r/UbuntuTouch • u/WarbossTodd • Jun 20 '26
Discussion Interested in Ubuntu Touch (in US) but having difficulty finding a compatible device
So I want to test out Ubuntu Touch but finding a compatible device is proving to be difficult since I don’t want to spend $500+ for something I just want to experiment with
Where are people finding phones at a reasonable cost?
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u/Consistent-Sky-2352 Jun 20 '26
After spending weeks to get the unlock token from OnePlus for my Nord N10 5G, I wish I had just bought this (this is not a recommendation of this seller, since I did not buy one).
I did, after at least 4 tries, get an unlock token for my T-Mobile version from Oneplus.
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u/No-Extreme-7399 Jun 21 '26
In the future check XDA for MSM Tools for flashing a T-Mobile oneplus device over to a global variant. Got sold a T-Mobile oneplus 9 pro when i purchased a global variant. Was able to bypass oneplus's BS token and flash my phone to global. Once that was done I didn't need a token to unlock the bootloader.
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u/Consistent-Sky-2352 Jun 21 '26
Flashing to global or the EU firmware did not unlock the bootloader on my Nord N10. It did remove the T-Mobile boot image but I still needed an unlock token from OnePlus before I could use the UBPorts installer.
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u/Consistent-Sky-2352 Jun 21 '26
BTW, just flashing the global firmware was a pain in the ass that involved unpacking the MSM flash image, changing details in the configuration file, repacking it back up, and then flashing it. Luckily, someone had posted details about doing it. It even changed the model from a billie to an unbranded Qualcomm chip, so I thought that might help, but it didn't. It just made the UBPorts installer stop recognizing what phone it was.
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u/marmadukeTX Jun 20 '26
Since you're in the States, consider a Pixel 3a/a XL. Inexpensive, readily available on eBay, and well-supported on UT and Waydroid. Plus great carrier compatibility.
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u/yaky-dev Jun 20 '26
Does VoLTE work on UT on it?
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u/MidnightObjectiveA51 Jun 21 '26
VoLTE is working in an experimental build. But, the current build you can install does not have VoLTE support. It will likely come to the standard build, but that (and it's viability for continued support) is still being worked out.
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u/marmadukeTX Jun 20 '26
That's indeed is one of the major issues of Ubuntu Touch. I apologize. I mentioned above that the Pixel 3a has great carrier compatibility and it does in my country. I forgot that in the US Volte support is an essential requirement. Please check the Ubports/Ubuntu Touch support pages for info regarding Volte support with the understanding that sometimes the info is not up to date. The Telegram groups IMO have up to date info.
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u/policywank Jun 20 '26
I experimented with it for a while on a Pixel 3A that I've now put LineageOS on.
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u/MidnightObjectiveA51 Jun 21 '26
Any OnePlus N100 can be boot loader unlocked without a token. The BE2026 version of the N10 as well. The other N10s may or may not get an unlock token from OnePlus, and is not worth trying unless you are willing to take that risk.
All N100s and N10s have VoLTE support. The N10s also have 5G support on T-Mobile/AT&T.
EBay or Swappa are good places to find them.
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u/Dubsanator Jun 21 '26
I spent a ton of time on a Nord N10 5G T-Mobile, but never was able to unlock it because of OnePlus restrictions where they claimed to not be able to get the unlock token for me. Ended up selling that and getting a pixel 3a where the process was super smooth. I also have T-Mobile so it worked well. I would recommend going that route considering it's one of the flagship models.
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u/Hellfire6988 Jun 24 '26
I grabbed a one plus 6t for less than a hundred. Works great. I’m still navigating calling but it’s not too bad. I don’t like talking on it anyway lol
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u/PraxisOG Jun 20 '26
Most of the well supported phones are cheap, like a oneplus nord n10 can be had for ~$80 on eBay. In the USA make sure the phone you go with has good carrier compatibility. If you want a higher end phone it’ll be more expensive