I believe it is time to discuss the framework phone again now that android is removing our rights to side load or install our software to our android devices.
We need a flagship Linux phone that is completely open for repair, doesn’t run hot, replaceable battery, and expandable storage!
Please framework, save us!
The hardware of a phone isn’t a problem. Look at Fairphone for examples of this. The issue is that for a true phone replacement to happen it is going to mostly be all about the software. It would take a significant sustained investment.
Framework is a hardware company, but in order to make a phone with an alternate OS, they would need to transition to being a pretty serious software company.
All this to say, that IF Framework were to make a phone (which I don’t believe they will) it will run one of the degoogled Androids (e OS, for example).
For Americans who say you can’t get a Fairphone in the US, I would check out Murena.com because they are selling E OS based Fairphones in the US market.
Never say never.
We don’t want framework to create an OS froms scratch. But rather use existing pieces in the Linux ecosystem.
This is not just a Framework thing, System76 could do this too 
Donate to Linux mobile OS projects such as postmarketOS, Mobian, Ubuntu Touch, etc.
I don’t like any of those… And I think we need something like cosmic desktop for the phone. Something brand new that is large-scale, and ambitious.
This is all easier said than done.
I doubt Framework will go there - this is alraedy a graveyard of companies and projects.
I agree that the world is in dire need of a good open source alternative, but the smartphone and mobile os market is brutal.
MS tried twice, spent billions and gave up.
There’s alraedy options available.
Revive webos (my personal preference)
Canonical attempted that before and the project still exists in some form AFAIK
build on the open source part of Android
#3 has the lowest hurdle. But Google is increasingly moving important functionality into the proprietary Google Play services. Some level of compatibility with Android helps solve the app problem that haunts any new mobile os (hen and egg problem where apps don’t get written for small new niche os, but people don’t buy phones with mobile os that doesn’t immediately cover all the Netflix, gaming and banking, etc… app needs/wants)
Canonical had a nice vision with Unity, but lacked the resources to push its vision into the market.
And HP abandoned webos due to a sudden policy change following change in CEOs.
I don’t see Framework walking into a market where MS and HP gave up and Canonical also failed.
They could try to just do the hardware and deliver that with regular android (not solving our software freedom problem), offering cool configurable hardware. But this so much more difficult than with a laptop. And again this was already attempted and then abandoned by a huge company - in this case Google.
As much as I would also like a good alternative for the smartphone + mobile os market - attempting this would likely kill Framework and that would be a pity.
I totally agree with the analysis, but it is something that Framework must look into and consider! I am sure there is a path for a free phone that isn’t dependent on Android! Perhaps not today, but eventually there has to be an opening.
Let’s not forget, Framework only does a project if it is viable. If Framework were to do a phone, it would be done right; it would be sold out for a year.
GrapheneOS (Secure Android) is looking for a HW partner. Currently using Pixel devices as their only supported hardware. The project is very much a genuine continuation of Android for the user.
Mainly commenting as a plus 1. I get that the software is the biggest road block to creating a framework style/standardized phone. It’s between y’all and star labs, from my perspective. But somebody has got to do it.
Imagine the modularity from framework too. I want to just be able to replace my battery and usb port man. I don’t need a new phone every 2 years because android has slowed it down.
I just need arch linux and a phone app LoL. Even just give us something with all the phone hardware and a standard bios so we can at least start hacking it to work.
I’d like to think the community could come through.
Sick of google.
Rant over. for now.
Google decided to make the Android experience identical to iPhone so I’m just going to order the iPhone 17 even though it’s a turd. I’ve been using the Sony Xperia 1 for over 7 years now so I guess it’s about time.
There are a few alternatives to Android. I’ve bought the Librem phone if you enjoy a totally unusable and laggy experience. Never used the PinePhone. I’m sure it’s faster but I’m also sure it has no apps.
Even if you pretended that the Linux ecosystem wasn’t fragmented, nobody likes GTK or Qt so nobody’s developing apps for it anyways.
Hope the partnership thrive before September 2027
All anybody seems to be doing nowadays for mobile is react native and electron, and honestly I prefer to use the browser on my phone. Several linux apps already work well on mobile touchscreen, tablet support is pretty good. The big holdup is the hardware support for calls
The success of Fairphone definitely demonstrates the potential for a Framework phone!
Fairphone is not a privacy first phone, Framework ought to be better.
Although, I have to mention that there is no core boot support for Framework laptops yet… It is not a good look, but I am willing to believe.
One thing they can do is to work closely with Graphene OS engineers from the start. That should be a huge boost in terms of navigating hardware design.