PinePhone is an open source phone developed by Pine64 which is most popular exciting hardware company right now for Linux users. Since PinePhone is an open source smartphone, it is supported by all major Linux phone projects. PinePhone smartphone is an affordable Linux phone created by the makers of Pinebook Pro laptop and Pine64 single board computer.
The price and spec of PinePhone is super low costing $149. The design is also kept low. PinePhone is cheapest alternative to Android and iOS devices built for Linux enthusiasts and developers who requires privacy minded open source software and its hardware kill switches.
Previously, it was available to developers and hackers which got better responses and suggestions. So, Pine64 developers planned to bring it for everyone. After a long gap, the shipments to pre-ordered units of PinePhone Braveheart Edition started on Jan 17, 2020.
PinePhone runs an open source Linux-based operating system preloaded with Linux OS (postmarketOS) as factory test image running in it. The operating system preinstalled is testing version and Pine64 assumes or expects the user to at least install OS of their choice which is definitely not for soft hearted. Thus, PinePhone is named BraveHeart edition.
PinePhone Linux Smartphone Specs:
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PinePhone is equipped with Allwinner A64 ARM Cortex-A53 quad-core processor which gives high processing speed.
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It has weight between 180-200 grams with display size 5.95 inch with 1440x720 pixel of resolution.
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It has 2GB LPDDR3 SDRAM with 16GB eMMC internal storage which you can extend upto 2TB using microSD.
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It has 5MP of main camera with LED Flash and 2MP of selfie camera and supports 802.11b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0.
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It has repleacable Samsung J7 form-factor 3000mAh battery with USB Type C port.
PinePhone vs Purism Librem 5
Purism Librem 5 is also Linux phone device that uses desktop class components which is not suitable for phone form factor and thus, is arguably more powerful than PinePhone. Librem is expensive and may also not support alternate OS as the PinePhone. Both device are privacy consciously built for open source enthusiasts and developers, who can tweak the system as per their requirement.
Operating System Support
There is no fixed PinePhone operating system selected to ship preinstalled on handset. But Linux community has put hard work to port open source operating system to run on PinePhone. Some of the supported operating system including their development status on the Librem 5 are:
| OS | PinePhone | Librem 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Touch | Yes | Yes |
| postmarketOS | Yes | Yes |
| Sailfish OS | Yes | Unknown |
| Lune OS (webOS based) | Yes | No |
| Replicant | Yes | No |
| PureOS | No | Yes |
Summary
On using PinePhone, the experience will not be as easy as it seems, there is going to be struggle to learn and build the system which requires Brave Heart. But that is why these Linux based Smartphones are exciting. On their (and Librem 5) foundation, one can use different approach for mobile computing to build the system based on personal interest.
