SamJun 29, 2025

It is so cool!
I am by no means an expert in those things but I got a linux OS running on a new smartphone.
This is a Fairphone 6 running PostmarketOS with Phosh and I love it.
Thank you @postmarketOS @phosh for all the great work.

This post was sent from the fairphone with @Tuba 🥳
A really great software for the fediverse even on a small mobile screen.
#fairphone #fairphone6 #phosh #mobilelinux #postmarketos

Show threadSamJun 29, 2025

To be fair, there are still a few things missing to use it as a daily driver. Network and internet works only through USB and the OS runs on a SD-Card. The camera, audio, calls, mobile data etc. doesn't work right now.
On the postmarketOS wiki is a list with (not)working features: https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Fairphone_(Gen._6)_(fairphone-fp6)

My experience is somewhat similar. The battery reporting is missing on my device but I think thats only because of missing knowledge on my side 😄

Fairphone (Gen. 6) (fairphone-fp6) - postmarketOS Wiki

Show threadgoebbeJun 29, 2025
@sam01 😂 Thank for sharing.
It's very good news, that the OS is booting and running - but without wireless/ calling/ camera this is not ready for prime-time. Not yet. 🤞
Show threadGamey  Jun 30, 2025
@goebbe @sam01 It ran on day one tho so I would expect a bright future for Linux on this device. Fairphones tend to spark a lot of interest from the Linux community in general and I wouldn't be surprised if those missing features get implemented relatively (for FOSS standards) soon!
Show threadAtiJun 30, 2025
@gamey @goebbe @sam01 Are you into Linux on mobile? Is there a working configuration available on the market now? I mean any phone running PM OS / Mobian / whichever distro, that could be used as a daily driver, with no proprietary shit like Whatsapp etc ofc but with working calls / texts / camera / data and linux apps?
Show threadGamey  
@ati1 @goebbe @sam01 (1/2) I used to own one of the first Pinephones (awful peace of ewaste) but the cops never gave it back and I stopped blogging about it a year or two before that anyway. I have to admit that I am a little out of the loop now but I think Ubuntu Touch with an Android kernel is probably still the best phone experience in the linux world, you can check device compatibility on their website.
Jul 1, 2025 at 8:38amWeb
Show threadGamey  Jul 1, 2025
@ati1 @goebbe @sam01 (2/2) If you want a mainline kernel you will probably have to tinker a little more but for certain devices it should be daily drivable too. In that case PostmarketOS with Phosh or Plasma Mobile are probably your best bet and you can check device compatibility on their wiki. In both cases you will have to make significant sacrifices in terms of app compatibility, battery life and features compared to open source Android (Lineage, Calyx and co.) tho so be prepared for that!
Show threadGamey  Jul 1, 2025
@ati1 @goebbe @sam01 Over all I think your best bet for reliable and future proof phone usage is probably the Fairphone 5 with Ubuntu Touch and a Android kernel using Halium! But with that you are on a Android kernel and I am pretty sure Ubuntu Touch still lacks Flatpak support and I am not entirely sure how well Libadwaita and Plasma Mobile apps work there rn.
Show threadAtiJul 3, 2025
@gamey @goebbe @sam01 Thanks. I tried Lineage OS for 3 months and it worked fine (apart for banking/paying and some specific apps relying heavily on Google Services notifications -> like bike alarm). But, making usability and security sacrifices and still being 100% dependent on Google software (AOSP) and their present and future "politics" is what bugged me. After 3 months UT + 3 months Lineage I'm back on iOS and looking for true Linux on mobile.
Show threadAtiJul 3, 2025
@gamey @goebbe @sam01 Looks like there is no real hardware declared 100% compatible with Postmarket yet. Or even "usable". I looked at Mobian but there it looks like best option would be ... PinePhone Pro. I see lots and lots of negative comments about original PinePhone hardware reliability (you called it ewaste yourself 🥹) so I guess "pro" doesn't have to be better. Especially as it is chinese company. Which is also a dealbreaker for me. 🙄
Show threadAtiJul 3, 2025
@gamey @goebbe @sam01 I have used Ubuntu Touch for 2 or 3 months on Pixel 3A I bought for that job, but it doesn't run Linux apps and those made for UT and available at their store are mostly not maintained at all, even basic stuff like podcast players are full of bugs, not usable. And using web apps is not a solution really cos even UT web browser is terribly outdated and seen as security threat by many web apps 😟
Show threadMiss BehaveJul 9, 2025
@ati1 i daily drive a google pixel 3a with postmarketos. calls, sms, gps etc works, however the camera is still crap (but might improve in the future). i tried the librem5, too, but it is too slow for me. the OP6T is great, but audio on calls does not work right, so its no good choice as a phone. Edit: WiFi is not always stable, but i am on mobile data nearly all the time, so that does not bother me much;)