1. The closing of development of an increasing number of components in AOSP.
  2. Samsung, Xiaomi and OnePlus have removed the option of bootloader unlocking on all of their devices. I suspect Google is not far behind.
  3. Google implementing Play Integrity API and encouraging developers to implement it. Notably the EU's own identity verification wallet requires this, in stark contrast to their own laws and policies, despite the protest of hundreds on Github.
  4. And finally, the mandatory implementation of developer verification across Android systems. Yes, if you're running a 3rd-party OS like GOS you won't be directly affected by this, but it will impact 99.9% of devices, and I foresee many open source developers just opting out of developing apps for Android entirely as a result. We've already seen SyncThing simply discontinue development for this reason, citing issues with Google Play Store. They've also repeatedly denied updates for NextCloud with no explanation, only restoring it after mass outcry. And we've already seen Google targeting any software intended to circumvent ads, labeling them in the system as "dangerous" and "untrusted". This will most certainly carry into their new "verification" system.

Google once competed with Apple for customers. But in a world where Google walks away from the biggest antitrust trial since 1998 with yet another slap on the wrist, competition is dead, and Google is taking notes from Apple about what they can legally get away with.

Android as we know it is dead. And/or will be dead very soon. We need an open replacement.

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[–] y0kai@anarchist.nexus 129 points 1 day ago (6 children)

My next phone will run Linux, even if it is inconvenient.

As soon as this phone is paid off, I'll be changing from Google Fi as well. Which sucks because it's hella cheap.

[–] oaklandnative@lemmy.world 1 points 17 hours ago

Mint and US Mobile are both good alternatives to Fi. US Mobile is a bit more flexible since you can use any of the major US carriers.

[–] MasterOKhan@lemmy.ca 44 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I’m with you, I’ve switched all my computers to Linux for similar reasons. I bought an android phone recently and put Linux on that, although still some things to iron out such as sound and microphone input but it’s working well otherwise. Looking forward to when I can ditch my iPhone.

[–] y0kai@anarchist.nexus 14 points 1 day ago

same. There is one windows computer still in this house and it's unplugged. Everything else is Linux, Android, or FreeBSD based.

[–] Jack_Burton@lemmy.ca 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I've switched as well but didn't realize you could put Linux on an android device. Is it a specific distro and can you throw it on an old android tablet?

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 23 points 1 day ago (1 children)

There are several distros. You do need to ensure (as listed in the OP) that your bootloader is unlockable (listed as "OEM unlock" in Android).

  • SailfishOS
  • Ubuntu Touch
  • Mobian
  • PostmarketOS
  • Manjaro ARM
[–] Jack_Burton@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Interesting. I've seen Sailfish mentioned before, I'll look into it. I've got a couple old tablets to mess around with, seems like a fun project. Thanks for the info!

[–] WhatGodIsMadeOf@feddit.org 1 points 8 hours ago

I think they are very device specific. Like only a handful of specific phones have builds for these OS.

[–] MasterOKhan@lemmy.ca 9 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Take a look into PostMarketOS, they are the bleeding edge for Linux mobile development. You can search on their wiki if your phone is supported.

The other solutions listed might be more turn key but not close to mainline Linux. (Custom kernel, etc)

[–] Jack_Burton@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 day ago

Wow, surprised to see the old Samsung Galaxy S3 on there. Looks like I've got a project coming up

[–] pmk@lemmy.sdf.org 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

They don't seem to have any supported devices apart from community contributions?
"These are the most supported devices, maintained by at least 2 people and have the functions you expect from the device running its normal OS, such as calling on a phone, working audio, and a functional UI. Besides QEMU devices, this is currently empty."

[–] MasterOKhan@lemmy.ca 2 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)

Yeah I wasn’t kidding about bleeding edge. It’s a double edged sword. You get more compatibility across a wide range of devices but it might not be 100% polished, yet.

To be fair, as most things in Linux, they are community developed. The community supported devices are supported by people who are taking their personal time to develop Linux to support these devices. You can view each individual device in the wiki to see how much support they have.

It’s all what you’re comfortable with, I still daily drive my iPhone as I need a very reliable device for my work. But I definitely rock my Linux phone when I can.

[–] AmazingAwesomator@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

what phone and os do you have? im currently shopping and have always been on android; im looking for recommendations on both phones and os <3

[–] MasterOKhan@lemmy.ca 1 points 7 hours ago

I have the Nothing Phone 1, running my fork of Mobile NixOS. I bought it because I wanted a bit of a challenge to get it running Linux and it’s relatively newer then other better supported Linux phones. I don’t recommend it for anyone who is new to Linux.

If you’re relatively new to Linux and want something that’s more compatible, I recommend looking at the OnePlus 6 or 6T. They have pretty good support for multiple different distros.

[–] JeremyHuntQW12@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] xthexder@l.sw0.com 18 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

On linux it's just called running an executable

Edit: As a less snarky answer, you can run Android apps natively on linux by installing Android OS in a container using something like ~~Anbox~~ Waydroid.

[–] Marafon@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 day ago (3 children)

What options are you looking into as far as a Fi replacement? I'm also on Fi and want to ditch them, and the Pixel soon.

[–] ArtificialLink@lemy.lol 2 points 1 day ago

I like us mobile alot. Well priced too

[–] magguzu@midwest.social 8 points 1 day ago

I'm on Mint.

T-Mobile acquired them, per the usual bullshit, but I get 15GB a month with unlimited talk and text for "$20" a month. The catch is that you pay yearly in bulk for that price. Had it a year and change. Been solid.

[–] y0kai@anarchist.nexus 5 points 1 day ago (4 children)

I'm likely going to go to t-mobile as they're cheap from what I understand and they make up a big part of the network that google leases, along with (i think) US Cellular, or something similar.

That said, I've got about a year to decide, unless someone decides to hire me and then I can pay my phone off early.

[–] Sarcasmo220@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

As someone dailying a Linux phone, I will say that there were no issues getting it to work on T-Mobile. The only thing I did was manually enter the APN details, but that was an OS thing.

From what I have seen on forums Verizon won't let you at all, and AT&T might take a bit of work to get them to whitelist the IMEI on their network.

[–] duhlieluh@lemmy.zip 5 points 1 day ago

at&t collects any and all data they can and sells it directly to law enforcment and the government btw. im pretty sure they all sell your data, but at&t has illegal deals with the government

[–] Marafon@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Good luck! Hope you get hired soon.

[–] y0kai@anarchist.nexus 4 points 1 day ago

thanks! me too lol

[–] eldavi@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 day ago

go w an mvno; they're usually cheaper and it rob the carriers of profit.

and the carriers deserve it for blacklisting chinese smartphones from their networks in collusion with the us gov't in order to prevent chinese tech from entering the us like they're doing with EV's and solar panels using tariffs.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

My family just switched from T-Mobile, as they've been jacking up prices lately, and without good reason, considering other carriers have better reception anyway.

[–] Flagstaff@programming.dev 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

~~apparently it needs to be said that I am not suggesting you switch to Linux on your phone today; just that development needs to accelerate.~~

I switched to Visible Wireless for now.

[–] AmbiguousProps@lemmy.today 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

They're asking what provider you switched to, not what phone.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 1 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Duh, thank you. Photon makes it hard to see context now.

[–] Xylight@lemdro.id 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Looked at this comment and figured out the issue. I'll push a fix soon!

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Ha, I wasn't trying to call you out. I really like it. It's just there's suddenly a lot of context missing. Thanks.

[–] Flagstaff@programming.dev 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Photon? Is that a Lemmy app? Try Summit! Anyway, thanks. I'm loving US Mobile so far, personally, but Visible would probably be my second choice.

[–] Broken@lemmy.ml 3 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Thanks for recommending Summit. I've been using Thunder and its OK, but initial looks at Summit and it seems much smoother an experience.

[–] Flagstaff@programming.dev 1 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

I came from Thunder, myself! I loved its big buttons, but it otherwise just didn't have enough features. Check it out; you can always uninstall it if you end up disliking it!

[–] Broken@lemmy.ml 1 points 8 hours ago

Liking it so far. Is there a way to make the feed images big thumbnails like on thunder? I was looking around and didn't see a setting for that. That's really the only thing I'm not liking so far, everything else seems like an improvement.

[–] thejevans@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I switched from Google Fi to the T- Mobile MI30TI plan (30GB/month, $10/month, data-only) with JMP.Chat VOIP and couldn't be happier

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

Worth noting that some services will reject VoIP phone numbers.

JMP also explicitly states that it doesn't work for emergency calls.

[–] blindsight@beehaw.org 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Do you need a phone plan at all for emergency calling? It's required for all carriers to take 911 calls in Canada.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That's a good question. You don't need a phone plan but I think you do still need some way to communicate with the towers. If you do like jevans (data plan only), I suspect there will be no calling functionality at all. Emergency or otherwise. But I could be wrong. Take out your SIM card and call 911 and let me know haha.

[–] blindsight@beehaw.org 3 points 1 day ago

It works in Canada without a SIM. I know because my son did it on his "wifi-only" tablet.

[–] thejevans@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 day ago

100% agree. It's worth testing with a new number first before porting your current number to JMP.Chat

[–] y0kai@anarchist.nexus 2 points 1 day ago

I'll have to look into it. 30GB isn't bad at all. I think I have unlimited now with text and phone for only like $10 more a month. I'd have to look, it's been a while since i've dealt with it.