this post was submitted on 14 Aug 2026
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Is there a good small cheap repairable phone out there? I have a fairphone4 and I LOVE /E/ OS. But I would also like to actually USE a linux phone. And I cant experiment as much as I would want on my main phone.
Ive almost thought about carrying a tiny burner phone then a small laptop for everything else.
What do you mean? You can't use your FP4?
I'm considering getting a FP6 relatively soon, and would be using it as my only one..
I use android via /e/os. But I cannot experiment with my only phone. There is 2fa and other such services that I have to have access to. Worst case, I cant get into accounts and such.
FF is a great phone btw.
That's my main concern too.
Here in Denmark, the MitID authentification app is completely integral to functioning online, and last I checked it doesn't work on GrapheneOS, so /e/os is probably not likely either 🫤
I got myself a physical code chip because MitID doesn't work with /e/. The code chip works great.
The app is probably convenient, but I am also very happy not to depend on my phone to sign in to everything.
I think you should be able to emulate /e/ OS to try out some stuff? Maybe someone else can chime in. Dont know if that helps or not.
My 2fa works in /e/ but im going to assume other OSes probably wont.
You can't use something like bitwarden for mitid?
Nope, you'll need mitid specifically. It's run by the government and mandated 😮💨
I love my FP6
Every Linux phone uses an android shim just because it isn't possible to change the firmware iirc
You named it the Fairphone is the best Linux phone.
You have a point.
...it is a really nice phone.
I just cant afford two. First world problem haha.
I have a FP5 and a similar problem to you. My FP3 before it died on me so it's not much help.
I'm low key planning to find a second hand FP3 and use it to experiment with Linux until I find there are no big problems with using it as a daily driver. In practice I don't really have enough time to put into it so I'll probably keep on using /e/ for the forseeable future.
The Commedore phone, if you want something minimalistic that does have Android compatibility.
I'm looking at preordering it. Shipping now would be Dec-Jan.
Last I was aware, Linux phones work really well on Google Pixel 3as. They're no longer supported by stock Android nor still manufactured so I assume the second hand ones will be cheap.
I appreciate the response.
I have owned two google phones. Both had hardware issues/battery issues and one almost exploded. One day it got super hot and the battery turned into a spicy pillow. Sorry but im not going to get another google phone as long as I live. Neither lasted more than 2 years.
That's fair. Which models did you have? I had a couple problems with the earlier Google Pixels, but I've found the later ones have really ironed out their hardware problems.
I think your main problem is going to be finding phones for cheap that also work well as Linux phones. I think the lowest-effort options like Pine phones are gonna cost you more. But I wish you luck.
I had a p7 and it only lasted 3 yrs. Motherboard went. 750 euros that had cost brand new. First phone I have bought that didn't last > 5 yrs
I had a 4 I think? That one lasted about a year and a half before the battery wouldn't last more than half a day. Then it bricked one day. Not sure what happened.
The 6a was the worst. It was cheap and good at first. But then kept getting hotter and hotter...almost burnt me.
get the new Jolla Linux phone.