Best / most powerful phone for Ubuntu touch?
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Hello all. My last phone just stopped charging and I have been looking into getting a new one. My previous phone was a zte blade 3 running android but now I want to try using Ubuntu touch instead since I have been using Debian on my home PC for the past 4 years and I really like it. What phone would yall say is the best one to flash ubuntu touch to? Also do all of the phones on the supported devices page support using the sim card? Is there anything I should know before making the switch to ubuntu touch?
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@Jon-Lasaga The best device will depend where you live. Meizu Pro 5 is often said by those familiar with it to be the most powerful current UT device, but it does not have any LTE coverage in the US, which is why I'm not one of those who can be said to be familiar with it.
Also, beware that Pro 5s sold with Android have locked bootloaders (or so I understand), so you have to find a Ubuntu Touch version.Each device has its quirks, e.g., zoom is currently broken on the OnePlus One camera, viewfinder sometimes freezes (but camera continues working) on Nexus 5, etc.
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Ah thats unfortunate I was thinking about getting one of those and swapping carriers but If it doesnt work in the USA ill have to pick another one. Ive heard alot of good things about the nexus 5 on Ubuntu touch so I think im gonna go for that one. Thanks for the info
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@Jon-Lasaga What carrier exactly? ATT/T-Mobile should have no issues. There's a problem with CDMA (Sprint/Verizon) for now, and I think Nexus 5 is blacklisted by Verizon either way.
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I have a Nexus 5 with Sprint (a CDMA carrier) I have been able to get cellular, Data, and send MMS to work, I can't receive MMS and SMS doesn't send or receive. I can provide any info if you'd like.
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@tigerpro Hi, I just joined the forum because I saw this post. I bought a Nexus 5 off eBay and my intention was to put UT on it and use it on Sprint. Is this not an option? If not, what is the best phone that will work on Sprint and can use UT? Thanks so much
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@MrBennett21 hi, the issue isn't whether or not the nexus 5 is good for sprint on UT, the issue is that UT's ofono stack has some issues with CDMA networks. I would say if you message primarily through a data based service like facebook messenger or google voice's website then it should be fine. I was never able to get SMS to work at all, and I couldn't receive MMS but I could send MMS. I have the instructions if you wanna try it anyways.
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Thanks for that quick reply. The phone is due to come in this week and I would like to go ahead and try. If you want to send me the instructions I'd really appreciate it. I'm not super knowledgeable in this but I can follow instructions.
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@MrBennett21 great, I will get those sent to you via PM, I have to double check some of it so bear with me
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@trainailleur I have a pro 5 and I do have lte coverage there were 2 versions of the phone. Their is the chinese version and the international version.
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@trainailleur I remember there was an article from Ubuntu at first that they were unlocking the boot loaders and install Ubuntu touch on the android variants. But I can no longer find that article.
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@speedracer08861 There might be something in this thread and it's links https://forums.ubports.com/topic/1252/problems-flashing-ubports-on-meizu-pro-5-android-international-edition you will need to read through it. Also this one https://forums.ubports.com/topic/1645/meizu-pro-5-upgrade-to-ota-4-ex-android-version.
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@speedracer08861 said in Best / most powerful phone for Ubuntu touch?:
@trainailleur I have a pro 5 and I do have lte coverage there were 2 versions of the phone. Their is the chinese version and the international version.
Very interesting. Which US carrier do you use, and which Pro 5 version are you using with Ubuntu Touch?
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@trainailleur i have the international version with att
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@speedracer08861 said in Best / most powerful phone for Ubuntu touch?:
@trainailleur i have the international version with att
What's the model number, and do you know of any info posted anywhere about this model? Specifically interested in exactly what LTE bands it supports. Since Frequency Check and GSM Arena didn't show a Pro 5 version with any of the AT&T bands (2, 4, 5, 12, 14, 17, 29, 30, 66), I always assumed it didn't exist.
Also, how and where did you acquire it? I'd be very interested in acquiring one with even a few of these bands.
EDIT: Further reading tells me that AT&T operates band 40 in a few parts of the country, and the Pro 5 has band 40. Do you know if you have coverage on any other LTE band? If you're receiving band 40, would you mind sharing your region? Maybe I live nearby.
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@trainailleur I live in the Poconos, Pa
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@speedracer08861 said in Best / most powerful phone for Ubuntu touch?:
@trainailleur I live in the Poconos, Pa
Thanks. I think one of our members in Britain or Ireland mentioned having LTE when he visited the Northeast with his Pro 5. I wonder how widespead coverage is. I cannot find a map that shows carrier coverage broken down by band.
I'm down in Texas myself, but I'll see if any of my devices have band 40, and if so if they're seeing coverage from it. If it's widespread, the Pro 5 would be an awesome device to have until newer ex-Android and non-Android devices are supported.
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@trainailleur I've read another article on XDA that all phones have the same bands it's just that you have to open it. The bands are locked to certain mobile operators
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/general/how-to-add-rf-lte-frequency-bands-to-t2886059
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@speedracer08861 said in Best / most powerful phone for Ubuntu touch?:
@trainailleur I've read another article on XDA that all phones have the same bands it's just that you have to open it. The bands are locked to certain mobile operators
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/general/how-to-add-rf-lte-frequency-bands-to-t2886059
Very interesting. If that's still valid for newer Qualcom radios, it would greatly increase the number of usable Android - and potentially future Ubuntu Touch - devices here in the US, where many phones popular elsewhere in the world work poorly if at all. I might try that on several of my devices if I can find a Linux equivalent to the Windows steps.
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@trainailleur the issue is not a technical one but a legal one (FCC regulations).
