diff --git a/content/posts/mobile-linux-2025.md b/content/posts/mobile-linux-2025.md index a6eeeb3..df12578 100644 --- a/content/posts/mobile-linux-2025.md +++ b/content/posts/mobile-linux-2025.md @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ +++ title = "A 2025 review of Mobile Linux with postmarketOS v25.12" date = 2025-12-31 -draft = true +draft = false [taxonomies] categories = [ "reviews", "mobile-linux", "aarch64" ] @@ -9,12 +9,10 @@ tags = [ "postmarketOS", "v25.12" ] +++ {% note(header="Note") %} - +This was tested on a OnePlus 6T using Phosh as the desktop/shell {% end %} -### Ubuntu support (general Linux support) - -{{ figure(src="/images/Thinkpad-X13s-review/X13s-neofetch.png", alt="Neofetch", caption="Running Neofetch") }} +## Hardware This is an updated table based on my testing on Ubuntu 23.10/24.04/24.10: @@ -34,48 +32,21 @@ This is an updated table based on my testing on Ubuntu 23.10/24.04/24.10: ** Can be enabled in Ubuntu 24.10 with steps in this review *** They are very low due to active speaker protection not being enabled [source](https://github.com/jhovold/linux/wiki/X13s#audio) -### Phosh - -The animations in GNOME Shell are really smooth and great with the touchpad! See the video below for yourself! - - - ### Wi-Fi and Bluetooth I was able to connect to two different networks without issues. While Bluetooth was testing with my Pixel Buds-A I did notice some odd "audio glitching" but it would happen randomly and the audio would keep playing during these moments but would sometimes stop for a second or two then continue playing. -{{ figure(src="/images/Thinkpad-X13s-review/Bluetooth-devices.png", alt="Bluetooth devices", caption="Settings listing Bluetooth devices") }} - -### USB-C port - - -### Fingerprint Reader - -### Video decoding - -YouTube works and here are some stats for the nerds: - -{{ figure(src="/images/Thinkpad-X13s-review/YouTube-Encoding-Nerd-Stats.png", alt="YouTube Encoding", caption="YouTube Encoding at 1080p @ 60Hz") }} - -{{ figure(src="/images/Thinkpad-X13s-review/YouTube-Encoding-Nerd-Stats-2.png", alt="YouTube Encoding", caption="YouTube Encoing at 2160p @ 60Hz") }} - -As you can see it reports that videos are able to decode up to 4K@60 without issue, the videos are smooth and audio matches without issue. - -### Speakers - -The speakers which are really low for some reason and do not get better even at the lightest volume for some reason, perhaps driver/PipeWire/Kernel updates will help in the future but I'm not sure. - -**Ubuntu 24.10 note:** they do not work better with 6.11 in this release as they are still pretty low due to active speaker protection not being enabled. + + My photo + ### Headphone/Microphone port The headphone port and even at the lower volume it has a lot of cracking in the output and it gets worse as you increase the volume. I tested two different headphones with the same result. Now using a USB headset (though the USB-C port) seems to work without issue so that is a workaround though you'll need to use an adapter to do this. I have not tested a headset with a microphone yet since I mainly use a USB-A headset so I don't use the port much. -### Widevine/DRM +### Speakers -Now streaming sites that use Widevine DRM like Max and Disney+ do not work at all when you try to load a video. I tested Firefox (snap default install) and Vivaldi (they have an ARM64 Debian release). Now I was able to get Max and Disney+ to work (but not Netflix currently) with Brave by using the [Widevine Installer](https://github.com/AsahiLinux/widevine-installer) from the Asahi project and these [steps](https://support.brave.com/hc/en-us/articles/23881756488717-How-do-I-enable-Widevine-DRM-on-Linux) from Brave. Now this can break at any time with how Widevine is but it does work currently at this time. +The speakers work and sound great! ### Battery @@ -93,23 +64,53 @@ aaronh@drack:~$ cat /sys/power/mem_sleep [s2idle] ``` +### USB-C port + ### Cameras -For a really nice and portable system this would be an ideal candidate for remote working but since the camera does not work that might be the biggest deal breaker. I imagine support would be added in the future but it depends on how important it is to you. -This part is short as I'm not able to detect it with any software that I can find like camaeractrls, websites and such. +### Fingerprint Reader + +## Software + +### Phosh + + + Phosh with running applications + + +The animations in GNOME Shell are really smooth and great with the touchpad! See the video below for yourself! + + + +### Music Player + +The default music player in v25.12 is called Gapless and it works well on mobile plus it supports my FLAC files without issue. + + + Gapless music player + + +### Video decoding + +YouTube works and here are some stats for the nerds: + + + My photo + + +As you can see it reports that videos are able to decode up to 4K@60 without issue, the videos are smooth and audio matches without issue. + +**Ubuntu 24.10 note:** they do not work better with 6.11 in this release as they are still pretty low due to active speaker protection not being enabled. ## Closing marks -Once Ubuntu 24.04 is released with the 6.8 kernel I believe things will get even better as it has a lot of changes, here is a small list of a few articles with information: +Here is a small list of a few articles with information: - [Phoronix - Linux-6.8-ARM-Changes](https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-6.8-ARM-Changes) - [Phoronix - Qualcomm-Mainline-Linux-2024](https://www.phoronix.com/news/Qualcomm-Mainline-Linux-2024) -This system is a great little portable machine with an ARM64 CPU and works great on Ubuntu. If you are looking for a system that is fanless for working on documents, web browsing, watching some YouTube videos and a little development work this is a great option! With that said if you travel and use streaming services that might be a deal breaker for you but I hope that it improves in the near future. - ## Additional tracking There are some more resources for updated information about Linux on this device: - -- [steev's repo](https://github.com/steev/thinkpad-x13s) -- [jhovold's wiki](https://github.com/jhovold/linux/wiki/X13s)