Comparison of open-source mobile phones

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The scope for this page is that used for list of open-source mobile phones.

Contents

Mobiles currently in production

Model Hardware kill switches Modular smartphone System-on-a-chip (Soc)Baseband cellular modemWi-Fi firmwareBoot firmwareOther proprietary firmwareHardware licensingObsolescence slowdownModifiabilitySecurityCertificationsOther
PinePhone Pro 5 (or 4, amalgamating cameras?): Modem & GNSS, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth, microphone, rear camera, front camera, audio jack [1] (DIP switches inside back cover [2] [3] [ better source needed ]). No kill switch for other sensors.Hexacore. 2016 Rockchip RK3399S and 2× A72 and 4× A53 CPU cores @ 1.5 GHz [1] Quectel EG25-G. [1] Ships with proprietary firmware for regulatory compliance [4] (isolated from CPU with a USB bus [2] [5] ). More secure, better-featured free replacement exists. [4] proprietary Wi-Fi/Bluetooth firmware, [5] in /lib/firmware. [6] Efforts to replace it are in beta, but may never be legal to ship,[ citation needed ] same as original PinePhone. [1] open-source boot software, [2] same as original PinePhone. [1]  ?User-replaceable [7] Samsung J7 form-factor 3000mAh battery. Phillips-head screws. [1] I2C pogo pins, back mods can be added (all compatible with original PinePhone). USB 3.0. Bootable from a microSD card. Good parts availability. [6] [1] GPS and modem on same kill switch; neither can be used while the other is airgapped. [1] entire phone can be disassembled. Headphone jack. Convergence (will run as a desktop if monitor and keyboard plugged in). [1]
Librem 5 [8] 3: Cameras and the microphone, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and baseband processor. All three also shut off sensors (GPS, compass, accelerometer etc.). [2] The Wi-Fi+Bluetooth card, [9] and the Modem [10] are on M.2 slots.2017 NXP arm64 [2] [11] [12] On replaceable m.2 card. Proprietary firmware isolated from CPU with a USB bus (like a USB Wi-Fi dongle) [2] Originally, proprietary firmware isolated over USB, no downloadable/modifiable firmware; [13] subsequently, Purism paid Redpine Signals to create open-source Wi-Fi/Bluetooth firmware for the RedPine hardware. [6] [14] proprietary DRAM init code loaded on separate CPU [2] for RYF cert compliance [15] [16] none in /lib/firmware; some non-modifiable proprietary firmware in components. [6] schematics released under GPL 3.0+ [6] User-replaceable (but custom-sized [6] ) battery, lifetime updates [17] Display and frame fused. Phillips-head screws. [6] Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on replaceable m.2 cards (the former custom-made). [6] m.2 card slots. Purism has traditionally had more time-limited parts availability. [6] slot for an OpenPGP card, planned Librem key support [6] Tentatively recommended by Free Software Foundation (FSF). [18]

Operating system PureOS is endorsed by FSF. [19] [20]

Seeking FSF "Respects Your Freedom" endorsement. [21] [22]

Convergence; will run as desktop. [17] Headphone jack. Carrier-free OTT service available. [23]
PinePhone [24] 5: Modem & GNSS, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth, microphone, rear camera, front camera, audio jack [25] (DIP switches inside back cover [2] ). No kill switch for other sensors. [6] 2015 Allwinner arm64 (Allwinner violates the GPL) [2] Quectel EG25-G. Ships with proprietary firmware isolated from CPU with a USB bus. [2] [5] More secure, better-featured free replacement exists, but can't ship due to regulatory threats. [4] proprietary Wi-Fi/Bluetooth firmware, [5] in /lib/firmware. [6] Efforts to replace it are in beta, but may never be legal to ship,[ citation needed ] same as original PinePhone. [1] open-source boot software [2] proprietary schematics published [6] User-replaceable battery, 5-year production run. Phillips-head screws. [6] I2C pogo pins, back mods can be added. Cannot be upgraded beyond USB 2.0. Bootable from a microSD card. Good parts availability. [6] GPS and modem on same kill switch; neither can be used while the other is airgapped. [6] entire phone can be disassembled. Headphone jack. Convergence. [26] [27]

Mobiles expected to be in production

ModelExpected release date Hardware kill switches Modular smartphone System-on-a-chip (Soc)Baseband cellular modemWi-Fi firmwareBoot firmwareOther proprietary firmwareHardware licensingObsolescence slowdownModifiabilitySecurityCertificationsOther
DragonBox Pyra Mobile Edition Unclear, possibly defunctNoneThe PCB is separated in three parts: CPU board (CPU, RAM and storage), mainboard (ports, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth) and the display board.schematics will be available to users [28] [ clarification needed ]
Necunos NC 1 Unclear, possibly defunctNone2011 NXP i.MX 6 Quad and 4x Cortex-A9 MP, 32-bit [6] None [6] Proprietary blob for wi-fi driver (for regulatory reasons) [29] Blob without access to the main memory; [30] via SDIO [6] probably binary blobs on separate ROM, given cert aspirations [6] binary-blob proprietary firmware will not have memory access [6] strong focus; most sensors omitted for security.Seeking FSF endorsement. [30] 100 Mbit/s ethernet port [6]

Mobiles no longer in production

Model Hardware kill switches System-on-a-chip (Soc)Baseband cellular modemWi-Fi firmwareBoot firmwareOther proprietary firmwareHardware licensingObsolescenceModifiabilitySecurityCertificationsOther
Meizu PRO 5 Ubuntu Edition None
Meizu MX4 Ubuntu Edition None
BQ Aquaris E5 HD Ubuntu Edition NoneMediaTek Quad Core Cortex A7 1.3 GHz [31]
BQ Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu EditionNone
NEO1973
Neo FreeRunner

See also

Related Research Articles

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gNewSense Linux distribution

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ubuntu Touch</span> Mobile interface for Ubuntu developed by Canonical Ltd.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">LibreCMC</span> Computer operating system

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Librem</span> Computer line by Purism featuring free software

Librem is a line of computers manufactured by Purism, SPC featuring free (libre) software. The laptop line is designed to protect privacy and freedom by providing no non-free (proprietary) software in the operating system or kernel, avoiding the Intel Active Management Technology, and gradually freeing and securing firmware. Librem laptops feature hardware kill switches for the microphone, webcam, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Pine Store Limited, known by its trade name Pine64, is a Hong Kong-based organization that designs, manufactures, and sells single-board computers, notebook computers, as well as smartwatch/smartphones. Its name was inspired by the mathematical constants pi and e with a reference to 64-bit computing power.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">PureOS</span> Linux distribution

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postmarketOS Free and open-source operating system for smartphones, based on Alpine Linux

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Librem 5</span> Linux based 2020 Smartphone

The Librem 5 is a smartphone manufactured by Purism that is part of their Librem line of products. The phone is designed with the goal of using free software whenever possible, includes PureOS, a Linux operating system, by default, and as of 2021 is the only smartphone recommended by the Free Software Foundation. Like other Librem products, the Librem 5 focuses on privacy and freedom, and includes features like hardware kill switches, and easily-replaceable components. Its name, with a numerical "5", refers to its screen size, and not a release version. After an announcement on 24 August 2017, the distribution of developer kits and limited pre-release models occurred throughout 2019 and most of 2020. The first mass-production version of the Librem 5 was shipped on 18 November 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PinePhone</span> Smartphone with Linux-based mobile operating system

The PinePhone is a smartphone developed by Hong Kong-based computer manufacturer Pine64, intended to allow the user to have full control over the device. Measures to ensure this are: running mainline Linux-based mobile operating systems, assembling the phone with screws, and simplifying the disassembly for repairs and upgrades. LTE, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and both cameras can be physically switched off. The PinePhone ships with the Manjaro Linux-based operating system using the Plasma Mobile graphic interface, although other distributions can be installed by users.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PineTab</span> Tablet intended for open-source software

The PineTab is a low-cost tablet developed by Hong Kong-based computer manufacturer Pine64. The PineTab was announced in May 2020, with shipping beginning in September 2020. It is based on the platform of the existing Pine A64 single board computer, with the platform being used in related devices, such as the Pinebook and PinePhone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PinePhone Pro</span> Smartphone with Linux-based mobile operating system

The PinePhone Pro is a smartphone developed by Hong Kong-based computer manufacturer Pine64. The phone is the successor to the PinePhone released in 2019. The default operating system is Manjaro ARM, with Plasma Mobile as the user interface. The device is a developer platform with open hardware specifications but with unfinished software. The target group of the device is free and open-source software developers who will develop the software. The device was first shipped to developers in December 2021, and in February 2022 devices were made available to consumers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mobian</span>

Mobian is a project to port the Debian Linux distribution running the mainline Linux kernel to smartphones and tablets. The project was announced in 2020. It is available for the PinePhone, PineTab, Librem 5, OnePlus 6/6T and Pocophone F1. Droidian is a version of Mobian which runs top of Android's variant of the Linux kernel and the Libhybris and Halium adaptation layer, and works with devices which are supported by Ubuntu Touch. It can be installed using UBports installer.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "PinePhone Pro". PINE64.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Braam, Martijn (20 December 2019). "Yet Another Librem 5 and PinePhone comparison". TuxPhones.
  3. ↑ "October Update: Introducing the PinePhone Pro". PINE64. 15 October 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Picugins, Arsenijs (16 December 2021). "PinePhone Malware Surprises Users, Raises Questions". Hackaday. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Erecinski, Lukasz (25 January 2020). "Setting the Record Straight: PinePhone Misconceptions". PINE64.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Batto, Amos (20 August 2021). "Comparing specs of upcoming Linux phones". Purism community. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  7. ↑ Sneddon, Joey (22 October 2021) [15 October 2021]. "New PinePhone Pro Announced with 6-Core CPU". OMG! Ubuntu!.
  8. ↑ "Hardware Reference". Librem Hardware Reference wiki page.
  9. ↑ "Librem 5 Phone – Birch". Wiki page about the Birch version of the Librem 5, on Puri.SM hardware reference wiki.
  10. ↑ "Will the phone support 5G networks?". FAQ entry about 5G support.
  11. ↑ "Intel's Management Engine". Purism.
  12. ↑ Vaughan-Nichols, Steven J. "Computer vendors start disabling Intel Management Engine". ZDNet.
  13. ↑ Faerber, Nicole (4 September 2018). "Progress update from the Librem 5 hardware department". Purism.
  14. ↑ Faeber, Nicole (27 May 2019). "Librem 5 - WiFi Specs". Purism community.
  15. ↑ Ainslie, Angus (19 June 2018). "Solving the first FSF RYF hurdle for the Librem 5". Purism.
  16. ↑ Larabel, Michael. "Purism's Librem 5 To Rely On Secondary Processor For Binary Blobs - Phoronix". www.phoronix.com.
  17. 1 2 Amadeo, Ron (26 September 2019). "Purism's Librem 5 phone starts shipping—a fully open GNU/Linux phone". Ars Technica.
  18. ↑ "Ethical Tech | Giving Guide". www.fsf.org. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  19. ↑ Robertson, Donald (2017-12-21). "FSF adds PureOS to list of endorsed GNU/Linux distributions". www.fsf.org. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  20. ↑ "Free GNU/Linux distributions". GNU.
  21. ↑ Ainslie, Angus (2018-06-19). "Solving the first FSF RYF hurdle for the Librem 5". Purism. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  22. ↑ Foster, Jeremiah C. (2019-09-19). "Librem 5 — Promise Delivery Chart". Purism community. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  23. ↑ "Librem AweSIM". Purism. 7 October 2020.
  24. ↑ "PinePhone board information, schematics and certifications". PinePhone board information, schematics and certifications section on the Pinephone wiki page on Pine64 wiki.
  25. ↑ Leprince-Ringuet, Daphne. "This Linux smartphone is now shipping for $150". ZDNet. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  26. ↑ "Pine64 July Update: Biggest Update In Months!". New Convergence Package Announce. 15 July 2020.
  27. ↑ "PinePhone Manjaro Community Edition". New PinePhone flavour announce with Convergence Package option. 31 August 2020.
  28. ↑ "The Pyra". Official Pyra and Pandora Site.
  29. ↑ "Long awaited NC_1 update". Necuno Solutions. 24 January 2020.
  30. 1 2 Batto, Amos (20 August 2021). "Comparing specs of upcoming Linux phones". Purism community.
  31. ↑ "BQ Aquaris E5 HD Ubuntu Edition Caracteristicas". BQ (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2016-03-31.
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