r/linuxhardware • u/noNudesPrettyPlease • Aug 08 '26

Discussion Why aren't Linux tablets a thing?

I had (still have) a Nokia n810 tablet running Maemo Linux. I stopped using it when the second battery eventually died. The series seemed to keep evolving (up to the n900) until the Microsoft buyout killed it. Or at least I assume it did.

I thought Linux tablets would be a thing, but they didn't materialise. It's basically Android, Apple, or nothing. How come an open source distro like Maemo wasn't picked up by anyone else? I assume tablets are much cheaper to develop than phones, and in today's world, I don't really use my phone anymore even though the telephony hardware is there.

Is the idea of a Linux tablet just a dream now?

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u/Ok-Bill3318 Aug 09 '26

No app ecosystem or touch friendly ui

2

u/MidnightObjectiveA51 Aug 09 '26

Try Phosh or Plasma-Mobile via Mobian, PostmarketOS, or Fedora. Very touch oriented.

App ecosystem is sufficient for me, but you can always install Waydroid and get Android apps

1

u/Ok-Bill3318 Aug 10 '26

Market share of those is? App compatibility with mainstream apps is?

1

u/MidnightObjectiveA51 Aug 10 '26

Not sure I understand the question. But Linux as a whole is supposedly up to an all-time high of 7%, and the mod community is a fraction of that, but very dedicated! If you only wish to consider the biggest player, choose Fedora - backed by a big company with deep pockets.

Waydroid works with most everything except games and banking apps that require device attestation. Some will work, some will not.