#1: no idea
#2: yes, a linux/GNU phone be snappier than the same phone running android
#3: this is called convergence in Linux mobile speak
#4: probably yes. RISC?
#5: read this thread. And don't love appimages, they will bring your phone to its knees. Different discussion that.

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Yes it's to keep the price down. From what I understand, the Librem 5 and the PinePhone use the same cores in their CPUs although the Librem's cpu is newer and clocked higher. Both are still fairly power hungry and have a fairly short battery life compared to an Android.

Yes, especially GPU accelerated OS's.

Even though you can, you don't need 2 desktops anymore. Most of the current options support convergence out of the box. This means plug a usb-c dock into your phone and connect a monitor and keyboard/mouse and the windows can be managed like a regular desktop. If you unplug the dock it switches back to mobile mode. A lot of apps now support mobile and desktop just by resizing.


There is really no "Best". Just as there is no best with desktop linux. Most distros support calls/sms/camera, its more of a carrier thing anymore.

Because a x86 AppImage won't run on an ARM device. There are hardly any AppImages for ARM. I know it works great on the RaspberryPi but I haven't tried it on my PinePhone yet. Besides, you don't "install" apps via AppImages

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Oh wow learnt something new about appimages for ARM i had a talk wif fellow linux newbies and we think if a linux phone works a lot like a droid one i.e everything gets done by tapping many who have not even took the time to explore linux would be more keen to get on the bandwagon? of course for non newbies the option to get things done via terminal would always be there - do you think this makes sense (for those new/alien to linux gnu) Maybe a Voice Asst/AI called "Tux" that does what advance terminal command would? For example saying on the phone "Tux install GIMP" does the entire process for the user haha

Currently most Linux Mobile interfaces are touch and swipe based, the exception would be SXMO(Suckless Mobile) which uses swipe/hardware buttons. There's a nice selection available. They are getting quite good, however currently I don't think either the PinePhone or the Librem 5 are ready for Linux beginners.

I think there are some voice assistants for Linux but I can't remember where I seen that. Hardly a good idea since typing apt install gimp does it all for you already Plus most mobile distros include a gui app "store".

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Phones with hardware keyboards are the way to go

As a web developer, being able to run a Linux distro alongside your pre-existing mobile OS on your android phone is a very enticing offer.

My first phone was a Samsung with a qwerty keyboard. I really liked it but it's possible to get used to anything... including a slab of glass

Did you see the planned PinePhone keyboard? https://www.pine64.org/2021/02/15/fe...show-and-tell/

Not sure how useful it would be for a phone but looks really neat for coding in the go. Just replaces the back cover. I think a slide out would be nicer but I also like the idea of that extra battery in the keyboard.

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Bit confusing, that page. It's all in prototype phase it seems.
PinePhone is one of the best things that happened to the world of FLOSS for a long time...
But I have both a working N900 sitting here, and a Motorola Droid 4 waiting for me to install Maemo Leste on it. And a Sony Xperia XA2 with SailfishOS. I'm not bragging, but I'm saturated for the near-mid future.

Still, that extra battery is dope!

Thanks for the link Mill J. That's exciting news.

I don't know if any of you seen this already, but here is his PinePhone review: https://youtube.com/watch?v=fCKMxzz9cjs

Parts have become available and the Pinephone Beta is going on pre-order now. This Beta is meant for DEVELOPERS, so please do not jump on it if you do not develop Linux for phones. The point is that once this is out in more developers hands a public-ready version is only a matter of time, parts, and coding.

Keep an eye on Pine64!

I've been flip-flopping on the Pinephone for well over a year and it was actually the Short Circuit video that at the same time impressed the hell out of me but made me hesitate and hesitate for maybe a year. It's because of noting the lack of power and weak battery. There seems little room for doubt that will all be fixed but it may take a year or more to do so. I'm actually toying with the idea of buying a refurbed, unlocked Samsung but the prices are so high compared to my low need for a smartphone that I will probably just wait another year for Pinephone to step up. They've come so far in just one year, shoot! even in just a few months! it's likely worth it to wait a wee bit longer. Hopefully enterprising devs will jump on the Beta. It's pretty exciting.

I was looking into getting a tablet with linux and would be awesome it if had mint on it.
What would be the best 10" plus tablet to test for this?

Right now there are very few options. Pine64 developed the PineTab that uses the same CPU as the PinePhone, but due to the LCD shortage, the production is currently halted. There is also a Chinese company that's running a Kickstarter for a tablet running JingOS Linux. No idea what the specs are.

I believe there's a few consumer products that should be Linux-capable without much hassle. Pre-installed is always a tall order, though.

I'd look for Windows Tablets that others have installed Linux on.
I'd look for Ubuntu's list of supported devices (which should extend to Linux Mint).
I'd look on Mr Chromebox' site for supported devices
A simple search for "linux tablet" might also help.