Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups
Mobian

Mobian Reviews and Details

This page is designed to help you find out whether Mobian is good and if it is the right choice for you.

Screenshots and images

  • Mobian Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-18

Features & Specs

  1. Open Source

    Mobian is an open-source project, which means it is free to use, modify, and distribute. This allows for transparency and customization by the community.

  2. Debian-based

    Mobian is built on the solid foundation of Debian, known for its stability and security, which ensures a reliable experience for users.

  3. Mobile Focus

    Designed specifically for mobile devices, Mobian aims to optimize the Linux experience for smartphones and tablets.

  4. Community Driven

    The project is community-driven, allowing for diverse contributions which can lead to rapid improvements and a variety of supported devices.

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Videos

Mobian | The Best Mobile Linux Distro

Mobian on the Pinephone Review 2021

PinePhone OSes: Mobian

Social recommendations and mentions

We have tracked the following product recommendations or mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you see what people think about Mobian and what they use it for.
  • Best OS for Pinephone Pro?
    I haven't messed with mine recently so not sure what the status of mobian is right now, but it would be worth giving it a try. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Show HN: DivestOS, long term support for end-of-life Android devices
    Sounds like you want https://postmarketos.org/ or https://mobian-project.org/ ? - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
  • Recent work towards mobile GNOME demoed on OnePlus 6 (Video by @calebccff on Twitter)
    This is still in active development. I would recommend trying postmarketOS or Mobian if you have a compatible device. They are both mainly packaged with Phosh, which is also a GNOME project, although most development is headed by Purism. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Droidian Linux on Google Pixel 3a
    Droidian is based on Mobian, a distro that aims to adapt Debian to mobile. It uses the same technologies as Ubuntu Touch (libhybris and Halium) to create support for Android devices. Source: about 4 years ago
  • We have developed an application that gives people worldwide a tool to boycott brands that have not left Russian and pay taxes there, identifying businesses that still operate by their names. We have added a barcode scanner so that you can scan products directly in the store.
    I have to make compromises often, but I choose to only install programs that can trust after setting up my system because I need to trust the device that I carry around with me 100% of the time in my pocket. I use Mobian on my phone and the only nonfree software installed are a few drivers. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Project Prism: architecture overview
    At the foundation of gShell (the software running on the Prism) is Linux. We love Linux's open-source nature and the huge community that has grown around it in the last 30 years. It was the sensible choice for Prism. The specific version of Linux running on Prism is Mobian (mobian-project.org), which is a version of Debian designed for mobile phones. The underlying OS of Mobian could change in the future, because... - Source: dev.to / over 4 years ago
  • Pinephone Pro: calling and texting (sms)
    A few months back, I was able to call and SMS using Mobian on T-Mobile US network. MMS support is almost done for Mobian, too. Source: over 4 years ago
  • The PinePhone Pro brings upgraded hardware to the Linux phone
    If you are interested in Debian, look at: https://mobian-project.org/ I would call it....sort of official? It isn't Debian per se, but many of the devs working on it also are working with Debian to get as much upstreamed as possible (or are offiliated with Debian proper). It also tries to use upstream Debian packages as much as possible. - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
  • Apple Is Normalising Surveillance
    Don't forget to also use Mobian on a smartphone: https://mobian-project.org. - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
  • Pinephone software?
    See the Pine64 wiki to get started: PinePhone Software Releases they have all known OS's listed here with links to the homepages of each. Mobian for example has their own website mobian-project.org and postmarketOS has theirs; some distros like Manjaro release images thru GitHub, e.g. Phosh image here. Source: almost 5 years ago
  • Honda will use Googleโ€™s embedded Android Automotive in its cars starting in 2022
    If something like this happens again with e. g. Bluetooth (or the proprietary Android Auto and Apple Carplay protocols, which exlcude phones with any other OS) and phone manufacturers decide to not offer backwards compatibility, you might actually get into the situation that your car and your phone both have e. g. Bluetooth (e. g. Use 2,4 GHz frequencies), but can't talk to each other due to changes in the... Source: almost 5 years ago
  • PureOS โ€“ a pure Linux phone experience
    Not itself, no - but Mobian is compatible with other similarly open phones (so basically the PinePhone and a few others) and runs essentially the same software: https://mobian-project.org/ For other Android phones there's Droidian which is downstream of Mobian; I've not used it myself though so can't speak to its current state: https://droidian.org/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 5 years ago
  • ETA on delivery?
    Not the person you asked, but I have a PinePhone (3GB model). There is indeed no separate modem module, nor is there a PGP card slot. The hardware is less powerful than the Librem 5, but it works absolutely fine for me. I'm using Mobian instead of PureOS, but the two should be very similar: they're both based on Debian, and both use Phosh as the shell. Source: almost 5 years ago
  • Battery Life
    Mobian. It's a modified version of debian for mobile devices. https://mobian-project.org/. Source: about 5 years ago
  • Day 1 - Accessing your server
    I am SSHing into a Digital Ocean VM from Trisquel GNU/Linux and Mobian devices. I deployed the droplet with doctl. Source: about 5 years ago
  • Loading Linux to android tablet?
    My recommendations would be either Ubuntu, GrapheneOS (which isnโ€™t fully linux) or, and last time I saw the thing it didnโ€™t seem to function well, but regardless there is a mobile version of Debian. https://mobian-project.org. Source: about 5 years ago

Summary of the public mentions of Mobian

Mobian, an emerging player in the mobile operating systems space, has steadily garnered public interest and curiosity as a viable alternative to mainstream mobile OS options like Android. Capitalizing on its Debian-based roots, Mobian targets tech-savvy users and open-source enthusiasts who prioritize privacy, customization, and an open ecosystem. Here, we provide an outline of prevailing public opinions and perceptions of Mobian, as gleaned from community discussions and recent product mentions.

Overview of Mobian's Appeal

The core attraction of Mobian lies in its foundation as a mobile adaptation of Debian, a reputable and well-regarded Linux distribution known for its stability and robust package management. Mobianโ€™s website identifies it as a tailored OS for mobile devices, leveraging the renowned frameworks of Gnome and GTK. An integral feature of Mobian is Phosh, a mobile shell developed by Purism, ensuring a consistent and user-friendly experience across devices.

Community Sentiment

Public mentions underscore Mobian's continual development and its potential as an Android alternative. While it doesn't support Android applications natively, which can be a barrier for some users, its compatibility with Phosh and the Gnome project ensures a degree of continuity for users familiar with Linux environments. Mobian is frequently suggested alongside its competitors like Ubuntu Touch, postmarketOS, and PureOS when users seek recommendations for non-Android and privacy-centric mobile experiences.

Device Compatibility and Adaptation

Mobian's flexibility shines through its compatibility with devices like the PinePhone, PinePhone Pro, and, to an extent, repurposed Android devices via Droidianโ€” a downstream project of Mobian. Users have noted successful deployment on these platforms, with functionalities such as calling and SMS operational on networks like T-Mobile in the U.S. The OSโ€™s adaptability to both native and Android devices via Droidian highlights its potential for diverse mobile environments.

Reception and Critique

While Mobian's reception is largely positive among enthusiasts, the OS does face critiques typical of nascent and niche operating systems. Concerns primarily revolve around limited app support, hardware compatibility issues, and the learning curve associated with transitioning from more mainstream ecosystems like Android or iOS. Users often compare it with other privacy-focused and security-conscious systems like GrapheneOS and CalyxOS, noting that Mobian offers a different, more open-source approach to these shared priorities.

Future Prospects

Discussions in forums suggest optimism about Mobianโ€™s trajectory. The dedication to integrating upstream as much as possible indicates a community-driven commitment to sustainability and growth. Additionally, the project's open nature and the shared development ethos with the broader Debian community position it well to increasingly capture security- and privacy-conscious users.

In conclusion, while Mobian is an evolving project with certain limitations, its alignment with Debianโ€™s principles and successful implementation on various devices illustrate burgeoning interest. For users who value flexibility, transparency, and community-driven software, Mobian stands as a promising alternative amidst a sea of proprietary and commercial mobile operating systems. The ongoing effort to enhance usability and expand device support speaks to a vibrant, active development community committed to advancing Mobianโ€™s capabilities and reach.

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Is Mobian good? This is an informative page that will help you find out. Moreover, you can review and discuss Mobian here. The primary details have not been verified within the last quarter, and they might be outdated. If you think we are missing something, please use the means on this page to comment or suggest changes. All reviews and comments are highly encouranged and appreciated as they help everyone in the community to make an informed choice. Please always be kind and objective when evaluating a product and sharing your opinion.