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I've been happily using "GNU/Linux phones" since 2008, with only 2-3 years around 2017 of using an Android device as a backup, so there's no need to "hope"; you can just act.


I would be interested in hearing more details. What devices? N900? Pinephone? And what particular distro(s) / software stack(s)?


From 2008 to about 2011: Neo Freerunner, first on Om2007.2, then on SHR.

Then Nokia N900 with Maemo 5, in 2017-2019 augmented by Samsung Galaxy S3 with LineageOS as a secondary device since N900 was getting unusable for the Web by then.

And finally since 2020 up to now, Librem 5 with PureOS, which removed the need to carry an Android device again.


How's the battery life?

Does the phone last an entire day on a single charge?


I am trying out a Oneplus 6 on Mobian, and I got 29 hours of battery life on idle, and it is looking to be around 15 hours with light usage.

With a Librem 5, its 12ish hours on idle, 20 hours on suspend, and 4-5 hours light usage.


do they make phone calls? can they tether 5G?

If so, I might be able invert my plan: use the Linux phone with phone/5G/useful software most of the time, and a cheap android phone in my bag that only comes out for things that need the monopoly apps and tethers to the useful one occasionally when necessary.


Both of those phones support LTE only. Both make/receive phone calls, but the Librem 5 is more stable on that front.

The Fairphone 4/5 supports 5G, but I don't know how stable they are on pmOS/Mobian


any suggestions on how you would call somebody on an iPhone over 5G or WiFi instead of a proper phone call on these? currently use WhatsApp.


https://jmp.chat/


Depends on your definition of "lasting an entire day", but for me it lasts just long enough to usually not bother carrying a power bank with me. Usage patterns vary though.


it lasts 46 minutes




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