I need your experience to choose

kimo

i use Pixel 3A for a long time and think about changing the phone due to the weakening of the battery and I have options I think about and search for advice from the people of the experience in terms of capacity and consumption of the battery and the most compatible with Ubuntu Touche
FAIRPHONE 4
FAIRPHONE 5
volla phone 22
volla phone x23
volla phone Quintus
Find a phone for daily use and its battery that lasts more with use, especially with Waydroid

kugiigi

@kimo I have no experience with Volla phones but the Fairphone 4 would be a great choice for stability and readiness for daily driving. However, if you want a more future proof option, Fairphone 5 is better in mamy aspects but its port still has many quirks that needs to be fixed or addressed. One major thing is that there's massive battery drain because apps don't suspend and the device don't properly go to sleep.

Vlad Nirky

@kimo
Nothing but great phones.
I'd add the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro, which works perfectly with Ubuntu Touch and which I use daily with great pleasure.
If I had to choose another brand and had a bit of time, I'd also look at the Brax3, which is currently being ported.

MrT10001

@kimo There are many great phones out there for Ubuntu Touch and asking a question like this you may get confused with varying responses, but here is my bit.

Volla Phone and Fairphone are expensive for what they are. They may lead in free and open source software, but there are cheaper phones that work with Android that lack the foibles seen here and in other forums as well as working with UT.

The easiest to install on and most things work is the OnePlus 5 and 5T. The 6 and 6T follow close behind. The bootloader on these devices is straightforward to unlock and a soft bricked device can be recovered without having to go back to the manufacturer.

Xiaomi phones are a pain as they make it irritating to unlock the bootloader, but they have solid hardware. Redmi Note 9 Pro is a great start and is well supported. I am partial to the Redmi Note 7 as I used it a lot, good screen, but voice in calls was a bit flakey.

The OnePlus Nord N100 and N10 5G are good solid phones too and well supported, again most things work.

OK, here is the disclaimer. most devices have requirements to install UT, such as downgrading or upgrading the Android ROM that must be stock. Some are more difficult to install on than others (the Pixel 3a/3aXL was not a 100% straightforward install without a bit of working out). The Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1 and Xiaomi Mi a2, were and are a bit of a challenge to get UT up and running, but work well.

So you can see there is not a definitive answer, couple that with what is available in your region. If you have money and want UT preinstalled, Volla and Fiarphone are the way to go.

If you don't want to spend that amount and want an easy install, I recommend the Oneplus 5T.

If you are in North America and require VoLTE, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 pro is going well on that.

Vlad Nirky

@MrT10001
Well said, excellent analysis.

For Redmi note 9 Pro (don't know for other devices) https://github.com/offici5l/MiUnlockTool?tab=readme-ov-file

Everybody is welcome in https://t.me/UTForMiatoll

stanwood

If you have money and want UT preinstalled, Volla and Fiarphone are the way to go.

Correct, all Volla devices do have a "UBports" version. However, I'm not sure one can find the Fairphone 4 with preinstalled UT. Have you got a link or a retailer?

If you are in North America and require VoLTE, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 pro is going well on that.

Indeed! And also Redmi Note 9S and Pro India + Poco X3 NFC are now VoLTE capable on the Dev channel! I guess more devices to come on the next upcoming weeks...

MrT10001

@stanwood said in I need your experience to choose:

Correct, all Volla devices do have a "UBports" version. However, I'm not sure one can find the Fairphone 4 with preinstalled UT. Have you got a link or a retailer?

Sorry, meant /e/OS.

wally

Yes, well summarized @MrT10001. Though I'll note that not all of North America has lost 3G support. Here in Canada (at least while we remain a sovereign nation) 3G is alive on all carriers for now. Sunset dates range between July 2025 and Dec 2026. My impression is that a bunch of nations in the south of NA still have 2G and/or 3G as well.

If it were me though, I'd either go with one of the pricier but clearly supported devices you listed, or try to hold out a bit longer before buying something, to make sure it works well in 24.04 (and that VoLTE starts working, if you'll need it soon).
My guess is that the coming weeks/months might make it all a bit more clear which devices will have a good future with Noble and VoLTE.