Sick of Android? Don't want to be locked to a proprietary ecosystem? Security and privacy are becoming increasingly important for smartphone users, but what is the answer?
Is it possible to abandon Android and iOS for another mobile operating system?
When you want an alternative operating system, Linux is usually the answer. But what Linux smartphone operating systems are available to install today? When you want to replace Android with Linux, here are the distros you should try.
1. Ubuntu Touch
Originally released by Ubuntu developers Canonical, the most famous Linux mobile OS, Ubuntu Touch, is now maintained by UBports.
Ubuntu Touch's approach to smartphones is intelligent, dealing with the lack of apps by providing social, news, and photo tools natively. This is done in the guise of Scopes, different pages of the Home screen that provide customized news, weather, apps, and social networks.
It works well, too, although there is always a time when apps are needed.
Perhaps Ubuntu Touch's greatest strength, however, is Convergence.
This is a system, much like Samsung DeX, in which the mobile device is connected to a wireless HDMI device, keyboard, and mouse, and used as a desktop computer. The only real difference between this and your desktop Linux device is that the phone has an ARM processor.
Currently supported devices include Volla Phone, Fairphone 2, OnePlus One, and the BQ Aquaris tablet. Many other phones can run Ubuntu Touch – check the list of supported phones to learn more.
2. postmarketOS
Describing itself as "a real Linux distribution for phones" postmarketOS (pmOS) is a version of Alpine Linux for smartphones.
After years of development, pmOS is currently in beta, to create a sustainable mobile OS, one with long-term support.
Currently supported devices include the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2015) and A5 (2015) along with the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini Value Edition as well as the following:
- ASUS MeMo Pad 7
- BQ Aquaris X5
- Motorola Moto G4 Play
- Nokia N900
- PINE64 PinePhone
- PINE64 PineTab
- Purism Librem 5
- Wileyfox Swift
A wide number of devices can run pmOS, including the Amazon Fire HDX and Google Nexus devices.
In offering multiple desktop environments, the pmOS project looks well-placed to fulfill its aim of creating a long-term sustainable Linux mobile operating system.
3. Sailfish OS
Jointly developed by Jolla, Mer (a middleware stack developer), the Sailfish Alliance (a group of corporations) and community members, Sailfish OS is a continuation of abandoned operating system MeeGo, itself based on Maemo and Moblin.
The latest version of Sailfish OS is known as Sailfish X, which runs on Sony Xperia X devices. Unfortunately, Sailfish OS is not open source, and the free version is a time-limited trial.
The full version of Sailfish X will set you back around $50, and it's only available within the European Union, Norway, and Switzerland. As noted on the website:
"…the use of our website and services to purchase Sailfish X outside of the Authorized Countries is prohibited."
Sailfish OS has Android app support, so if that appeals, this mobile Linux OS is worth trying out.
4. Mobian
Simply described as "Debian for Mobile" Mobian is a Linux smartphone OS that has been in development since 2020. It's available for phones and tablets, and there is also a version of x86-based devices, such as standard PCs, laptops, hybrids, and Windows tablets.
- Librem 5
- OnePlus 6
- PinePhone
- PineTab
- Xiaomi Pocophone F1
- Surface Pro 3 tablet
Mobian looks a solid Linux OS for mobile phones, but if you don't have a suitable device, consider an alternative.
5. LuneOS
The successor to webOS (an early HP-owned challenger to Android and iOS), LuneOS is based on Linux. Intended to run on Android phones, if the target hardware has a CyanogenMod or LineageOS ROM, LuneOS should work on the device.
Despite being in development since 2014, however, LuneOS remains in an alpha development stage. This might be seen as frustrating. However, most effort for webOS is in the Smart TV sphere, so LuneOS seems unlikely to break through as a Linux phone distro.
Other Linux Mobile Projects
As of this writing, some other notable Linux mobile projects are underway:
PureOS
A security-focused Linux phone OS from Purism, there is currently there is no way to download PureOS and install it. Rather, it is the default OS for Purism's first phone, the Librem 5.
Potentially the most secure and private mobile platform yet, much of this relies on the Librem 5 hardware, which includes kill switches for camera, mic, and connectivity. This is probably why this Linux OS for mobile devices hasn't been officially released for other hardware.
Plasma Mobile
If you're running a Linux phone distro and don't like how it looks, take a look at Plasma Mobile. Rather than a Linux based mobile OS, it's a desktop environment.
This is a smartphone-focused spin on the popular Plasma, deemed one of the best Linux desktop environments. Plasma Mobile's aim is to become a "complete and open software system for mobile devices."
You can run Plasma Mobile as an alternative desktop with postmarketOS, as well as dedicated mobile builds of Manjaro ARM and openSUSE.
PinePhone and postmarketOS devices can be used with Plasma Mobile. It will also work with x86_64 based phones and tablets, as well as in a virtual machine.
Perhaps the best thing about the Plasma Mobile project is that you're able to run desktop Plasma apps and widgets, as well as Ubuntu Touch apps. This gives the project a wider selection of apps than Ubuntu Touch.
Can You Replace Android With Linux on a Tablet?
Some of the devices that these Linux phone distros work on are in fact tablets. Most of these are Android tablets, although you might install Linux on a Windows tablet with Plasma Mobile.
As with the various smartphones, you'll need to check each Linux mobile OS for compatibility. While you can't replace Android OS with Linux on most Android tablets, it is worth investigating, just in case.
One thing you definitely can't do, however, is install Linux on an iPad. Apple keeps its operating system and hardware firmly locked, so there is no avenue for Linux (or Android) here.
Your Smartphone Deserves It: Replace Android With Linux
Amazingly there are five different Linux builds you can install on your mobile phone:
- Ubuntu Touch
- postmarketOS
- Sailfish OS
- Mobian
- LuneOS
As people become more privacy conscious and demand more control of their phones so Linux for mobile devices will become more popular. Get ahead of the curve—if your phone supports Linux, learn how to replace Android with Linux today.
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