187
KDE Plasma Mobile — The Dev Log: April 2024 - June 2025
(plasma-mobile.org)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0
The way that I see, Linux phones will only get traction when we are able to install android apps and use high end spec phones with good security. I hope that I'm wrong.
Liberux NEXX is supposed to be a thing but they sorely need backers. It costs about the same as an equivalent Android phone (pixel 9 pro 1tb costs $1,500, liberux nexx 1tb costs $1,300).
8 core/32gb RAM/1TB storage phone in a very sleek body, Linux phones could have their flagship soon (and unlike pinephone it sounds like Liberux is gonna do the actual work on developing the software).
I've noticed that my Poco F1 with 1/3 more battery but a good enough CPU runs around 3 times as long as my 5 years newer OnePlus 9, both running LineageOS 22 and same usage.
Maybe we are way past the curve where more processing power means shorter processing times/more energy savings vs. going full power for every little bit.
In summary, why would you still pay over $400 for a phone nowadays, if all you get is a better camera (which still doesn't make noticeably better photos) and less battery time?
Because carriers are smart and greedy and lobbied the government to sell a block of spectrum that is only used in the US for 5g, so if you want good connectivity in the us, you have to buy a phone from them at 3 times the price.
Well, in the case of the liberux and the 9 pro, you get a lot more storage space built in (very fast storage), way more RAM, etc.
Its up to you whether that's all worth it. To me it is, I max out sub-$400 phones very quickly. The pinephone feels very choppy to use too by comparison.
I think RK3588S is nowhere near Pixel 9 CPU.
That's a good callout. I'm not super familiar with it, do you know how it might bench against the Tensor G4?
Here is the comparison with Tensor G4.
RK3588S is a bit slower then Snapdragon 865, which is 5 year old.
Wow, that's quite the difference. What's more shocking to me though is the fact that the rockchip somehow is built to handle a higher resolution than the tensor despite being weaker (8k@60fps vs 4k@60fps), and has AV1 support where the tensor doesn't.
Interesting observation!
Honestly, I'd buy a phone with RK3588S, but $1,300 is overkill. I'd rather much prefer to downscale other specs to make it around 400-500$.
Well, waydroid exists and pixel bootloaders are still unlockable. Plus fairphone specs aren't too bad so it's plausible in the future.