How postmarketOS Is Bringing Linux to Over 200 Mobile Devices

According to the latest data from Tux Phones, postmarketOS currently runs on about 200 mobile devices, including phones and tablets. Considering Linux usage on mobile devices and the project's high entry barrier, this is an incredible achievement.

postmarketOS is an operating system designed for older smartphones. It is based on the Alpine Linux distribution and optimized for touch devices; each phone has a unique package while other components are shared across devices. The official page describes it as a truly phone‑focused Linux distro, still in Alpha and unable to make calls.

Porting Linux to new ARM devices presents many challenges. Unlike x86 hardware, each ARM board requires a proper port, a Device Tree (DTS) description, and custom drivers before the Linux kernel can boot.

Writing custom kernel Device Tree files is difficult, especially because most smartphone ARM boards are closed and lack documentation, adding another layer of difficulty.

postmarketOS’s pmbootstrap tool and several other utilities reduce this difficulty, and as time passes many boards and devices share similarities, making porting easier.

The project’s clear and technically rich Wiki also lowers the learning curve, documenting some of the most complex and troublesome porting procedures.

The earliest supported device is the Nokia N900.

Although some of the 200+ devices remain unstable—lacking Xorg, GPU, or Wi‑Fi support, or running on unreliable or old downstream kernels—and some modems or GPUs still lack stable drivers, the organization of the previously chaotic ARM board landscape marks a significant step forward for Linux phone support.

Last month, the iPhone 7 successfully booted postmarketOS, a milestone case because Apple’s closed ecosystem had made third‑party OS ports seem impossible.

While bringing Linux to smartphones still faces many challenges and the project has a technical threshold, it continues to attract an increasing number of developers.

We should not expect postmarketOS to replace iOS or Android; its original purpose is to extend the lifespan of smartphones, as manufacturers typically provide system updates for only three to five years. This defiant geek culture, resisting the high walls built by Android and iOS, makes the project especially appealing.