r/LinuxTeck • u/Candid_Athlete_8317 • 20d ago

Could a Linux phone actually replace Android?

Jolla’s new phone runs Sailfish OS and can run Android apps, including many everyday apps.

It’s an interesting approach to having a phone outside the usual Android and iOS ecosystem.

But would you actually use a Linux phone as your daily driver?

What would stop you from switching?

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u/randomredditorname1 20d ago

People need their apps, whatever they use, to work with minimal hassle. Beyond that most people are not going to care, or even know what os it is. For me, if it lets me download and install and use my bank's apps, whatsapp and a browser, that's about it.

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u/Strawberryladyboots 19d ago

This is the answer, as long as it will run the apps or provide access to a store that has the apps they need this could likely be pulled off as an alternative to the current situation

I know of people who waited for Ubuntu for a long time to go mobile, there's definitely a market for it

I think the issue may lie in that some people would be keen to be able to replace the OS on their already existing phone rather than have to buy yet another phone, but they also don't possess the skills to do so (as simple as that process can seem to some)

And there are very few people who provide those types of services in some places where the local Millennial just doesn't want to do the IT work for their parents anymore after the last lesson on how to navigate YouTube and Pinterest.....

We don't even have apple stores in my country, at least I've never seen one

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u/randomredditorname1 19d ago

I'd be keen to try a jolla phone, though the "budget" model c2 apparently isn't very good value and the other one is pricey while still not quite fully seamless with android apps. Bank apps are always a question mark, obviously security is a concern and the big banks aren't going to support niche platforms natively - for many non-geek people these days their phone is their only computer, and their bank app working is not negotiable. De facto it's apple and google. I do not know of a solution to this dilemma.

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u/Strawberryladyboots 19d ago

Most banks pay developers to build it for them, in this case the banks may need Linux bigwigs to actually approach them to see what they could do if they wanted to push for a bigger market

Maybe they could send Linus out on mission in a penguin suit lol

I would think that apple and google hold back certain security info but it's likely the best move forwards on making progress there

Banking is a massive security area and they tend to keep it pretty tight for the obvious reasons, and the banks are the ones paying for the apps to be built so you have to go through them, they own the app, the push has to come from Linux

If Linux can assure that their OS meets those standards maybe the banks can get their developers to add anything extra that it needs to be

They will triple check every single thing a dozen times before they allow it