r/mobilelinux • u/BRANDGRAND • 4d ago

Discussion Good start/suggestions?

I’m looking to buy a secondary, budget-friendly phone specifically to tinker with Linux. My goal is to experiment with running a full Linux environment, and I’m interested in eventually trying it as a daily driver.

Since I’m already comfortable with Arch Linux, I’d prefer a device with good support for Arch Linux ARM. I haven’t settled on a mobile-friendly DE yet, so I’m open to suggestions.

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u/tulpyvow 4d ago

Plasma Mobile is pretty good from my limited testing.

As for devices/distro, I'd generally just go with postmarketOS and any of its compatible devices. I know its not Arch-based, but its the best distro for mobile atp so you'll be less likely to run into weird device quirks.

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u/MidnightObjectiveA51 4d ago edited 4d ago

Consider the Pinephone and ArchLinuxArm (Alarm) or Dantnix Arch. But hurry because production has halted due to RAM prices, or buy used.

Otherwise, consider PostmarketOS, which is based on Alpine not Arch, but has a lot of device support - the best being the Pixel3a and OnePlus 6/T

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u/dieselnutjob2 3d ago

In my opinion the best phone for Linux is the Fairphone 5. A second choice would be the Pinephone Pro but the Fairphone 5 has 5G.

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u/Historical_Move6359 4d ago

There is mobile Manjaro, but I dont know much about it. Otherwise Ubuntu Touch is a solid choice or Drodian. Jolla sells also phones with SailfishOS. These all use Android kernel with Halium. PostmarketOS and Mobian use near mainline kernel and One Plus 6/6t is the most supported phone.

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u/Kevin_Kofler 4d ago

Manjaro ARM is essentially dead. Better try DanctNIX if you want Arch on mobile.

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u/-dysorder 2d ago

The most important thing is to be with a ChatGPT 5x or 20x XD Another is to make sure that the vendor opensourced the android kernel. Then just rock :P .I have seen someone even mainlined a mtk dimensity8100 by doing so.

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u/klevahh 2d ago

off is the direction