Ubuntu touch as PC?
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Am using Linux Mint since many years. Now the idea grows to purchase an advanced mobile phone, load Ubuntu touch and use it as a mobile PC. My usage is not too heavy!
Any recommendations to hard-/software combinations that might work? -
@Yumi It can be done but unfortunately there are still issues that would make it not a good experience. One of it is mouse scrolling. It doesn't work properly in all browser tabs in the default browser. It's also a bit too fast in native apps. It's just finicky in general which ruins the experience.
Also, support for traditional desktop apps is not complete yet. They mostly run in Xwayland which isn't hardware accelerated and has a few things not working properly.
But if you just want to try it and maybe one day use it when it's actually usable, Fairphone 4 and Fairphone 5 are the popular ones that support external diaplay via the type-c port.
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@Yumi I understand what you mean.
But actualy, i found lomiri is not ready to be used as a PC (no desktop...). And UT don't already have some basics computers apps (libre office, vlc, firefox, scribus, gimp...). But in fact, phosh or kde mobile are not realy better.
i made a try with kde desktop (on postmarketOS) : more customizable, but pmOS is unstable on oneplus6.
So, the quest continue ! (why not mobian + kde desktop if possible?) -
this is good news regarding lomri https://linuxiac.com/rhino-linux-2025-4-brings-lomiri-packages-and-updated-kernels/
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Based on current state, Ubuntu Touch works better as a tech experiment than a daily PC replacement, mainly due to app support and desktop limitations. If you want to try anyway, Fairphone with external display support seems the least frustrating option for now.
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@Yumi
installed UT 2 days ago on 1+ Nord N10 (BE2026). [Note VoLTE worked, but NOT WiFi calling].
UT mentions 'Desktop Convergence', so I tried to see if my phone could reproduce my Linux Mint LibreOffice 'desktop experience'.
Easy to connect to WIRELESS external display (limited to 1080P), as long as that display runs Miracast (my LG TV's do).
Then I connected Acasis multiport USB-C hub, with PD charging, a wired keyboard, wired mouse, Gigabit ethernet adapter and USB-A Flash drive.
I installed LibreOffice via snap. (direct, no libertine required).
I opened a spreadsheet that had been created on main PC.
not as quick as main PC, but workable.
Image on TV was a bit 'wavy', moving top to bottom, as it refreshed, or something. (maybe 2.4Ghz WiFi interference also)
A phone model with WIRED external display capability probably fixes the 'wavy'.
I did NOT exhaustively test this (meaning the usability for lengthy spreadsheet changes).
It was just to see if it would work.
If you have a specific thing to try, let me know. I might be able to give a quick test. -
@oldbutndy and anyone:
- Email, such as Thunderbird, with GPG-encryption, anyone tried that?
- Firefox with addons? Anyone tried it?
- Brave browser?
- Linphone?
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@mango
I did find & install snap for Thunderbird a couple days ago. Installs, but not open (actually, a 'fuzzy box with a text bar at top appears, but nothing in fuzzy box). Then tried series of questions on Google AI 'reasoning model' via browser. It had a series of troubleshooting commands to type in to terminal. I did not follow through yet due to sharing the same display between UT phone and main PC doing the AI thread. Summary was AI estimate of required spending approximately 10 hours on configuration, IF using UT on a phone that had WIRED external monitor, USB Keyboard, mouse, etc. AI thought MANY more hours required if using a wireless external display.
I gave up on Thunderbird at that point.Searched for snap for Linphone. found none.
Found snap for Signal. Installed. No account so it shows "failed to connect to server". So, it might work.
Firefox snap install process gave error: bad plugs or slots: kerberos-tickets (unknown interface "kerberos-tickets"). No icon installed on main screen.
Just installed Brave browser via snap. Installed with no errors, opens on wireless external display, and performs a web search, & display correctly. (5 second test. NOT comprehensive. but it opened & looked OK)
