Linux

By tap to pay, you mean things like Apple pay and Google pay? We don't have that on degoogled androids, let alone on Linux phones...

I fallback to a deGoogled phone precisely because Linux phone isn't up to my expectation in terms of convenience for now.

You can check my post history but just during the last few days :

• replied to "Why did PinePhone fail" as I have 2 of these https://lemmy.ml/post/35398519/20774482
• discussed on banking apps, authentication bottlenecks on iOS/Android https://lemmy.ml/post/35398519/20854067

... so yes, not there yet

PS: on "assistant" (I really think the naming is over-blowing capabilities) I have been using HomeAssistant daily for years now. I have a Nabu Casu on my shelf... and didn't even set it up because it was either 3rd party service dependencies (not why I rely on HA) or a very complex setup. So... I would recommend not looking there, at least few months ago when I received mine, sadly.

1 - tap to pay

I still don't see why phone-based tap-to-pay is even a good thing. What, I should hand over all my financial credentials to Google or Apple or Microsoft in addition to my bank? I think not. I'll just keep using a physical card, thank you. (Which, by the way, can often still use tap-to-pay as most modern cards have RFID chips embedded. No different than with your phone, except it's not tied to one of the big oligarchs, even less so if you use a credit union as opposed to a bank.)

2 - android auto/apple CarPlay emulation

Bog-standard bluetooth is more than enough for me.

3 - voice assistants

Why would I need a voice assistant? I can find out information almost as easily just using a search engine. And if I'm driving, I'm not so busy as to be unable to pull over to the side of the road if I absolutely need to check something. Or, you know, get everything ready before I go. At the further risk of yelling at clouds despite my relatively young age (I'm in my early 30s), I think voice assistants and IoT things are largely just fluff that over-complicate things in a world that is already over-complicated.

1. Would require banks and such to cooperate. Good luck with that, Microsoft and Google will just pay banks to keep us out

google is forcing Gemini into everything and you can’t turn it off,

You can still shut off Gemini as of right now. I don't know what it'll be like in the future though.

Power consumption needs work also.

As for tap to pay, I've found I've used it a lot less after getting a mag safe wallet. It's a good stopgap imo

I don’t really see any of these as deal breakers, because I think the state of Linux phones in 2025 isn’t about being “finished” or “perfect,” it’s about being part of a bigger journey. Every limitation mentioned is just a reflection of where things stand right now, not anything permanent. What kinda excites me is that Linux phones are built around openness, community, and the freedom to adapt, qualities you don’t really get with mainstream options. Sure, there are missing features, rough edges, and some compromises, but none of that outweighs the value of having a device that puts you in control....

Whatever you personally think about these features, you'll never convince the general public to do without them. We need widespread linux phone adoption as table stakes to affect our mobile world.

Seeing where desktop Linux was just less than 10 years ago and where it is now gives me optimism for mobile Linux. But I suspect the overlap between developers and users of those 3 features is pretty small, so they might be a ways out.

I was about to suggest getting a head unit that isn't tied down to CarPlay or Android Auto, but then I realized I drive a really old car from the days you'd easily take out the faceplate or the whole unit to deter theft.

1 - tap to pay. I don’t see how this can practically be done. Like, at all.

Yeah, better go back to carrying pieces of plastic with you at all times. Bonus: you can leave your phone home and still pay for things.

Yeah, Android Auto is definitely the thing I didn't think I needed and now can't live without.

I have no idea if there can be a foss alternative that would work with existing cars...

huh? which linux phone got useful since you'd stop looking? I run pmOS edge on competent hardware with lotsa RAM and fast storage and that thing isn't even close to being usable in everyday life.

just basic stuff, like turn it on and it works. the keyboard works. an intuitive UI that you use while walking and dodging other pedestrians. a rock-solid base that doesn't freeze and stutter with the menial-est of tasks.

the three things you mention couldn't be farther from my mind if I wanted to.

tap to pay

I don't see why the Linux kernel couldn't add support for NFC devices or someone couldn't write a driver. I always pay for everything in cash anyway.

voice assistants

I know there are foss and local-only voice assistants for Android so it is possible. You'd be limited by the computing power of a phone so eg I imagine running ollama on a phone would be a huge battery drain.

"Damn near usable day to day" - what I've been hearing about Linux since the beginning of time

All I need is a smartphone that can run all my daily drives. Browsing, messaging, socials, banking, utilities and games. Especially with companies pushing that everything be done through an app instead of available through a browser. The problem is very few companies bother to develop Linux versions of their software.

…they still have Linux phones?

This is pretty cool, the fact that you can run android apps on Waydroid is awesome. I might try POST-marketos on an old s9 I have lying around.