What phones Linux users use?

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Resident-Cricket-710@reddit

android sync'd to the desktop via kde connect/gs connect

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SunlightScribe@reddit

The one thing I hate about KDE Connect is that you can't turn it off. I wish it could be disabled while not in use.

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Insight-Seeker-8@reddit

So like, disconnecting a device? Unpair

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SunlightScribe@reddit

No, KDE Connect is running in the background 24/7 on your phone listening for a connection. Seems like a total waste if it's something you only use occasionally.

But as the other person said, you can stop the app. But it should really have its own on/off switch.

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Resident-Cricket-710@reddit

I use GNOME/GS Connect, and I either click the GSConnect button in the quick menu to turn it off or just stop the KDE app on my phone.

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01111010t@reddit

I use GrapheneOS for mobile and Fedora on desktop.

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payne747@reddit

I wanna use it but I'm worried about banking apps not supporting it. Any issues with that at all?

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DonaldMerwinElbert@reddit

You have internet access, do you not?

From GrapheneOS usage guide - banking apps:
Banking Applications Compatibility with GrapheneOS

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payne747@reddit

Yeah I checked that thanks, I like getting my results from multiple sources including asking people directly on this internet you speak of.

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DonaldMerwinElbert@reddit

I don't see how random people from different countries using different banking apps perhaps answering you "works for me" here is of any value, but you do you.

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Google wallet doesn't work. While my bank's administrative apps work, they rely on Gwallet for nfc payments. I've had to buy a phone case with a card slot to pay with. Also mcdonalds doesn't, which helps me eat healthy I guess.

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choochoomthfka@reddit

The two ofmy banking apps work flawlessly on GrapheneOS

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laczek_hubert@reddit

In Poland I use iko which supports Huawei so any self contained banking app should work

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sammyTheSpiceburger@reddit

That's my concern

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sob727@reddit

Graphene here too

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Raevyxn@reddit

GrapheneOS here too (which works on pixel phones)

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DFS_0019287@reddit

Android, but I don't like it particularly. I would love to run actual Linux on a phone.

I used to own a Nokia N900 which did run Linux (and X11) and I loved the phone. Sadly, the hardware eventually died and the software wasn't receiving any updates, so I had to let it go.

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Live-Imagination1350@reddit

It depends of your device you might wanna check PostmarketOS.

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DFS_0019287@reddit

I installed it on an old Motorola phone, but I don't think the phone or the camera worked.

I want a phone designed to run Linux that is fully supported by the manufacturer. While efforts like PostmarketOS are interesting and admirable, they're not what I'm looking for.

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Matheweh@reddit

I use GrapheneOS, so whenever you decide to switch look at which is the latest supported devices: https://grapheneos.org/faq#supported-devices

Supposedly Motorola will be releasing a Thinkphone with official support "Soon™": https://motorolanews.com/motorola-three-new-b2b-solutions-at-mwc-2026/

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Helmic@reddit

I'm just worried Motorola's GrapheneOS phone will be way overpriced for the hardware. With the Pixel phones, you had the option of an older model or a flagship at a fairly reasonable price which made using GrapheneOS as a daily driver as a "normal" person pretty easy, like i'm not unhappy to be using a Pixel and I could easily find refurbished models online to get one for cheap, it is a fantastic daily driver and I have no need for a second phone. With Motorola... like I'm worried I'm gonna get jumpscared with a $1200 phone with $200 specs, or an "affordable" phone that isn't really suitable for anything that isn't phone calls and messaging.

Sure, I'll pay a bit of a premium for privacy and security, but like a good chunk of the people I point towards GrapheneOS are activists and trans people, people that have very good reason to care about their privacy but are fucking broke. I don't expect a Moto phone to be dirt cheap day 1 or anything, but I would hope that the used market is reasonable enough that regular people don't feel like they're being exploited buying one of these.

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Matheweh@reddit

Even then you'll have the cheaper older Pixels because the long support period, and I assume that as new Motorola phones come out then the older ones get cheaper.

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quilllord@reddit

why do you think these phones will have a premium attached to it? doesnt make sense to me. all they need to do is meet minimum req for graphene.

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Lmaoboobs@reddit

You are already in the Apple ecosystem just get an iPhone.

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Raiderb8@reddit

This is the way.. I use grapheneOS on my Pixel 8 pro, Catchy OS on my thinkpads and desktop.

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morpheus-91@reddit

Oneplus 6T

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EfficiencyMurky7309@reddit

My daily driver is an iPhone these days. But I have so many old phones in a drawer that I pull out for a look every now and then. Last week I pulled out an old Galaxy Nexus from 2011 that I installed Ubuntu Touch on.

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rklrkl64@reddit

I use LineageOS on a second-hand Sony Xperia 1 III - cost me £150, whereas it was stupidly priced at £1199 when new. Its Snapdragon 888 is decently quick, I get weekly OS updates (more often than a Pixel!) and there's no notch/cutout on the screen (it's one of the very few non-gaming good spec phones released this decade that has a "100% screen").

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Live-Imagination1350@reddit

I like that OP asked for Linux phones and everyone says about their Android phone.

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jikt@reddit

I have a Xiaomi Poco x5 Pro. Getting the bootloader unlocked was a fiasco. Now that it's unlocked, degoogled, dexiaomied, with crdroid there are days where I still have 80% battery with normal use. It used to scrape by at 10% if I was lucky.

I switched full time to Linux over a year ago and since making the real effort to learn new things and change my thinking and expectations, it's been the catalyst for my efforts to disconnect from Google and all other cloud services as best I can.

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309_Electronics@reddit

Android on a cheao samsung phone. I do want to eventually de-google my life but only when i am confortable in doing so. So eventually i want to switxg to graphene os or any other aosp os.

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seiha011@reddit

I'm a bit of a tinkerer at times. On my PC I use Debian and my smartphone is Fairphone 6... not yet with e/OS. ;-)

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Seamo_Bojamo@reddit

I use a iPhone and I use LocalSend if I need to send stuff between the two. I don’t have any need for any more connection (phone calls, messages, etc.)

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EmpanSpace@reddit

Xperia 10 III Running SailfishOS (linux)

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dramake@reddit

I have a OnePlus 13 with oxygen os 16.

I don't find useful for my use case having any kind of integration with my computer, so I don't use kde connect nor any other similar app.

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2016-679@reddit

My Jolla with SailfishOS was the best connecting to Linux and FreeBSD -- just plug it in or ssh. Also the file system has no hidden corners, has complete Linux structure.

That phone is from 2014 (first series) and had it limitations in browsing. Websites become code and feature bloated and can't be read bij the browser.

Therefore I bought a Ulefone Armor24 with Android. I use it without any Google services, apps from FDroid. The Armor24 has some nifty features that are specific to this phone. That's why I keep the original OS.

The 'Nokia features' were a selling point to me -- eternal battery life (22.000 mWh) and very robust.

Connecting to my FreeBSD box for syncing the ssd card is a bit of a challenge though but workable. Android seems not to understand the file permissions even though I used rsync with skipping groups and owner.

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LLVM_WIFI_DOOB_NERF@reddit

I go to a TwoPluss bar and waive my dollar.

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sndrtj@reddit

I have a a Fairphone. Still normal Android tho. Next phone may be one with e/OS.

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tungnon@reddit

iPhone because it works for me Great battery life too

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_MatVenture_@reddit

Not trying to be a dick, but surely "great battery life" on iPhone is satire, right?

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Desertcow@reddit

iPhones have Apple Silicon, the OS and the chips are literally designed from the ground up to work together efficiently. Apple's also much more restrictive about what apps can do in the background to save battery

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cyanophage@reddit

IPhones have used Apple's own chip since the iPhone 4. So you're saying iPhone battery life has been industry leading since the iPhone 4? Because we all know that's not been the case 😂

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Desertcow@reddit

They've been more efficient power wise, they get more mileage per mah than Android phones usually, but whether that translates to battery life has depended on the size of the battery. Apple was obsessed with making ultra thin phones for a while and usually had half the battery capacity of Androids until they started putting larger batteries in

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Apple-Connoisseur@reddit

My six year old iPhone usually lasts me a day or two. To be fair I'm going to be 40 next year and really don't use it that much.

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tungnon@reddit

I am on IPhone 17 Pro. My battery usually survives 2-3 days without charging.

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Winter_Cockroach714@reddit

IOS is complete and utter garbage.

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baikal718@reddit

Ok

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HomsarWasRight@reddit

K

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Puzzleheaded-Sky2284@reddit

same here. Sure iOS isn't the most customizable but my phone is a tool and my iphone is way more reliable than any android phone I've ever used

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mrandr01d@reddit

It ain't more private, I can tell you that much.

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cAtloVeR9998@reddit

At least with enabling “Advanced Data Protection”, significantly more data is E2EE than what is easily possible on Android. (Though far from perfect, such as location sharing not being E2EE).

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McGuirk808@reddit

How is it? I've been using Nexus/Pixel for years, but google voice typing is getting so unspeakably shitty that I'm considering switching for that alone.

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tungnon@reddit

I don’t really use voice typing. But social media, messaging, banking, and photos are super reliable for me.

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0x196@reddit

Librem5. Pine Phone before that. There are dozens of us. Dozens!

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gavff64@reddit

Man I seriously considered a Nothing Phone 1 with PostmarketOS as a crazy full-time experiment. The support is surprisingly good for a modern sleek phone like that.

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_WeStErEq_@reddit

Bone stock CMF Phone 2 Pro
Why?
Because it was cheap and decent
And i'm broke after getting a framework laptop

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Blitzbahn@reddit

Does iOS have KDE Connect? It's an amazing feature. So easy to use. Works great on Android

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tungnon@reddit

Yes we have that here Not sure if it’s the same in functionality but yeah it’s here

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gavff64@reddit

It’s pretty barebones on iOS but tbf I only cared for file transfer anyway which it does great

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rakhalism@reddit

grapheneOS

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DoubleOwl7777@reddit

just a moto g82 android phone with the stock os but will switch to a pixel with graphene os when that dies.

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air_dancer@reddit

Couldn't afford a Pixel 😭

Got a Nothing Phone 4a instead.

My previous one was a Poco F5 which was debloated using Universal Android Debloater. Never getting another Xiaomi ever again...and I'll stay the away from Infinix, Oppo, Tecno, and Vivo as well. They all make it difficult to unlock the bootloader.

If money isn't an issue, get the latest Pixel, debloat using UAD if necessary, and flash Graphene OS when it no longer receives software support.

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twisted_nematic57@reddit

I don’t use my phone a lot and frankly don’t care much about it. I’ve been using an iPhone SE 2 for a while now.

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whaleboobs@reddit

The Gnuphone: https://i.ibb.co/xq5ghRQn/ea0d9fb0-6944-4da4-9811-bfb1a04c196e.png

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LemmysCodPiece@reddit

I just have a cheapish Motorola that suits my needs. I uninstall all of the OEM crap and I am done.

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Pugs-r-cool@reddit

I have an iphone and a macbook, they work really well together. I use linux on my desktop pc.

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jhaimgirl@reddit

I have Fairphone 6 with Murena /e/os. Will install Ubuntu Touch or Sailfish OS at some point, even though /e/os is really good. I just want to do away with android.

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Wolltapir@reddit

/e/OS on a Fairphone 5 after /e/OS on a Fairphone 3

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TheCrustyCurmudgeon@reddit

I went back and forth for several years and then returned to Apple. Never looked back and can't imagine I ever will. Hands down, iPhone was the best, no question. Reliable, top quality, privacy, everything works, seamless, amazing apps, no google necessary.

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BigHeadTonyT@reddit

I generally get Android phones that are easy to unlock bootloader on and relatively cheap. Motorola is easy to root. I run e/OS on it. Before that, had a Huawei that was rooted too. I look for a phone, then see if there is a ROM for it. Or in the case of e/OS, see what they support and find the cheapest option that is still sold. I think my Motorola phone was 2-3 years old but it still gets updates from e/OS. Was barely sold anywhere anymore, IIRC.

I did try some Linux distro or two on Android, didn't work that well for me. Sorta like a VM, I don't remember details. I installed terminal instead, works for what I need it for. It was something similar to this: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tech.ula

I stay away from Apple. Never owned a single device from them. To me they are the more expensive version of Microsoft/Windows. I don't use any of MS software or hardware any more. Well, I am pretty sure MS owns Android patents that they troll with. Maybe I am paying MS tax anyway.

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duck-and-quack@reddit

I’ve been using android since the nexus one, my last android currently is the galaxy s20.

Right now I’m using an iPhone, I switched two years ago because I didn’t like how android it’s moving from “operating system” to “ profiling platform for selling ads “ .

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Longjumping-Youth934@reddit

pixel

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Davoomer@reddit

It’s really hard and I don’t recommend it, but I use Ubuntu touch.

It’s counter intuitive on most of the ways to use it, but right now I found a way, and for me is getting useful and fun.

If you want to taste that hard spicy flavor, then first check the compatibility with your phone and read everything you can find about it. But this is not a trip for everyone.

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lunchbox651@reddit

We don't use phones, we send messages via SSH

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SeyAssociation38@reddit

i use an android phone because it is more open than iphone. you can install linux on a phone like for example postmarket os but it is a pain to use because, for most users there is no point in using it.

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Migamix@reddit

Google phones since galaxy nexus (got railed without lube being on Verizon with that one), droid x before that, it got bricked on my birthday with an update also by Verizon. I have always hated apple products, their high price for marginal hardware, to current behaviour that gave John Deere the drive to be the same type of pricks. In fact the only apple products in my house are two old Mac pros running mint, and a apple] [c right next to my Amiga 500 and 1200.

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khsh01@reddit

I went the kde connect route. I'm out of luck on custom roms because I use a foldable from Samsung.

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CompetitionPlane1848@reddit

I currently daily an S25 Ultra with stock OneUI 8. Arch on my secondary computer and MacOS on my primary.

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Internal_Falcon2637@reddit

Whatever phone you like, go for a good product not brand loyalty. I recommend used ones on ebay, if you want I can send you who I buy from.

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porfiriopaiz@reddit

Motorola ThinkPhone, I should be using a Google Pixel with GrapheneOS.

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lvl-46-primeape@reddit

Started off on Windows Phone (RIP best mobile OS ever), switched to Android, just switched to iOS this September with the iPhone Air. The design is amazing and iOS is fine. It’s caught up enough for me to want to try it, and I personally really like Liquid Glass. I don’t prefer iOS over Android or vice versa as they’re so close to each other these days that it’s literally not worth it to bother picking. Just go with whatever phone looks neat and you’ll be good.

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OscarCookeAbbott@reddit

I use an iPhone, but if I were to switch away in future I’d get one of the upcoming Motorola phones with GrapheneOS.

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Scoutron@reddit

iPhone. Amazing hardware, amazing software, does everything I need a phone to do at a good price, great battery life and plays nice with my Apple ecosystem

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lululock@reddit

Google Pixel 8 Pro. Waiting for the warranty to end before putting it on GraphenOS.

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AndreVallestero@reddit

LineageOS on a 5 year old xiaomi phone. Might switch to the upcoming Motorola phone with graphene pre installed.

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LinuxJeb@reddit

I'm with T-Mobile so I have to wait a little while, but as soon as I get the chance, I'm moving to lineage.

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Luke3120@reddit

Pixel 10 / GrapheneOS

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Munalo5@reddit

I have an A-16 Samsung. I use KDE-Connect too.

Linux doesn't have the best Speech to Text software but , I can use my android phone for that saving it into a text file. Then just send it over with KDE-Connect.

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mrandr01d@reddit

Stock pixel, but I avoid things like Facebook, etc. If I was going to change anything, I'd keep using a pixel and install graphene on it.

Won't catch me dead using an iPhone.

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6gv5@reddit

Pixel 7 pro as phone with Graphene OS; I don't do any banking/social media or money related things on the phone but still need access to government apps that work only on Android/ish OSes like Graphene, so even if there was a comparable native Linux offer for that phone it wouldn't be an option. Debian, Manjaro, and mostly Alpine on desktops/laptops/SBCs.

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Kalos08@reddit

Pixel 3aXL still rubbing thanks to LineageOS. If this phone breaks, though, I'll look seriously at the FuriLabs phones. They look pretty promising for Linux on a phone.

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aegoismo@reddit

Motorola g85

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888NRG_@reddit

Android is linux-based..

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flesyMeM@reddit

Still rockin my iphone xs max.

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10F1@reddit

Samsung z fold 5.

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mrdude_69@reddit

Pixel 7a with Crdroid

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random-user-420@reddit

I just use an iPhone 15 because I got it for free with my phone plan. They recently added Android phones so I’ll just switch to a Samsung S26 once I’m eligible for the next free upgrade later this year.

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Healthy-Notice9439@reddit

I use an iPhone 16e, Thinkpad running debian + bazzite and a MacBook Air

I’m not missing out on much by using ios but android does come in handy if you use f droid as it has a lot of handy tools that you can supplement with linux on pc

Kde connect works perfectly fine on my iPhone though

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C_hotpocketer@reddit

Kyocera duraxv extreme+

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bankroll5441@reddit

Stock Android on a Pixel 10. Yeah, fuck Google but as someone that used GrapheneOS for a while, I can't deny that the experience on stock Android feels 10x better to me. I have nothing against Graphene and love what they're doing, but UI/UX is a big factor for me and Graphene felt unpolished.

I use Android because I get to install what I want (for now at least) and customize it as much as I want. I hate the stupid, dated look that iPhones have, especially with liquid ass.

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Raevyxn@reddit

The Jolla phone is just launching and uses sailfishOS (Linux). It’s worth considering, but any user should know going in that this is a tiny team making this phone, customer support is slow, and although you can use most android apps on it, some of them will need tinkering to get them working.

GrapheneOS can be installed on pixel phones. It’s based on android, not Linux. It lets you install the google play store to get android apps, but also grants access to other stores. It is much more privacy focused and lets you take granular control of your phone and the apps on it.

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Willing_Context7531@reddit

GrapheneOS on pixel.

If grapheneOS wasn't a thing, I would still go with android since it allows me to actually install whatever the fuck I want (for now).

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urgentapathy@reddit

Galaxy S22 user here. I want a pixel but in my country pixel isn't really supported. I decided to get better earbuds so I just put myself in the Samsung ecosystem with theirs. So my next phone next year will be a Galaxy series, and giving up the prospect of graphene os.

One thing that I did not expect was progress on the S22 in postmarketos. Things are changing faster than I thought.

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tuerda@reddit

The cheapest one I could find.

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HieladoTM@reddit

RestlessOS, Samsung.

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RoseBailey@reddit

I'm using a Pixel 8 Pro that is currently running GrapheneOS on my phone. My laptop is a Framework 16, and I'm running NixOS on it currently.

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HieladoTM@reddit

RestlessOS, Samsung.

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Kevin_Kofler@reddit

I am one of the few GNU/Linux desktop/notebook users also using a GNU/Linux smartphone. I currently use a Librem 5. I previously used a PinePhone, but its hardware reliability (2 PinePhones failing with the same bizarre hardware defect) has left me disappointed, so I jumped ship.

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incompetentexercise@reddit

An old Samsung s10. I just get the simplest, oldest thing I can reasonably get my hands on

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litelinux@reddit

Sony Xperia 10 IV. It has a headphone jack, notification LEDs, a microSD card slot, huge battery (5000 mAh), and overall pretty good build quality. (Not a paid promotion btw, just a satisfied user)

For the software, stock with copious amounts of hacks to degoogle and make it usable.

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jhaimgirl@reddit

Nice. That xperia will run officially licensed Sailfish OS, but I think it is in beta.

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litelinux@reddit

Yeah, and this is my main phone for now so I'm not gonna risk it. Maybe after I get a new one and this becomes a sidekick :)

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PaintDrinkingPete@reddit

I’ve been an Android guy since the original “Droid” came out, never owned an iPhone, but do have an iPad that I’m using to post this comment right now.

As a long time Linux user and proponent of FOSS, I wish there were more options in that realm for mobile devices, but I’m also lazy and sucker for convenience, so I stick with what I’m used to.

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darthpaulsw@reddit

iPhone. All my family uses iPhones and so it just make syncing calendars and schedules super easy.

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SunspotGlare@reddit

GrapheneOS on Pixel 7 Pro

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AssPennies@reddit

iPhone, because fuck google.

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diesal3@reddit

If you really want Linux (and not Android) on a phone, you could probably get Ubuntu working on a phone.

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HungrySecurity@reddit

I use Android for the flexibility of independent app installation. Tools like Termux provide a native Linux experience, allowing for seamless SSH access to my remote hosts.

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SaintEyegor@reddit

iPhone 16 Pro - it does what I need

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ElnuDev@reddit

GrapheneOS on Pixel 5

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DramaticProtogen@reddit

Graphene

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Kitayama_8k@reddit

Motorola edge phones that T-Mobile has free promos on. I got a like 3 extras instead of phone insurance. I prioritize always having a phone getting security updates still,I like an oled, and a 5k mAh battery, that's about all I need.

I was pretty excited about the repairability of HMD skyline phones (Nokia owner,) but then they paired it with 2 years of android updates and 1 extra year of security, so it wouldn't even be worth repairing unless you broke it immediately.

I don't really like Google tracking but I'm okay with it for the convenience of banking via phone and good maps. I try to leave as much off as possible.

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