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Replicant VS Plasma Mobile

Compare Replicant VS Plasma Mobile and see what are their differences

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Replicant logo Replicant

Replicant is a distribution of Android that is 100% Free Software.

Plasma Mobile logo Plasma Mobile

Plasma Mobile turns your phone into a fully open hacking device, just like a PC.
  • Replicant Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-14
  • Plasma Mobile Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-15

Replicant features and specs

  • Open Source
    Replicant is fully open-source, allowing users to inspect, modify, and improve its code. This transparency helps ensure there are no hidden backdoors or malicious code.
  • Privacy and Security
    By using only free and open-source software, Replicant aims to provide a more secure and privacy-respecting experience compared to proprietary systems and firmware.
  • Community-Driven
    Replicant is developed by the community, for the community, which can lead to iterative improvements and features that users genuinely want.

Possible disadvantages of Replicant

  • Limited Device Support
    Replicant supports a limited number of devices compared to mainstream Android versions, which may restrict user options.
  • Hardware Incompatibility
    It may not support all hardware functionalities, such as modem or hardware acceleration, which can limit the overall usability of the device.
  • Lack of Latest Features
    Replicant may lag behind mainstream Android versions when it comes to the latest features and updates, potentially making the user experience feel outdated.

Plasma Mobile features and specs

  • Open Source
    Plasma Mobile is open source, which encourages transparency, security, and community-driven development. Users can review the code and contribute to its development.
  • Customizability
    Since it is built on open standards and KDE technologies, users can extensively customize their devices to fit their personal preferences and needs.
  • User Privacy
    Plasma Mobile places a strong emphasis on user privacy, avoiding the data collection practices that many proprietary systems employ.
  • Integration with Linux Ecosystem
    It integrates well with the broader Linux ecosystem, providing compatibility and seamless interaction with other KDE and free/libre software projects.
  • Active Community Support
    The active community around KDE ensures that there is ongoing support, frequent updates, and a plethora of available resources for troubleshooting and development.

Possible disadvantages of Plasma Mobile

  • Limited App Availability
    Compared to Android and iOS, Plasma Mobile has a relatively smaller selection of apps available. This can limit functionality and user experience.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    Plasma Mobile is not as widely supported across various hardware devices, which can limit user options and potentially increase the difficulty of installation.
  • Performance Optimization
    Due to its evolving nature, performance optimizations may not be as refined as those found in more mature operating systems like Android or iOS, potentially leading to issues like lag or higher power consumption.
  • Learning Curve
    Users who are not familiar with the Linux ecosystem or KDE might find Plasma Mobile's interface and functionalities confusing at first, leading to a steeper learning curve.
  • Market Penetration
    Plasma Mobile has lower market penetration, which can affect the level of third-party developer interest and reduce the overall ecosystem growth compared to more popular mobile OS platforms.

Analysis of Replicant

Overall verdict

  • Replicant is considered a good option for users who prioritize freedom and privacy over performance and wider app compatibility. However, its support for devices is limited compared to mainstream Android versions, and some features may not work on all devices due to the lack of proprietary software.

Why this product is good

  • Replicant (replicant.us) is known for being a fully free and open-source mobile operating system based on Android, prioritizing user freedom, privacy, and control over the device. It aims to replace proprietary Android components with free software alternatives, ensuring that users can run a phone without any proprietary software.

Recommended for

  • Privacy-conscious individuals.
  • Users enthusiastic about open-source software.
  • Individuals who are willing to compromise on device functionality for increased control over their software.

Analysis of Plasma Mobile

Overall verdict

  • Plasma Mobile is a promising and innovative project, especially for users who value open-source software and want more control over their mobile experience. While it may not yet be as polished or as widely supported as mainstream operating systems, it offers a compelling alternative for those looking for a customizable and privacy-focused mobile OS.

Why this product is good

  • Plasma Mobile is a free and open-source mobile operating system developed by the KDE community. It aims to provide a fully-featured system for mobile devices that emphasizes privacy, security, and customization. Plasma Mobile is based on the same technologies as the Plasma Desktop, ensuring strong integration with KDE applications and a consistent user experience across devices. Additionally, the openness of the platform allows users and developers to modify and enhance the system according to their needs.

Recommended for

    Tech enthusiasts, privacy-conscious users, developers interested in open-source mobile platforms, and anyone looking for a non-mainstream mobile operating system with strong customization options.

Replicant videos

+ Add

BRS gray g-10 REPLICANT Review

More videos:

  • Review - BRS Replicant review + Car Crash
  • Review - -=brs=- select replicant review

Plasma Mobile videos

+ Add

Plasma Mobile (KDE Neon) on the PinePhone "Brave Heart"

More videos:

  • Review - Plasma Mobile Neon on Brave heart review.
  • Review - KDE Plasma Mobile Review (Early Look) | The Future of Linux Phones? Geekoutdoors.com EP621

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Replicant and Plasma Mobile)

Replicant

Plasma Mobile

Mobile OS
44 44%
Mobile OS
56% 56
Mobile SDK
48 48%
Mobile SDK
52% 52
Roms
69 69%
Roms
31% 31
Operating Systems
0 0%
Operating Systems
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Replicant and Plasma Mobile. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Replicant and Plasma Mobile

Replicant Reviews

Open Source Mobile OS Alternatives To Android
Though Replicant was founded back in 2010 by a couple of Free Software groups, it now uses the source code of LineageOS as the base. You can see the list of devices supported by Replicant here.
Source: itsfoss.com

Plasma Mobile Reviews

Android Alternative: Top 12 Mobile Operating Systems
Unlike many other Android forks, Plasma Mobile is an Android alternative that runs on top of a Linux distribution. It has been developed using the multi-platform toolkit Qt and KDE framework that powers so many Linux distros out there. To make the skin look fluid and mobile, it uses a Plasma Shell that feels polished out of the box. Note that, it does not run Android apps,...
Source: beebom.com
Open Source Mobile OS Alternatives To Android
A few years back, KDE announced its own open source mobile OS, Plasma Mobile. Plasma Mobile is the mobile version of the desktop Plasma user interface, and aims to provide convergence for KDE users.
Source: itsfoss.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Plasma Mobile should be more popular than Replicant. It has been mentiond 21 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Replicant mentions (14)

  • Syncthing Android App Discontinued
    Sadly there is no real alternative to Android at the moment. Replicant are also just 2-3 developers afaik. https://replicant.us/. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Ask HN: What currently is the best, nerd-friendly, rootable Android phone?
    Galaxy Note 2 + [Replicant](https://replicant.us). I got 2 used for $10, one is my main, the other is my travel dummy airport cops can look at. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Linux is growing rapidly
    The Free Software Foundation. Founded by Richard Stallman, they made the GPL Licences, they were resposible for the GNU in GNU/Linux. Check out their website on www.fsf.org. In this article they recommend Replicant. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Google finds more Android, iOS zero-days used to install spyware
    There is a android rom called replicant which is trying to fix the problems with cell phones. https://replicant.us/. Source: about 2 years ago
  • FIGHT ME!!!!!!!!
    If you did read the list of FSF approved distro's, you'd know that they approve of Replicat a mobile Linux distro that doesn't use GNU. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Plasma Mobile mentions (21)

  • Google's "Desktop View" Turns Android Phones into Pocket PCs
    Https://plasma-mobile.org Does seem decent but the problem no major phone maker support it or make phones for it, in fact even linux desktop doesn't have may laptops/desktops "official" support,. - Source: Hacker News / 18 days ago
  • Google will develop Android OS behind closed doors starting next week
    That's what https://plasma-mobile.org is supposed to be. But the problem is there is yet to be a single device that has every hardware feature working %100...see https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Devices#Main. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Fairphone 5
    I had a dream that I own a FP5 running Plasma Mobile [1]. Then I woke up and realized this is the real world and in the real world we can't have Good Things. [1] https://plasma-mobile.org/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Trans liberation must be protected at all costs. Protect trans kids. Under no pretext shall arms and ammunition be taken from the working class.
    I know it's not as common and not as good as android forks, but more secure and better privacy Linux operating systems exist for mobile phones as well like Plasma Mobile and Ubuntu Touch. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • What is the distro with the best touch ui
    Now, for the backend, the distro you might want to use is KDE plasma, which has its own mobile platform Https://plasma-mobile.org/. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Replicant and Plasma Mobile, you can also consider the following products

LineageOS - Operating system for smartphones and tablet computers, based on the Android

Android - Android is an open source mobile operating system initially released by Google in 2008 and has since become of the most widely used operating systems on any platform.

MessageMind.ai - A full human-like customer service team, powered by AI.

Ubuntu Touch - Read more about Ubuntu Touch. Our free and open source mobile OS is made and maintained by UBports! We care about your freedom and privacy.

Zendesk - Zendesk is a beautiful, lightweight help-desk solution.

Zoho Desk - Industry's first context-aware Helpdesk Software

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