Transcription
Hello and welcome. Many of you wanted to know what it's like to daily drive mobile Linux on a phone, so I installed postmarket OS on my Pixel 3a. Here's my experience of what it's like daily driving mobile Linux.
Let's start with the good stuff. Postmarket OS has some really cool build scripts that let you build a custom image for your device with your packages pre-installed. Also, with a customized username and password, definitely an interesting approach that gives you a tailored image just for you. Once the image was built, the actual process to flash the 3a was pretty straightforward and easy. Out of the box, there were some useful apps, as well as a lot of customization ability. The interface is actually pretty decent. It's clean, mostly responsive, and feels natural if you're coming from the GNOME desktop. This whole ecosystem is evolving with things like Plasma Mobile also being available. For developers and power users, postmarket OS is truly magical, offering a full Linux experience in your pocket. Need to SSH into a server? No problem. Want to build a Python or Rust application? Go for it. You get the full flexibility of the Linux ecosystem all in your pocket.
Okay, now for the tough part. Actually using this as a phone with postmarket OS is really rough. The phone modem randomly disappears, call quality is incredibly questionable, and the battery life is much worse than it was with Android. I even had an experience where I was waiting for an important phone call, and during the phone call, the modem dropped, requiring a full reboot to bring it back up. This was brutal, completely unacceptable, and ended up being the reason I flashed back to Android.
Now I hate my phone. This operating system is completely rubbish. I'll never write a program for it, but it gets calls really reliably, and I only charge it like maybe twice a week. Another big issue with a Pixel 3a running postmarket OS is you have to select between 2G, which can receive calls, and 4G, which can use data but not receive calls. So you have the option of using 4G data or being able to receive and send calls. So if you're actually trying to use your phone as a phone, it can't use mobile data.
Camera quality took a huge hit. It went from looking absolutely gorgeous to looking like it was shot in 480p. With postmarket OS, you can expect about a day of battery life, which is usable, but without postmarket OS running Android, it can last up to a week. GPS functionality was also broken on my 3a. I couldn't get a fix on my position with GNOME Maps or Pure Maps, so don't get lost with this device. The best you can do is pull up a map of your area if you know where you are.
The app situation on postmarket OS is actually pretty impressive. Pretty much every app I wanted to install was there in their store. One notable exception was Godot.
Here's the bottom line: as a telephone, it's terrible. As a cool Linux device, it's amazing. If you're in the market for a cool Linux device, absolutely give it a look, but if you're looking for something that can reliably pick up a call, this is not it. It was a lot of fun daily driving postmarket OS on my Pixel 3a, and I plan on testing out other Linux devices in the future. If that kind of thing interests you, hit like and subscribe. Thanks for watching.
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Bye. On the screen, let me tell you how it goes. I dream of freedom in the palm of my hand, but is this Linux phone really ready to stand? Terminal XX, SSH, my fingertips. Full Linux power whenever I need it. Make a sandwich, cleaning a face that feels just like home. For developers, there's magic in this phone. Das my social life, but our LPH ready in 2025? The modem's disappearing, call quality is a mess, battery draining fast, camera quality alone 640 by 4. That's luxury. Linux phone reality check. Here's what I know.
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Choose between your calls or your mobile data. Switch to 2G, reboot, what bother? Have you tried it off and on again? GPS is broken, navigation gone. Can use multiple devices to get your jobs done. Pocket full of G, just like Batman. The community is building, working day and night. Privacy and freedom, that's worth the fight. But honesty is needed if we want to grow. Get commit, fix bugs, create new ones. Here's the truth about Linux phones. Let's go. Linux phones ready in 2025. The modems disappearing, call quality is a mess. Can you hear me now? Face, battery draining fast, camera quality low. Linux phone reality check. Here's what I know.
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For tinkerers and hackers, it's a playground, true. If privacy is your focus, this might work for you. N hates this one simple trick. But for calls and photos, navigation too. Hello, hello, I think we're breaking up. You might want to wait for a version. Kernel Panic at the Disco. Linux are coming, they're just not quite there. A glimpse into the future if you really care. 777, my patience. Drop a comment below, share what works for you. Together we'll build something tried and true. Show it off, the revolution coming, just you wait and see.
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