Notkia: A DIY Linux Phone Inside a Nokia 168x Shell

The Notkia project transforms a Nokia 168x handset into a Linux phone by fitting a custom‑designed PCB that matches the original board dimensions, allowing the device to retain the classic Nokia shell while running a full Linux stack.

Hardware specifications include:

Nokia 168x body for single‑hand operation and pocket‑friendly size

Mainline Linux kernel

Ingenic X1000E processor (2200+ CoreMark) with 64 MB RAM

32 MB NOR + 4 GB SLC NAND storage

Wireless: LoRa, 2.4 GHz Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, GPS + GLONASS

2.0" 240×320 IPS LCD screen (3/4 visible)

Audio: Yamaha MA‑3 synthesizer and standard I²S PCM codec

5 MP autofocus camera (compatible with 1680 shell)

Power: TI‑based solution with standard BL‑5C battery

Additional features: Type‑C OTG, RGB LED indicator, temperature/humidity sensor, zero‑conflict keyboard

The device successfully runs a Debian Linux distribution, as shown in the included screenshots.

After the crowdfunding campaign reaches its goal, the team will open‑source all PCB design files and develop necessary software, including a desktop environment, a T9 input method supporting English, Chinese, Linux commands and PL keywords, an IME framework, terminal tools, various drivers, an S60‑style multimedia player, and classic games such as Snake and Tetris.

The Nokia 168x shell’s design patent expires on 23 June 2023; once the funding target is met, the creators plan to produce new plastic housings based on the original design.

Motivation for the project stems from concerns over privacy and the increasing hostility of modern smartphones toward hackers, leading the author to seek a single‑handed, open‑source alternative after discovering the spacious PCB layout of the Nokia 168x.