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The Pro1 X Smartphone looks like an awesome Linux phone for tech fans

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Here is your daily dose of not-linux-gaming news but still awesome. F(x)tec are currently crowdfunding (and very successfully so) for a new high spec Linux phone with a physical keyboard.

The thing is, it's not just another Android phone. Well, it could be, if you wanted that. The Pro1 X will be available with either Android, Lineage OS or Ubuntu Touch OS out of the box which is why we're so interested in it. Not only that, if you do get the Ubuntu version it will offer full convergence by turning into a proper computer if you hook it up to a monitor.

With a sleek 64-key physical keyboard which slides out from behind, you get full access to do whatever you need. It's a proper little mini-computer.

F(x)tec teamed up with the well-known and loved XDA community to create the phone:

"After the fantastic feedback we received from users of the Pro1, we’re excited to partner with XDA to offer our customers choice of an alternative OS out of the box; a pure smartphone experience with Lineage or a truly open linux OS with Ubuntu Touch. Both of our communities share the importance of greater control and more functionality in our smartphones." Said Adrian from F(x)tec, "We’re really proud of what the Pro1-X represents in terms of freedom to choose something different combined with the practicality of a keyboard experience."

Technical specifications:

DESIGN

Dimensions: 154 x 73.6 x 13.98 mm

DISPLAY

5.99-inch 2160 x 1080 (FHD+) AMOLED flex screen with curved edges

Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3

KEYBOARD

Physical Keyboard layout:

5-row, 66-key, staggered, backlit, landscape QWERTY keyboard. 

Also available in QWERTZ layout

On-screen keyboard when the slider is closed.

MEMORY

RAM: 8GB LPDDR4X

Storage: 256GB UFS2.1, expandable via microSD card up to 2TB

CAMERA

Front Camera: 8MP, Rear Cameras: 12MP

PROCESSOR

Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 MSM8998

NETWORK

Global LTE (FDD+TDD), WCDMA / UMTS, CDMA / EVDO, GSM / EDGE CellularBands;

CONNECTIVITY

WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0 + LE, NFC, USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack.

BATTERY

3200 maH, Qualcomm® Quick Charge™ 3.0

SIM

Dual Nano SIM with microSD support hybrid SIM #2),

My first proper smartphone was the HTC Dream, otherwise known as the G1 and the first commercial Android phone. I have such fond memories of it with the physical keyboard, so the F(x)tec Pro1 X having that and Ubuntu? I might be a little sold on this. I do have to wonder what kind of gaming would be possible on such a device, would certainly be fun to have a go with it.

You can find it on IndieGoGo.

If you missed it, do check out our article on the upcoming PinePhone - KDE Community edition.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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About the author -
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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Julius Nov 20, 2020
Just as a note: This runs the community version of Ubuntu Touch ( https://ubports.com/ ) via the Halium compatibility layer. It is a nice mobile phone OS and I use it on another former Android phone daily, but it is far from a "regular" GNU/Linux and requires quite some workarounds to run normal GNU/Linux desktop apps. If you are looking for an experience more like desktop Linux, better get a PinePhone. Although to be honest, as a phone OS Ubuntu Touch is actually better than desktop Linux.
Avehicle7887 Nov 20, 2020
QuoteHere is your daily dose of not-linux-gaming news

I'd still try to game on it.


I've been experimenting with running Linux on my android phones for a couple of years now. It's not exactly straightforward or easy stuff but a great learning experience. I managed to run normal desktop software such as firefox and such, maybe one day will get 3D acceleration working.
fnordianslip Nov 20, 2020
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Looks nice, but since I got well and truly burnt by the Jolla Tablet scam, I won't be crowdfunding this. I do miss my old Nokia N900 though, so I am interested.
kaiman Nov 20, 2020
As cool as this is, I think in reality the Ubuntu version could only ever function as a 2nd phone unless it can also dual boot. At least for me. Even though I predominantly use mine to make calls over the cellular network, snap some pictures if I forget to bring my camera, chat with people using a messenger that has a desktop application running in Wine, and, very, very rarely visit a website or check my E-Mail, all of which would presumably work perfectly on a phone running Ubuntu, there are a few essential apps forced on me by the likes of my Bank (for 2FA) or the local public transport (for buying tickets when there is no ticket machine, or it isn't working) or all those "smart" things that want to pair with my mobile device (because why provide a web-interface for configuration when it can have an app instead!?). If it weren't for all of the latter, I'd be interested. But then again, in that case I'd likely still be running my trusty Blackberry ...
seanbutnotheard Nov 20, 2020
In their most recent update, they also appear to have Debian working on it (with a screenshot).
tuubi Nov 20, 2020
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Quoting: fnordianslipLooks nice, but since I got well and truly burnt by the Jolla Tablet scam, I won't be crowdfunding this.
You never got your refund?
riidom Nov 21, 2020
Quoting: kaiman[...] there are a few essential apps forced on me by the likes of my Bank (for 2FA) or the local public transport (for buying tickets when there is no ticket machine, or it isn't working) or all those "smart" things that want to pair with my mobile device (because why provide a web-interface for configuration when it can have an app instead!?)[...]

This is indeed an highly annoying problem. I do have ubports on my only phone, only because so far I was able to dodge mentioned apps.

But really, this "iOS/Android only" crap has to stop.
Julius Nov 21, 2020
Looks like it will actually get worse 1.1.2021 in the EU. Some sort of new banking regulation coming into force that at least my current bank seems to interpret in a way that they have to use a broken Android app now :(
I am currently looking for options to switch my bank because of that... too many times that sh*t just didn't work and I was left in trouble :(
fnordianslip Nov 21, 2020
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Quoting: tuubiYou never got your refund?
No. However, to be fair to Jolla (which they don't deserve, in my opinion) I do recall ticking the box that effectively meant that they should keep the money. I still had hopes that they could do good things with Linux. It wasn't so much the loss of the money, but the scandalous nature of their behaviour that annoyed me the most. Never again.
yndoendo Nov 21, 2020
I picked this up for two reason. 1) High likely it can run a Linux distro. 2) Has the ability to fallback to Android. Need to replace existing that is no longer being supported by the manufacturer. This industry really needs a solid Linux phone that will have long term security updates. 2-3 year only security updates is just a lot of e-waste. Current phone works 100% but no more security = bad.

I also bought PinePhone and Librem 5 to help the jump start a foundation.
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