You want to challenge the Pinephone? – let’s get started with a BIGTREETECH Pad 5 – PETER GAMMA (Director & Physiologist), MEDITATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE SWITZERLAND (MRIS)

Last Updated on June 28, 2024 by pg@petergamma.org

A BIGTREETECH Pad costs around 100 USD
Does the 5 inch version not almost look like the Pinephone`?

It is available with 5 and 7 inch display
It can be upraded with compute module 4 modules for higher performance
It allows to install Raspberry Pi OS.
I’ve bought such a device after I stuck with the Pinephone.
Then I tried to installed Raspberry Pi OS.
It is a little bit complicated.
But I think it is one of the best platforms of that size which is currently available.
And there are now very detailed instructions available for instance how to install MainsailOS on it.
This instruction can be modified for Rasbperry Pi OS.
If we want to stay longer with that platform I thing it is worth to study it in more detai.
You can find more information also here:

It has a Raspberry Pi 40 Pin GPIO Socket which allows for instance to add 3G hats
Bluetooth peripherals should work like a charm
No troubles wich keyboards such as the Pinephone keyboard anymore.
If we choose a 7 inch device, LibreOffice should run on it like a charm as well
We can run Leepspvideo KDE plasma built 4 which is almost as easy to use as Ubuntu 24.04, if we use a CM4
We can add a power bank, etc.
Everthing your heart desires
Many components to build a Linux phone from Raspberry PI can be found under the category Rasperry Pi:

And on www.petergamma.org in general.

This device draws more power than the Pinephone and we need a big battery. But if we do not want to use Emac, Vim and the 10 year old Stoaway Bluetooth keyboard – these are the options which are available for the Pinephone – what are the alternatives?

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