• dadarobot
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    fedilink
    310 months ago

    can anyone recommend a linux phone that’s not old tech

    Suggests 6 year old phone

    • Vladyslav Marchenko ⛨
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      610 months ago

      @dadarobot actually, Pixel 3a was announced at Google I/O at May 2019, so it’s even less than 5 years old (if we count it right after announce) so you’re lying right now.
      P.S. do you have better ideas? Pixel 3a has 100% compatibility rate at UBports site and I personally use it as my secondary phone. Don’t like my recommendation? Fine, recommend something else. Probably something that you have been used for some time

      • @800XL
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        210 months ago

        The Pixel 3a is a great phone. Last time I checked years ago there was no way to get Linux onto one with a locked bootloader tho. Is that still the case?

        I should have been more specific. When I said old tech I meant phones or SoC that were ~10 y old.

          • @800XL
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            110 months ago

            Sweet! Have any guides you can pass my way?

            • Vladyslav Marchenko ⛨
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              410 months ago

              @800XL I think guides even aren’t needed) Before flashing Pixel 3a with UT, you will need to flash it to Android 9. The easiest way is doing it via Google’s web-based flasher, you don’t even need to download firmware to your PC. This flasher will download selected firmware automatically and will unlock bootloader also automatically… or at least semi-automatically, you will still need to follow some steps that is displayed on your PC’s screen (not phone’ screen!).
              Check UT site for firmware code

              • @800XL
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                110 months ago

                What if the bootloader is encrypted? Am I out of luck?

                • Vladyslav Marchenko ⛨
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                  210 months ago

                  @800XL I’m afraid, yes. You can try but there is no guarantees that it is possible at all. I have checked it across some forums and looks like it’s pretty uncommon situation when Pixels are locked. Anyway, Pixel 3a is pretty cheap today (I’ve bought one in less than $100 with ideal condition) so if you have the version with encrypted bootloader, you can try to sell your current model and buy a new one without encrypted bootloader (probably it may cost a little more if you search specifically 🤷‍♂️)

                  • @800XL
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                    310 months ago

                    I might just do that. Thanks for the info!