The Year of Linux on Smartphones... Maybe
People often talk about "the Year of Linux on the Desktop," but what about "the Year of Linux on the Smartphone"? Linux on smartphones has been around almost as long as Android and iOS but has never become mainstream except for a few exceptions like the Nokia N900 and Ubuntu Edge. So, is Linux on smartphones now usable? What is still missing? Let’s explore.
Is Linux Mobile Dead?
Many attempts have been made to create alternative Linux-based smartphone operating systems Firefox OS, Bada, Tizen, webOS but all have ultimately failed. The challenge lies in balancing the interests of users who want apps, developers who seek a stable and relevant platform, and hardware manufacturers looking to sell devices. Only Android, after many iterations, has achieved mainstream adoption. But isn’t Android Linux?
Android runs on the Linux kernel, but its applications and user environment are a completely different stack. This means that Linux desktop applications cannot be easily adapted to the Android ecosystem.
What Has Changed in the Past 10 Years in the Android-iOS Duopoly?
- Google is moving toward limiting Android’s openness by restricting side-loading of apps, making the platform more like iOS or a gaming console in terms of app installation.
- Smartphones are now more powerful and more expensive than many average laptops.
- The Linux desktop ecosystem has become more optimized and feature-rich.
- The number of Linux desktop users has increased.
These factors present new incentives to try bringing Linux back to smartphones.
What Is the Killer Feature of Linux Mobile?
There is no single "killer feature" on Linux mobile. Instead, it's like having a full Linux desktop experience in your pocket, for better or worse.
There’s no need to reinvent the wheel an optimized, responsive GNOME app is already a Linux mobile app, enabling you to leverage the existing ecosystem of Linux desktop applications and libraries.
What Is Still Missing?
- A premium smartphone that officially supports Linux mobile, something like the Google Pixel 6, 7, 8, or 9.
- A Chromium-based mobile browser. Firefox Mobile tends to be slow, and although Chromium is faster, it currently lacks a mobile-friendly user interface.
- An offline turn-by-turn navigation app, such as Organic Maps, optimized specifically for Linux mobile rather than Android or GrapheneOS.
- Banking and government apps. While web apps are preferred by many, some regions require specific apps that have become the de facto standard.
If you're ready to dive deep into the rabbit hole, let's begin with PostmarketOS.