Question about Ubuntu and other Linux distributions as cellphone OS

[Liam Proven]

On Tue, 29 Oct 2024 at 20:55, Bret Busby <bret at busby.net> wrote:

> I am wondering as to what degree, Linux, as Ubuntu or
> otherwise, is available as an OS for cellphones, and, whether it can be
> installed on cellphones that have another OS as the default OS.

Cutting the FUD:

It's not and you can't.

Most Android phones can be unlocked, without the vendors' help.

Then some can run a replacement OS but that just means a cracked more
modern version of Android. *However* many banking and financial apps
refuse to run on such a device.

A very very small number of smartphones can run another OS. There are
a tiny handful, of which postmarketOS is the leader. I have reviewed
it; go read that, which explains the context.

Of that tiny number, a small subset can run Ubuntu Touch.

This is kinda sorta a  version of Ubuntu 20.04 on top of an Android
kernel, and while it is not very like desktop Ubuntu some familiar
apps will work, but not that many Android apps, I am told. None of my
phones or tablets can run either postmarketOS or Ubuntu Touch so I
have not tried it.

Realistically: no, you can't. To a rounding error, no.

In practice: you need to research what you want to run, what apps will
work, what compromises and things not working at all you can put up
with, then go buy 1 of a handful of specific models of supported
device, and then if you have considerable tech expertise you can try
it... but 99% of phone apps will not work.

Forget about it. It might work one day, but today, no.

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