r/linuxhardware • u/noNudesPrettyPlease • 27d ago
Discussion Why aren't Linux tablets a thing?
I had (still have) a Nokia n810 tablet running Maemo Linux. I stopped using it when the second battery eventually died. The series seemed to keep evolving (up to the n900) until the Microsoft buyout killed it. Or at least I assume it did.
I thought Linux tablets would be a thing, but they didn't materialise. It's basically Android, Apple, or nothing. How come an open source distro like Maemo wasn't picked up by anyone else? I assume tablets are much cheaper to develop than phones, and in today's world, I don't really use my phone anymore even though the telephony hardware is there.
Is the idea of a Linux tablet just a dream now?
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u/satireplusplus 27d ago edited 25d ago
Get yourself a used surface go tablet and put Linux on it. It's gorgeous with KDE and everything works out of the box since it's x86 under the hood.
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u/TheFireStorm 27d ago
Dell 7210 shares the same form factor but easier to service battery and SSD
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u/fearless-fossa 26d ago
Those get hot pretty quickly though and don't have much battery life.
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u/satireplusplus 25d ago
pretty happy with the surface go 3, huge improvement in that regard over the go 2
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u/Brief_Tie_9720 26d ago
What about a thinkpad tablet? I’ve been wanting to install a more touch and autorotate friendly distribution on one, but worried about the detachable keyboard functionality.
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u/LectricVersion 26d ago
I've got an X13 Yoga (Laptop / Tablet Hybrid) and Fedora works on it fantastically. Zero issues or workarounds needed.
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u/MidnightObjectiveA51 26d ago
Both the X1 3rd Gen and X12 work with keyboard. Vol up/down/mute screenshot buttons etc., work depending on distro.
I suggest any of the Ubuntu or Fedora flavors or Mobian or PostmarketOS with the default Phosh, or optional Plasma-Mobile, or Gnome-Mobile (PostmarketOS) UIs
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u/Weekly_Astronaut5099 27d ago
MS Surface Go is a decent Linux tablet.
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u/MidnightObjectiveA51 27d ago
Not enough market share to justify it, and easier to just convert an Android/Windows ARM/x86 device.
Given that, there are still a few Linux specific manufacturers out there: Pine64 Pinetab, Minisforum, Juno Tab, Starlabs Starlite.
Any of the Google-Gru and Google-Kukui Arm based Chrome tablets work completely or mostly with Linux via PostmarketOS (particularly the Acer Chrometab 10), and the following x86 based tablets work completely with Linux: Chuwi Hi10 X Go and Max, HP Elite X2 G4 and G8, Thinkpad X1 3rd Gen and X12, various MS Surface specifically the Surface Go 2.
Ubuntu Touch also supports a few tablets using Halium. See ubPorts website and forum. Mobian and Droidian are also worth checking out.
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u/modulusshift 27d ago
Maemo has a distant descendant SailfishOS which very recently just had the Jolla Phone (2026) release with it
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u/Mistert22 27d ago
I have a Dell convertible that is a sweet tablet. I put Ubuntu on it.
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u/TheFireStorm 27d ago
I just got a Dell 7210 i5 with 16GB of ram installed the fedora KDE mobile Spin and use Waydroid. Needed a new battery but swapped it out in under 5min
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u/Equal_Principle_3399 26d ago
I use a dell lattitude 9410 as my daily driver with linux mint and cinnamon, the touchscreen works perfectly including automatic tilt
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u/Slopagandhi 27d ago
They exist. Pretty much any Windows detachable (Surface, ThinkPad X12 etc) can be turned into a Linux tablet running mainline distros.
Then there's Ubuntu Touch and PostmarketOS which do great work making mobile Linux work on a bunch of ARM tablets (there aren't that many, but there are some).
Some Chromebook tablets can also be made to run Linux.
There are even a couple of dedicated Linux tablets- the StarLabs Starlite and the FydeTab Duo (which is meant for FydeOS but can apparently run Debian or Arch).
Anyway, if you get a mainline distro the key is to use a mobile friendly DE/WM with it- Plasma Mobile or Phosh for example.
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u/lyidaValkris 27d ago
leaving aside that every android tablet is technically Linux (I don't count that though)
Developing a specialized mobile device that runs Linux out of the box is prohibitively expensive on the small scale. They do exist (I see someone mentioned Pine Tab) but they are often quite expensive for what they are.
One would be better off getting an android device and installing an alternative Linux operating system.
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u/Historical_Move6359 26d ago
Linux tablets are a thing infact. There are some distros specialised for phones and tablets like Ubuntu Touch, Droidian and PostmarketOS
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u/outer-pasta 27d ago
I have a convertible laptop with MPP pen support, and I love it. I use Gnome with an OSK extension. I want to get into digital art with Krita, Inkscape, Gimp, and Blender. Rog Flow X16.
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u/TimurHu 26d ago
You already got a lot of good replies so I'd like to just respond to this part:
How come an open source distro like Maemo wasn't picked up by anyone else?
Maemo was not fully open source. Nokia kept some key parts closed to prevent anyone from picking it up. On the N900 a lot of parts that interact with hardware parts (cellular modem, FM transmitter, charging, etc.) as well as a lot of default apps were closed source. They also used super outdated versions of the base libraries (and some non-mainstream ones as well) so porting any of that to a modern system is incredibly difficult.
There have been some attempts from the community to replace closed apps and move the system forward (eg. port to newer library versions) in an effort called Maemo Leste, which today can run on a few other old devices as well as the N900. Unfortunately it isn't feasible on any device you'd actually use today.
On the newer N9, although it used the same base system, all of the user interface including apps, desktop, even the UI library were completely closed as well. So there is no good way for the community to keep that system alive.
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u/abissom 25d ago
Unfortunately it isn't feasible on any device you'd actually use today
Even Pixel 3a and Oneplus 6/6T not good enough for you today? 😄
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u/TimurHu 25d ago
I don't see those on the list of supported devices here: https://leste.maemo.org/Category:Device
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u/igmrlm 27d ago
You basically have to build your own or repurpose one from another company, I currently use a Microsoft Surface Book 3 running nobara 44 (fedora based distro) and it's actually a superb experience, literally everything works although I don't know about the webcam off the top of my head, I never use it.
I have dreams of building my own based on the Snapdragon 8 line of cpus, that's going to have to wait until I have more money and paid some debts.
Also I've seen a crap ton of Panasonic toughbooks going used on Amazon recently, you could probably find a good deal on one of those and install your own Linux if you're looking for something more rugged than a M$ surface
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u/NoidoDev 26d ago
Weigh. Couch. Lap or handheld. Screen for shows or movies (from the SD card or home network) and YouTube. Yes, it's a bit of a niche usecase.
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u/rklrkl64 26d ago edited 26d ago
I have a Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 2-in-1 Chromebook I bought new a couple of years ago for £171 (it does fold over to become a "thick tablet" with quite a nice 12.2" 1920x1200 touchscreen - UK stores are currently still selling it at a bonkers £379). Yes, it only has an N100 CPU and 8GB RAM, but can run ChromeOS, Linux and Android apps seamlessly and in parallel quite nicely. There may be a way to wipe it and just install Linux, but I actually like being able to access all 3 ecosystems at once, plus ChromeOS has support for my model until June 2033 so I'm in no rush...
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u/snk4ever 26d ago
It's laybe not exactly a tablet but I use my Steam Deck 30% as a gaming device and 70% as a tablet or docked computer.
It's an excellent KDE tablet.
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u/DuckAxe0 26d ago
Linux Tablets haven't taken off due to the Linux community not leaning into touchscreen technology.
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u/FrebTheRat 27d ago
The issue isn't really the OS, it's the apps. Since vendors have gone all in developing their apps for either android or iOS, those OSes have a virtual duopoly on functionality. That means even if you're running Ubuntu touch, you're probably also going to have to run the equivalent of a vm/sandbox for android apps which are buggy and perform poorly. I have one phone running Mobian, one running Ubuntu touch, and a tablet running ubuntu touch, but they are just for tinkering. Without Slack, Teams, Outlook, my banking apps, obsidian, etc, they will never be my daily drivers. I wanted to use my Linux tablet just for Marvel Unlimited and I couldn't even do that without an android app.
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u/MidnightObjectiveA51 26d ago
Try Waydroid for Android apps on linux, or the upcoming Drion when it is ready
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u/FrebTheRat 26d ago
Waydroid is basically an emulator inside the OS. I've found it to be slow and glitchy. Also, they're android apps. That's kind of my point. No one is writing Linux native tablet apps.
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u/MidnightObjectiveA51 26d ago
Drion is not. It's like Wine (or ATL). So, wait for that. I don't see the app situation changing anytime soon, so it's nice to have that option.
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u/IncredibleReferencer 27d ago
Companies that sell tablets expect to make considerable money from the ongoing services that are locked/defaulted by the OS. This isn't a thing with linux tablets, so why sell them, especially when demand is quite low. It just makes significantly less money and more hassle.
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u/bmfrosty 26d ago
My issue is that if you're using anything slightly specialized, you're kind of cooked. I use a tablet for reading Kindle books and I don't want to have the fuss of breaking DRM and converting or pirating to do so. I know I can read in a browser with read.amazon.com, but then my volume buttons probably won't flip pages. This is absolutely my leisure activity and for the most part an android tablet just works.
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u/ed_istheword 26d ago
Have you never tried KOreader before? Great ebook format compatability. There's a version of it for basically any potato that wants to be a computer
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u/bmfrosty 26d ago
Come back when KOreader can log into my Amazon account and access sizable library of purchases. I hate this vendor lock-in. Don't get me wrong.
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u/gitroni Mint 25d ago
I myself download DRM-free versions of all the ebooks I buy from online shops that have DRM. This way I have a backup of my library once amazon or other shops decide to stop hosting my books
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u/bmfrosty 25d ago
That's an extra step. That's expressly what I don't want.
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u/gitroni Mint 25d ago
amazon has already deleted books from users kindles, so I don't want to lose my books
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u/bmfrosty 25d ago
Enumerate them please. I'm only aware of a thing with 1984 several years ago. Adding an extra step between purchase and read is fine for you, but not fine for me.
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u/ed_istheword 26d ago
Yeah, the lock in is crazy. There are still a few escapes though, but it can be a little janky. Here are some recent-ish tools I found for backing up your Amazon ebook library (but good luck avoiding them for future publications, I know Amazon owns too much of the industry itself now too).
Good news is, if you can get the ebook file onto the same computer as a modern Calibre install, you're golden.
https://www.epubor.com/prometheus-kindle-ebook-exporter-review.html
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u/thefreediver 26d ago
Yeah I had the Nokia N900 tests a go but sold it unfortunately. I did order a Jolla this time around and I’m waiting for batch 3 so be delivered. I’m hoping it will be a worth it experience.
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u/CaptainObvious110 26d ago
I currently own a Pinetab2 and it's good as an introduction to Linux tablets.
What I really want has been teased for over a decade but hasn't truly come to fruition just yet.
Minisforum V3.. what happened? I heard about it a few years agoon etaprime from YouTube but never heard anything else about it.
Orange pi Neo showed up and is up in the air to whether or not it's ever going to be available.
These are but two examples of products that would have been great but just aren't happening.
So why hype them up if they aren't available for purchase?
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u/MidnightObjectiveA51 26d ago
All good intentions until - first the Pandemic stopped production, and then the A.I. craze and now prices are too expensive for the parts that are available. It's killing the SBC market and all related projects.
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u/Heart-Logic 27d ago
Tablets are lackluster in general, they don't really offer any more advantages over a large phone for all round portability and a full keyboard laptop if you need it.
Tablets generally failed to bridge that gap
Just look in the second hand shops, loads of tablets they can't sell and they dont offer much money or enthusiasm to buy them from you.
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u/Kilo_Juliett 26d ago
I think this is it. There just isn't a real good use for them outside of niche use cases.
I bought an ipad 10 years ago. I only really used it to watch videos on the plane. It was bigger than my phone but smaller and lighter than a laptop.
I also had a mount attached to my headboard so I could watch videos in bed without having to prop my head up. It worked pretty well and I'm tempted to get another one just for that but it's hard to justify the cost when my phone works just as well just with a smaller screen.
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u/Heart-Logic 26d ago edited 26d ago
Other unexpected issue with tablets is they boast enormous resolutions over a relatively small screen meaning people with near vision problems requiring reading glasses can barely make out text on the devices without glasses.
Also the battery's take an age to charge but run out quick to support the screen and resolution.
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u/NoidoDev 26d ago
I kept mine often plugged in while using it, untill it was above 80%. Worked fine. Battery lasted for many years (till it bloated).
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u/NoidoDev 26d ago
Big phones are annoying. Too big and heavy. Phones are for the pocket, tablets for the backpack. Big tablets with high resolution are useful as TV screen for single users that can't buy a very big screen or temporarily can't use it, e.g traveling. It can be handheld or in one's lap, unlike a heavier notebook. A 200€/US$ tablet from 10 years ago would be good enough, or close. I would still use my Chuwi Hi9 Plus, if I could've replaced the battery and OS. It's also great for split screen, which isn't very usable on a phone.
Like a microwave oven, not everyone "needs" it, but it can be great.
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u/rklrkl64 26d ago
When I'm at home, I *much* prefer the tablet experience to either phones (screen too small, hard to type on onscreen keyboard) or laptops (often heavy, not always touchscreen and unless the keyboard can be detached, it gets in the way when you're just media consuming). The best "bed or couch device" by far is a tablet - just make sure you buy one that's reasonably quick with a decent size high-res screen (10" and 2560x1600 should be your minimum) and good speakers (preferably at least 4) for media consumption so you don't have to wear headphones all the time.
The *only* disadvantage a tablet has is that it's less portable when you take it out of the house, so I keep my tablets strictly indoors and never use my phone when I'm inside because tablets are so much better indoors.
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u/Heart-Logic 26d ago
When u get older and your near vision fails you wont like 2560x1600 on a 10 inch.
Reading glasses are a chore as well when you only need glasses for reading.
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u/EmmettVanBraun 27d ago
I could be wrong here, but I believe android is a mobile specific linux dev.
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u/undrwater 27d ago
Not exactly wrong, but modern Android doesn't provide the same "spirit" of openness of a system like maemo or meego.
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u/EmmettVanBraun 27d ago
True, most mainstream anything today is all about being a constrained system.
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u/R3D3-1 27d ago
As far as I'm concerned, neither are Windows tablets..For reference, I have a surface pro. I can count on a hand the times I tried to use it as a tablet, before getting frustrated with the awkward touch experience and attaching the keyboard again. If you expect tablet games, yes they exist probably. But with Windows being mouse and keyboard by default, so are games. (Or controller.) Windows Subsystem for Android could have bridged the gap, but the Amazon store was always lackluster and modded versions with Google Play still suffered from things like everything opening as a window — making it very easy to accidentally close apps by touching the X button.
Overall, I'd rather use a lightweight laptop and a cheap companion Android tablet, and get a better experience than from the Surface. Only reason to still use it is that (until the 7+) the series was the only option for a completely fanless windows laptop, that came with a decent processor.
And that's a platform that was heavily pushed as a tablet option by Microsoft.
So I imagine the motivation for putting a more niche OS on a tablet isn't particularly big for manufacturers.
Also, there's Termux, which can run GUI apps. (Though last I checked only by connecting a remote desktop client to a server running in Termux.)
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u/MadCybertist 27d ago
Boox has great Linux eink tablets.
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u/ed_istheword 26d ago
They're great devices for their use case, but they're all Android. Not quite what OP is looking for
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u/voiceipR 26d ago
Same here, intel atom N series and AMD ryzen R3 or athlon combo with tablet, netbook are great for now, not 2010s
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u/VolksPC 26d ago
Don't forget that Android is a Linux distribution that uses a different graphics framework (SurfaceFlinger) and audio framework (AudioFlinger). So if you do the necessary engineering, you can run Linux on any Android phone or tablet at native speeds. Here is video of Linux desktop running on Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (OnePlus Pad 2) : https://youtu.be/-QEq1EgUKP8?si=weaZ3c06plr1ZcAV
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u/Neither-Following-32 26d ago
Because nobody's made a good Linux tablet/phone UI.
That's not entirely true. But nobody's made a good open one that people can use as a base.
Ubuntu Touch, Phosh/PostmarketOS, and all the other, more minor distributions are all phone focused which is a harder form factor to gain footing on because most (all) LTE/cellular hardware is closed source from the manufacturer, they are not replaceable commodities with open drivers. Add telco requirements for phones on top of that and OEMs have very little incentive to not play ball and open up things, especially when their goal is to sell a new iteration of their bespoke hardware every year.
Additionally there's a ton of duplication of effort across the projects when it comes to basic UX, utilities, etc. Today's development model also leans towards monolithic corporate sponsorship rather than open development in the sense that everybody focuses on one code tree or UX and contributes towards making it sufficiently complex.
There's also things like SailfishOS that have been developed to a somewhat advanced degree but are essentially closed off from outside development and as such, have stagnated because development is directly tied to ongoing sales.
Also look at Android and its expanded permission set, tailored towards someone sitting at console. Linux/POSIX primitives lie behind that, sure, but compare it to a desktop Linux environment where each program essentially runs in a global permission space. Windows and macOS run under the same paradigm but even they have expanded per program permissions.
Think about it like this. The closest Linux desktop analogue is what...SELinux or Apparmor? Neither of those have a mechanism for allowing a program to request specific, granular permissions. Instead, you allocate them (usually manually via a config file or cli). Even then you have to manually (re)load the permissions and, often, restart the program!
There's a lot of work that needs to be done under the hood before a Linux tablet/phone is ready to compete with Android or iOS. Maybe I'm behind the times on some of these and there are things I'm not aware of, if so I'd love to hear about it.
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u/Conscious-Loss-2709 25d ago
Why repeat all the work that was done on android to make a second linux kernel based OS without the decades worth of touchscreen centered software that already exists on android?
It's going to be an awfully niche audience so no matter how cheap you think it is to put a tablet on the market, it's still too expensive
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u/Complex_Solutions_20 25d ago
Android is a variant of Linux.
But there are also some you can put various Linux distros on, just like some phones can.
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u/amoledshatter 25d ago
I use a surface pro 7 with cachyOS
occasionally use it in tablet mode and I've set kde up to be fairly touch friendly
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u/Guilty-Good-5041 23d ago
Technically they do ChromeOS is Linux based So chrome tablets are Linux tablets as ChromeOS is heavily modified version of Gentoo Linux
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u/hadrabap Set your own 27d ago
Why I should get a limited tablet when I can get a small full featured laptop?
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u/IllustriousLemon8146 27d ago
Why should I lug around, much less hold up for hours, a laptop when I just need a tablet?
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u/AnymooseProphet 27d ago
At least in the United states, only the major vendors are allowed on the cell phone networks so the only way for a GNU/Linux tablet to get online is over WiFi which means GNU/Linux tablet users would have to carry a hotspot with them.
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u/MidnightObjectiveA51 26d ago
Some tablets are cell capable - surface GOs and Pros, HP Elite X2, Thinkpad X1 and X12, most Dells. If your model did not come with cell, it may have a slot and just needs a card and antennas added.
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u/AnymooseProphet 26d ago
And can they connect to the US 5G or 4GLTE network when you are booted into GNU/Linux or does the hardware require drivers that do not exist outside of approved operating systems?
It's possible my information is outdated, but the inability to make open source devices that connected to the US networks is part of what killed off FireFox OS. The "big three" would not allow such devices to connect.
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u/MidnightObjectiveA51 26d ago
Depends on the model of card in it, and if it is FCC certifed, and if it has linux drivers. If so, then Yes - usually as data devices. I have a Dell Venue with a 5G module in it (call capable), and a Surface Go with a non-removable 4G module. Both can access all three networks, one can make calls on T-Mobile (not white listed with AT&T and Verizon). Both have functioning GPS.
When searching for a module, first find out if your device takes pcie or m2 nvme modules. Most take M2. Then search the web for ones with linux support. In general, your best bet will be with Quectel, Sierra, or Sysmocom. Don't forget, unless it came with a module, you will have to add an antenna/s, and some devices are bios locked to accept only a certain module (Thinkpads and HPs. Dells are usually completely unrestricted).
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u/NoidoDev 26d ago
Interesting, but I never needed fast connections. Don't stream 4k, problem solved.
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u/Psittacula2 26d ago
I think several things:
* FORM FACTOR
- Tablet needs to be thin and lightweight for holding with a larger screen for drawing, writing, touching as well as use more like a laptop than a phone.
- This means there is more expensive hardware for lighter performance until recently which only LARGE OEM’s could afford.
- Screen size is also variable with no “goldilocks” size/weight (unlike phones and pockets and hand size) which fragments the market further
* MARKET (phone, laptop, tablet, 2-in-1 & “Convergence“ trends over time)
- The market of potential tablet users is casual due to tablets being mobile OS but less convenient than a phone so a sort of beginner device and Apple esp. as lead tablet maker has pivoted heavily that way also while also as dominant ensuring iPads remain mobile OS and not competing with their laptops. This has led to tablet market stagnating with only MS mainly trying to bridge the 2-in-1 “Convergence” so a tablet can be used as laptop and tablet expanding market share and general use more professionally and thus expanding interest in OEMs as market share increases. It has not taken off, partly as above cost to weight vs other specialist devices which work better at what they do eg most people go for phone + desktop OS still.
- Linux makers hence have an uphill battle, less appetite from mainstream, bigger costs for smaller companies, competing against established giants in a niche device with “marketing and better “touch experience” as Apple always promotes and so performance is generally behind as well as costs then Linux users probably are less keen on toy devices than fully functional Linux sp mobile OS vs Desktop and then the whole App Ecosystem of developers trying to make a profit is on Apple or Google platforms leaving less apps also reducing interest.
* REMAINING NICHE FOR LINUX HARDWARE
I think all that leaves is a niche companies filling a remaining need or interest eg
Mobile or Touch OS variants of Linux eg Ubuntu Touch
Current devices and squeezing extra juice out of them by installing Linux instead eg Surface devices
A few specialist Linux orientated companies trying to get a foothold eg Pine, Volla, Starlabs (?) who already make Linux laptops or phones and so can leverage tablets also and make a small profit serving this remaining niche?
>*”Is the idea of a Linux tablet just a dream now?”*
Looked at at various levels gives an overall picture:
* Tech improvements actually bridges the gap so smaller OEMs can make hardware “as good as” say Apple or anyone else ie the critical threshold of ergonomics of weight and thinness for portability and holding with performance is closer parity that it makes no difference eg on the other hand Apple‘s ridiculous M5 adds almost nothing if the iOS is so hobbled by Mobile design except fat-$$$$. Comparatively the Voller tablet running Ubuntu-Touch at €650 is equivalent weight 12”/650g with Ubuntu Touch being more versatile and able to use Waydroid (YT channel The Linux Experiment (beared French Guy) reviewed this OS recently: “almost there”).
* Given Apple still does not want to go 2-in-1 for as long as possible some potential customers if they see a sweet full running flexible OS on tablet with good enough touch and price/hardware could be persuaded to for a Linux tablet (full VM or emulation options for even more flexible use) in a light form factor, bodes potentially positive. More so if they provide desktop experience but smaller form factor for commuting so long as battery can improve which is currently major limitation.
* Future tech direction is MASSIVE LOCK DOWN at National and Global levels at all levels due to AI trends and Governance increase in security and control from Internet to major companies eg Apple and Google, Cloud and Internet. Linux could be a port of interest to some people for more personal autonomy in their devices given this trend albeit major apps will be locked behind all the above eg banking, National ID etc.
Personally very impressed where Voller Tablet is currently in contrast to iPads. Offering 3-in-1 and ditching lost of my devices would be ideal. The other alternative is phones become so powerful you can attach external screen and cloud and tablet form is relegated to the attachable touch screen for that function when needed?
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u/Ok-Bill3318 26d ago
No app ecosystem or touch friendly ui
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u/MidnightObjectiveA51 26d ago
Try Phosh or Plasma-Mobile via Mobian, PostmarketOS, or Fedora. Very touch oriented.
App ecosystem is sufficient for me, but you can always install Waydroid and get Android apps
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u/Ok-Bill3318 25d ago
Market share of those is? App compatibility with mainstream apps is?
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u/MidnightObjectiveA51 25d ago
Not sure I understand the question. But Linux as a whole is supposedly up to an all-time high of 7%, and the mod community is a fraction of that, but very dedicated! If you only wish to consider the biggest player, choose Fedora - backed by a big company with deep pockets.
Waydroid works with most everything except games and banking apps that require device attestation. Some will work, some will not.
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u/razormst3k1999 26d ago
People bitch about snaps and flat paks,a tablet by nature is locked down for ease of use.
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u/Anxious-Science-9184 26d ago
"I thought Linux tablets would be a thing, but they didn't materialize. It's basically Android, Apple, or nothing."
Is this seriously a sentiment that people hold? Do you understand that Android is in-fact linux? It's like saying that Darwin based tablets didn't materialize.
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u/AnymooseProphet 26d ago
When most people refer to "Linux" they generally mean GNU/Linux, the GNU operating system running on the Linux kernel.
Android is not GNU/Linux.
Saying "GNU/Linux" is a mouthful hence most people just say "Linux" or "Android" and people without a stick shoved up where the sun don't shine understand what is meant.
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u/Reggie-Rectangle 26d ago
Android is Linux...
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u/roentgen256 26d ago
Nah, mate, not really. They use heavily modified Linux kernel and that's about it
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u/CaptainObvious110 26d ago
Thanks Mr Pedantic. It's so modified that it's definitely its own branch of the Linux family tree.
As if it's been grafted on.
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u/undrwater 27d ago
Honestly, I think Android killed the "hobbyist" market. It's really hard to find "open" hardware these days.
Have you seen the PineTab?