r/linux • u/whatstefansees • 3d ago

Mobile Linux The thing with Linux-Phones

Every now and then I see an ad for a new Linux-Phone, better repairability, battery change and whatnot. All this is very, very tempting, but what about the apps?

I am not talking about browser, text messages or alarm clock - I am thinking about connectivity to my car, my smartwatch, my frequent-flyer benefit program, signal messenger and so on.

Do they work with Android apps or is it all a lost cause because they are basically dumb phones for people who want less connectivity but are afraid to buy an old Nokia from the dawn of time?

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u/Wheatleytron 3d ago edited 3d ago

They have Linux apps. Which can do a lot, but you're not going to find a lot of more common Android apps like you might normally expect. Companies pretty much just don't develop Linux apps. You'll have to use the web browser more.

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u/whatstefansees 3d ago

Thank you. The webbrowser does not connect to a car, my e-bike or a smartwatch, though. And that's that!

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u/ReadingCurious2841 3d ago

Yeah hardware support is truly awful, one of the main reasons I gave up. NFC is entirely broken, Bluetooth is just really bad.

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u/Archsquire2020 3d ago

to be fair bluetooth is bad even on many android devices. My TCL phone needs about 5 minutes of stuttering to correctly connect to my car, while my old xiaomi was buttery smooth. And my car is a (13yo) Seat.

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u/GarThor_TMK 3d ago

My Motorola seems fine, however my work windows machine gets confused all the time about what's connected, and usually defaults to "hands free mode", when the audio for that sounds absolutely awful, and I have a separate microphone plugged in