Librem 5 - Linux based smart phone

Are you dreaming about a smart phone running Linux as its OS? Now the time has been changed! You do not want to dream any more. Librem 5, the phone that focuses on security by design and privacy protection by default. Running Free/Libre and Open Source software and a GNU+Linux Operating System designed to create an open development environment.

Purism, a company known for making high-end Linux laptop with the focus on privacy and free software, has just launched a crowdfunding campaign for a brand new smartphone called Librem 5. The crowdfunding campaign aims to raise $1.5M to start manufacturing a 5 inches privacy-focused smartphone running on Purism’s PureOS Linux distribution. Pricing starts at $599 putting it among the high-end smartphones.

Expected special features from this Librem 5 smart phone:

• Runs PureOS or another Linux distribution of choice. You can get to use Ubuntu, SUSE, Fedora and even Arch Linux on your phone.
• Privacy protection by default. Your data is secured and not shared by third parties.
• No tracking. Your phone is completely owned and controlled by you not your Big Brother.
• World’s first ever IP-native mobile handset
• End-to-end decentralized communications via Matrix
• Security focused by design
• Works with 2G/3G/4G, GSM, UMTS, and LTE networks
• CPU separate from Baseband
• Hardware Kill Switches for Camera, Microphone, WiFi/Bluetooth, and Baseband
• HTML 5 apps

 

Specifications of Librem 5 :

• 5″ touchscreen
• i.MX6/i.MX8 CPU
• Vivante GPU (Etnaviv free software accelerated driver)
• Separate mobile baseband
• 3GB LPDDR3 RAM
• 32GB eMMC
• MicroSD slot
• Front and back camera
• Headphone and Microphone Jack (some elite smartphones don’t have this feature)
• WiFi 802.11
• Bluetooth 4
• USB Type-C
• Sensors: GPS, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Ambient Light and Proximity
• Hardware kill switches for Camera, Microphone, Baseband, WiFi/Bluetooth

Will it be released?

The first Librem smartphone will not ship until January 2019. According to the news, the first version that goes out will be complete device that you can use to make phone calls, read email, browse the web, place video calls, and take photos.

Comparison of Purism PureOS with other popular OS

Source: purism web site

The following video was released by the company to give an abstract idea of this Librem 5 smart phone. Watch and get the idea.