Linux on the Smartphone
Why at all?
The “why” should ideally be clarified by each person for themselves. Many know that I have a Google-free Android smartphone. On this device, Ubuntu Touch also runs in DualBoot. DualBoot means I can choose whether to start Android or Linux on my smartphone. The current state of affairs is: It’s more suitable for nerds, or people who want to give it a try once.
However, the reasons why one wants Linux on a smartphone vary. Some simply want to get away from Google, others want more privacy, and still others just because it’s possible.
I count myself among the latter group because I simply think it’s awesome to have Linux on a smartphone, not just on a PC/laptop.
How do I get Linux onto my device
The question is quite simple and also somewhat disheartening to answer. The first question is not “how,” but “whether.” That is, whether one can actually get Linux onto their mobile device. Unlike in the PC world, Linux is not available for every mobile device. Therefore, one must check if there is even a mobile Linux variant that has been ported to my device.
The reason is as follows: In common parlance, Linux is installed even on a toaster. This simply means it runs on any device. Theoretically, this is also correct, because Linux could run on a toaster provided the latter had some software. However, with smartphones, the problem is less about Linux and more about the device manufacturers. For Linux to run on a smartphone, you need the operating system kernel written for that device, specifically as source code.
As mentioned, Linux could run without problems on any smartphone if one had access to the so-called kernel sources. Then one could also install and operate Ubuntu Touch, Droidian, or SailfishOS, just to name a few, on the device.
The next problem is Google. Because Google plans far-reaching changes in the Android ecosystem for 2025 and 2026 that will create significant hurdles, especially for alternative software and app distribution. In the future, developers must register their identity with official IDs at Google so that their apps can be installed on certified devices – not only in the Google Play Store but also via sideloading or through alternative app stores. This affects open-source projects and platforms like F-Droid particularly hard and makes their use difficult or impossible.
Additionally, Google states that important software components such as drivers will no longer be freely accessible, which significantly complicates the development of alternative Android versions. Google’s own Pixel devices are to be favored in this regard, for example through faster updates and exclusive features, while other manufacturers and independent projects will fall behind.
For users, this means more control by Google and less freedom of choice regarding the operating system and apps. Developers face expanded challenges and restrictions that could make alternative Android software less attractive.
This realignment signals a trend towards a more closed system in which Google further expands its central control over Android and makes alternatives more difficult.
What would be the alternatives
Well, I think that the current providers of Google-free Android smartphones will stand their ground against this. Some with their own devices, which already exist, or some “nerds” will also find a way to continue running their software on these devices.
Let’s summarize
Linux can be operated on a smartphone. For this, someone must have specifically ported it for the device. Those who do not want to do the work themselves but still want Linux on a smartphone should take a look around the internet for “ready-made” devices. The market for this is not huge, but it exists.
