diff --git a/content/posts/daily_driving_oneplus6_postmarketos/note.md b/content/posts/daily_driving_oneplus6_postmarketos/note.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d4ffcea --- /dev/null +++ b/content/posts/daily_driving_oneplus6_postmarketos/note.md @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +X-Date: 2023-06-28T21:55:18Z +X-Note-Id: 0de67cae-34c7-4a6e-806f-26cbc5bc317c +Subject: Daily-Driving OnePlus 6 with PostmarketOS +X-Slug: daily_driving_oneplus6_postmarketos + +Recently I've purchased a used [OnePlus 6 phone](https://www.oneplus.com/uk/6), which is capable of running +mainline Linux. Replacing Android with [PostmarketOS](https://postmarketos.org/) took a bit of work, but eventually +I've got everything working. + +Surprisingly, things like GSM, mobile internet, calls -- all work out of the box. And the +[Phosh](https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Phosh] interface is good looking and snappy enough that it compares +to a 2-3 year old andoid phone. + +If you're a Linux enthusiast and would like to have some freedom on the mobile -- give it a try! +You can get the phone on Ebay for less than $100. + +If you do this -- note that before erasing Android, you need to apply all updates. It wasn't obvious to me +when I first started the phone and the "About" page has shown that I'm "up to date". You need to be really +really sure that it's the case, otherwise you would have old microcode blobs in the screen controller and +potentially other chips, and you won't be able to start Linux normally. + +I made this mistake, and had to follow a lengthy and convoluted process of using a leaked +[MSMDownload tool](https://www.thecustomdroid.com/oneplus-6-6t-unbrick-guide/) to unbrick the device, +and apply fresh updates. If you find yourself in this situation, follow that link. Apparently, this is what +official service technicians would do to reflash the OS from scratch.