PinePhone, A Good Idea?

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

I think you all know what a PinePhone is. But, for reference: https://pine64.org/devices/pinephone/

I am currently running on the Twigby network (based on Verizon) Their phone choices are rather limited right now. Dunno if they are adding more, or what.

Anyway, my current phone (on left) is starting to not wake up from sleep. I have to press power a million times before I get to the desktop.

I've been looking around at Linux phones, as well as Linux software that you can install over your Android phones.

I came across the PinePhone on the whim. I do not know if it works with the Twigby/Verizon network. On their wiki, they said it does work.

Do you have other suggestions? Keep it under $200 if you can. Refurbished is OK.

[+InsaneNutter MVC]

What will you use the phone for? anything in particular other than calls / sms?

Right now I'd recommend a device that can be flashed with GrapheneOS - you get the privacy of a Linux based phone, however with the security of a locked down Android device, without Google services having unrestricted access to the device and your data. (Google services are completely optional and sandboxed if you do install them)

Graphene currently support Pixel 6-10 series devices, something like the Pixel 8 would be ideal as that will get security updates well in to 2030 and is currently around $200 for an excellent conditioned used device on Ebay in the US: https://www.ebay.com/itm/235952765034

Personally I don’t feel Linux on the mobile is quite there yet, however I do feel Jolla with SailfishOS are getting close to something actually usable as a daily driver: https://jolla.com/

I'd be concerned how well the PinePhone will function with 2-3gb of ram, running from an eMMC. It really depends what you expect from a phone however.

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

On 18/05/2026 at 06:10, InsaneNutter said:

What will you use the phone for? anything in particular other than calls / sms?

I don't use it that much. Just for SMS use. I have bad hearing, so calling isn't my thing.

 

On 18/05/2026 at 06:10, InsaneNutter said:

Right now I'd recommend a device that can be flashed with GrapheneOS - you get the privacy of a Linux based phone, however with the security of a locked down Android device, without Google services having unrestricted access to the device and your data. (Google services are completely optional and sandboxed if you do install them)

Graphene currently support Pixel 6-10 series devices, something like the Pixel 8 would be ideal as that will get security updates well in to 2030 and is currently around $200 for an excellent conditioned used device on Ebay in the US: https://www.ebay.com/itm/235952765034

I have heard of GrapheneOS. Never used them, though. As I said above, I don't use it much. Just used it for emergencies. So google isn't getting much from me.  

Should I worry that the Pixel 8 is Spectrum locked?

On 18/05/2026 at 06:10, InsaneNutter said:

Personally I don’t feel Linux on the mobile is quite there yet, however I do feel Jolla with SailfishOS are getting close to something actually usable as a daily driver: https://jolla.com/

I'd be concerned how well the PinePhone will function with 2-3gb of ram, running from an eMMC. It really depends what you expect from a phone however.

They have grown since 2020 when they first worked on it. Is it perfect? No. I was actually considering Mobian. As I'm a big Debian fan. But like what someone said in a video, the GNOME desktop does tone it down quite a bit. The Manjaro version uses KDE. A little more responsive.

Just the same as Raspberry Pi devices. Just depends on what you do with it.

[+InsaneNutter MVC]

On 18/05/2026 at 16:08, Mindovermaster said:

Should I worry that the Pixel 8 is Spectrum locked?

You'd need an unlocked phone, or one locked to the same network you wish to use. Ebay looks to have some unlocked Pixel 8's from $20 to $50 more depending on the listing:

• https://www.ebay.com/itm/285976727838
• https://www.ebay.com/itm/176566603457

I have read online mobile networks in the US can be strict about what devices they allow on them, so it might be worth checking with Twigby. From what I can find online Twigby should accept an unlocked Pixel 8 though.

You can actually run a full hardware accelerated Linux environment on Android 16 devices (which the Pixel 8 is), so that could potentially be the best of both worlds for you?

 

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

Question: Are any of these phones on Twigby worth my while? Or just basically a piece of trash?

Moto G 5G $135 was $248 (my friend says his nephew used this phone and had mounts of trouble)

Samsung A15 $149 was $278 

Samsung A17 $209 was $324 

Just to clarify, I don't want apple phones..

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

On 18/05/2026 at 15:55, InsaneNutter said:

You'd need an unlocked phone, or one locked to the same network you wish to use. Ebay looks to have some unlocked Pixel 8's from $20 to $50 more depending on the listing:

• https://www.ebay.com/itm/285976727838
• https://www.ebay.com/itm/176566603457

I have read online mobile networks in the US can be strict about what devices they allow on them, so it might be worth checking with Twigby. From what I can find online Twigby should accept an unlocked Pixel 8 though.

You can actually run a full hardware accelerated Linux environment on Android 16 devices (which the Pixel 8 is), so that could potentially be the best of both worlds for you?

 

And with that first link, the seller posted the IMEI numbers, and I looked that up with Twigby, and it accepted that. So, it does work.

I looked up several YT vids on how to install it, and it's rather simple. I never flashed anything onto my phone.

I actually did once De-Amazon a Fire Tablet. All Amazon apps on there were taken off.

[+InsaneNutter MVC]

On 18/05/2026 at 22:34, Mindovermaster said:

Question: Are any of these phones on Twigby worth my while? Or just basically a piece of trash?

All of them have 4gb of ram, which for Android in 2026 is not ideal in all honesty. Even more so with all the extra "features" (bloat) Samsung include with Android.

Some of the higher end Samsung A series devices with more ram / better chipsets are actually nice in all fairness to Samsung, such as the A57 5G. They do however sell a lot of low spec devices which really do not perform that well after a while.

In my opinion you are often better buying an older flagship, compared to a newer low end device. Even more so for devices which are guaranteed 7 years of Android updates.

On 19/05/2026 at 05:06, Mindovermaster said:

I looked up several YT vids on how to install it, and it's rather simple. I never flashed anything onto my phone.

Agreed. GrapheneOS really is easy to install, I’ve been flashing Android roms since 2010. That's the first time I've ever been able to go from stock to a fully custom rom by clicking a few buttons in my web browser!

For all the issues I have with the direction Google are taking Android, they are actually good when it comes to unlocking / tinkering with devices. Google provide the factory firmware images so you can restore Pixel devices to stock if you ever desire.