If you're wondering whether Ubuntu Touch can completely replace Android or iOS In your daily life in 2024, you're not alone. More and more people who already use Ubuntu on their computers are curious about bringing that same free and privacy-respecting approach to their mobile devices, such as Volla OSBut when searching for information, he finds old articles, contradictory data, and many doubts about the actual support of the system.
The reality is that today Ubuntu Touch is much more mature than it was a few years ago, with a A renewed technological base in Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, a new release model, and active support. by the UBports community. Even so, it remains a niche system, with clear limitations compared to the dominant mobile platforms. Let's take a closer look at whether it can serve as a primary system in 2024, what advantages it offers if you already use Ubuntu on your desktop, and what you should consider before making the switch.
What exactly is Ubuntu Touch and who maintains it?
Ubuntu Touch is a open source mobile operating system Originally developed within Canonical, the company responsible for Ubuntu for desktop and server, the project was taken over by the community through the UBports Foundation when Canonical abandoned its mobile focus. Since then, UBports has handled development, packaging, support, and documentation.
Today, the system focuses on offering a a free, privacy-respecting, and convergence-oriented alternativeThat is, the same device can function as a touch mobile phone and, when connected to an external screen, behave like a more traditional desktop environment.
From a technical point of view, Ubuntu Touch uses Ubuntu LTS as a basewith its own interface (Lomiri) and a compatibility layer called Halium to communicate with the hardware through Android drivers. This architecture allows it to leverage many devices originally released with Android, such as the pinephonealthough it also implies that in some cases they depend on proprietary blobs for certain components (modem, GPU, etc.).
Recent evolution: from Ubuntu 20.04 to Ubuntu 24.04
For quite some time, the foundation of Ubuntu Touch was Ubuntu 16.04This ultimately led to significant code divergence when work began on migrating to 20.04. The UBports community acknowledges that this transition was complex: there were separate branches, difficulty in knowing where to apply changes, and delays in releasing fixes and security patches.
With the stabilization of the branch based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Focal Fossa) With its first stable OTA-1 update in March 2023, the first major modernization cycle was completed. Since then, successive OTAs have been released, culminating in Ubuntu Touch 20.04 OTA-10, a maintenance update that continues to receive bug fixes and security patches alongside the latest technological leap.
The next big step has been the emergence of Ubuntu Touch 24.04-1.0This is the first major version based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. It's a significant update, though not as drastic as the jump from 16.04 to 20.04. Even so, it involves adapting the entire software stack, from the graphical environment to the applications, to align with the Ubuntu 24.04 base and its more modern libraries, such as Qt 5.15.
Ubuntu Touch 24.04-1.0: Key New Features
Ubuntu Touch 24.04-1.0 marks a turning point because It brings the entire platform down to the base of Ubuntu 24.04 LTSVisually, the interface remains the same as in the 20.04 branch, but under the hood the kernel and a large part of the system libraries are updated, resulting in improvements in stability, performance and software support.
Among the visible changes, the introduction of a new Ubuntu Touch logoThis aligns with Ubuntu's revamped "Circle of Friends." It's the first visual identity update in about eight years and was designed and voted on by the community itself, reinforcing the feeling of a collaborative project.
Visual customization has also been expanded with the addition of a clear mode for desktopThis is in addition to the theme system for applications introduced in the 20.04 branch. You can now switch between dark and light mode from System Settings > Background and Appearance, for both apps and the entire desktop environment.
This issue management includes a real-time theming (live theming) is still experimentalIn practice, this means you can switch themes without logging out, although some apps—for example, Teleports, the Telegram client—have experienced crashes and unexpected closures when doing so. If this happens to you, simply close and reopen the app until the development team finishes polishing the feature.
Privacy and encryption of personal data
One of Ubuntu Touch's historical priorities is the user privacy protectionIn addition to existing options, such as hiding notification content on the lock screen, a particularly interesting feature has now been added: experimental encryption of personal data.
This feature allows you to encrypt your user partition using your password or passphraseWhen you turn on the device, instead of loading the system directly, a minimal interface appears asking for the password. Only when it is entered correctly are the personal data mounted and decrypted, and then the full system boot process continues.
Encryption is not enabled by default on all models; you need to check it from System settings > Security and privacy and look for the section marked “Encryption (Experimental)”. The function also depends on the specific workload on each device, so availability may vary by model.
Improvements to the main applications and the user experience
Ubuntu Touch 24.04-1.0 introduces specific changes to make daily use of the system easier. more comfortable on modern mobile phones with large screensOne of the clearest examples is the redesign of the Phone app, originally designed for the smaller screens typical of 2015.
The new calling app receives a design adapted to larger diagonals and horizontal usewhich greatly improves usability in tablets And on mobile phones with widescreen format. Buttons, lists, and controls are reorganized to make everything more accessible with one hand and more legible without cluttering the screen.
Another area where changes are noticeable is in the USB managementNow, from System Settings > USB, you can explicitly choose between several modes: charging only, file transfer, and USB tethering (sharing the wired internet connection)This is especially useful if you want to use your Ubuntu Touch mobile phone as a modem for your laptop or PC running Ubuntu (or another operating system), something many desktop users greatly appreciate.
Minor but very practical improvements have also been implemented in daily operations: a manual rotation button when the screen orientation is locked, Bluetooth settings that now display the device's MAC address and allow rescanning of nearby devices, and minor changes to the virtual keyboard, which comes with Automatic capitalization, autocorrect, and automatic punctuation are disabled by default. for finer control by the advanced user.
The Contacts app has also been refined so that avatars don't blink During charging, improving the polished feel, and the system information section in settings is renamed (from “About” to “System Information”) and hides the IMEI by default to increase privacy.
Convergence and improvements in desktop mode
One of the hallmarks of Ubuntu Touch is its bet on convergenceThe ability to connect the mobile device to an external screen and work with an interface similar to a classic desktop. Several optimizations in this area have been introduced in the 24.04-1.0 branch.
The "Workspace" function has been refined so that the Switching between virtual desktops and window management will be smoother.Now, for example, you can move applications between spaces with the combination Ctrl + Alt + Shift + arrow keys (Left/Right/Up/Down), which brings the experience closer to that of a traditional Linux desktop.
If workspace mode is enabled, the system no longer shuts down. the entire desktop area when closing the last applicationThis avoids the somewhat confusing situations that occurred previously. Furthermore, when connecting to a wireless display, you have the option to Disable the external output from the virtual touch panelwithout having to fiddle with unintuitive commands or menus.
The option to display the time and date has been added. configure exactly what is displayedCalendar, week numbers, events, and alarms. From System Settings > Sound, you can now also choose the default sound for calendar remindersgiving the user a little more control over how appointments are notified.
Networks, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other system settings
Beyond USB, Ubuntu Touch 24.04-1.0 incorporates minor tweaks to the connectivity layer that, while not spectacular, do improve daily use. System settings > Wi-Fi now it shows Additional information about the connected networkwhich is useful for diagnosing problems or simply for getting to know the wireless environment better.
In Bluetooth, in addition to displaying the device's MAC address, a Option to search again for nearby devices From the top right corner of the settings screen. It's a subtle change, but it saves you from having to turn Bluetooth off and on again to force a new scan.
Other privacy-related settings include the ability to Hide sensitive information such as the IMEI by default in the system information section, reducing the risk of this data being displayed by mistake when showing the mobile phone to another person or recording the screen.
Release model: from semi-rolling to the "year.month.update" calendar
Until recently, Ubuntu Touch followed a semi-rolling launch model where OTAs were published with some regularity, but without a completely predictable cadence and with the added complexity of maintaining several databases (16.04 and 20.04) simultaneously. This situation, coupled with code divergence during the migration, led UBports to rethink its approach.
The new plan is to adopt a release schedule based on “year.month.update”The year and month refer to the moment when a major version based on a new branch of Ubuntu is released, while the update number indicates minor versions with only specific fixes and improvements.
The idea is that the Major versions are released approximately every six months.And in between, there would be intermediate releases every two months focused on fixes and polishing. Thus, a version like “Ubuntu Touch 24.6.0” would represent the first major release on Ubuntu 24.04, while “24.6.1, 24.6.2, etc.” would correspond to maintenance releases.
It is expected to appear around December 2024. Ubuntu Touch 24.12.0with changes and new features derived from the Ubuntu 24.10 base. Each main branch will be maintained for a while, but its support will be discontinued one month after a new stable main branch exists, which helps to avoid fragmentation.
Living with the Focal branch: parallel support
The transition from Ubuntu Touch Focal (20.04) The new 24.04 branch requires considerable work and stabilization time. Therefore, UBports has announced that the Focal line will continue to receive updates in parallel over a period, focused on bug fixes and security patches, but without major new features.
There is talk of future updates like Ubuntu Touch OTA-5 Focal, OTA-6 Focal and subsequent versions, focused exclusively on stability, while new features will be developed and tested in the 24.04 branch (and in the future 24.6.x, 24.12.x, etc.).
In terms of version control, UBports is adjusting its Git repositories to simplify development: the branch main will represent the code under development for the next version of features, while the ubports/ branches They will collect the code from each major release and its minor revisions. Version-specific Ubuntu branches will also be removed to reduce confusion, and changes will first be integrated into main and then ported to the appropriate version branches.
Supported devices and technical requirements
One of the strengths of Ubuntu Touch is that, thanks to Halium and the work of the community, It is compatible with a fairly wide range of mobile devicesmostly phones and tablets that originally ran Android. There is also hardware designed specifically for this system.
The supported models include Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1; several Fairphone models (3, 3+, 4, and now 5); Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL; various OnePlus models (5, 5T, 6, 6T, Nord N10 5G, Nord N100); Pine64 devices (PinePhone, PinePhone Pro, PineTab, PineTab 2); Sony Xperia X; several generations of Volla Phone and Volla Tablet; and Xiaomi devices such as the Poco X3 NFC/X3, Poco M2 Pro, Redmi 9, 9 Prime, Note 9, and Note 9 Pro/Pro Max/9S, among others.
In practice, the hardware requirements are not excessive: the first phones with Ubuntu ran on a 1 GHz Cortex A9, 512 MB-1 GB of RAM and 4-8 GB of eMMC storageToday, most compatible devices far exceed those specifications, with 3 GB of RAM or more and considerably more internal storage. In other cases, projects like [project name missing] are used. divestOS to revive forgotten mobile phones.
Being a system optimized for mobile devices, Ubuntu Touch usually offers reasonably smooth performance on modern hardwareespecially when the device is well-maintained. Furthermore, in many cases it's possible to expand the storage via microSD if the device supports it.
However, compatibility depends heavily on the Availability of drivers and the original Android firmware code treeUbuntu Touch uses the Android kernel and drivers via Halium, so some features may require proprietary binary blobs to function properly (such as the modem or certain graphics accelerators).
Security status and support cycle
From a security standpoint, Ubuntu Touch relies on the robust Ubuntu LTS base and in the ongoing work of the community to identify and fix vulnerabilities. Throughout the 20.04 branch lifecycle, for example, specific OTAs have been released to address particular issues, such as certain bugs related to PulseAudio.
Standard support for Ubuntu 20.04 LTS on desktop ended May 31th 2025Although Canonical offers Extended Security Maintenance (ESM) through Ubuntu Pro until 2030, UBports plans to continue providing it. Security updates and critical bug fixes in branch 20.04 for a time, in parallel with 24.04, focusing on keeping it secure while the transition is completed.
Being an open-source project, there isn't a list of official certifications like there might be for corporate products, but there is constant review of the components by the community. experimental encryption of personal data Version 24.04-1.0 is an example of the effort to raise the level of protection, although there is still a way to go in the complete integration of this function in all devices.
Performance and real-life user experience
There isn't a large catalog of standardized benchmarks Released for Ubuntu Touch on various devices, the user experience indicates a smooth system on mid-range and high-end hardware. The interface is lightweight, and the emphasis on convergence demonstrates that the system is designed to handle multitasking and windows like a small desktop.
Energy consumption varies depending on the device, since It inherits much of the behavior of the underlying Android firmware.Overall, reviews mention good battery life on well-supported hardware, with minimal power drain when the screen is off. However, on devices with less mature adaptations, abnormal power consumption or standby mode issues may occur.
Compared to Android or iOS, Ubuntu Touch offers Sufficient performance for everyday tasks (messaging, browsing, email, light multimedia)However, the app ecosystem is much more limited and lacks the massive optimization investment of the commercial giants. It's an ideal system for those who prioritize freedom and control over having every trendy app with the latest feature.
Installation, updates, and known issues
Ubuntu Touch is normally installed using the tool UBports InstallerIt is available for various desktop systems. The process typically involves unlocking the device's bootloader, ensuring the recommended base Android version is installed, and then flashing Ubuntu Touch from the installer.
For users already on Ubuntu Touch, the upgrade to 24.04-1.0 is done in two stagesFirst, you need to upgrade to 20.04 OTA-10, which introduces the necessary changes to receive the new branch. Then, from System Settings > Updates, download and install the packages corresponding to 24.04-1.0, including a reboot in between.
On some devices, the The first boot after installing 24.04-1.0 may remain on the manufacturer's logo for quite some time.This is especially true if you have many applications installed (more than 30, for example). This is due to a configuration regeneration that only happens once; subsequent startups will return to normal. It's best to be patient and not interrupt the process.
There are also some known issues documented by UBports: a phantom entry called “messaging-app” when sharing links or text (when the correct option is “Messaging”), errors when trying to eject drives in the external storage app (which always indicate “Device busy”), or sporadic failures in the Fairphone 5 fingerprint sensor which cause rapid jumps to the password keypad. All of these are being tracked and fixed in future updates.
If you detect a bug, the community encourages you to follow the official error reporting guide And first check if it's already registered in the "ubuntu-touch" repository on GitLab. Providing detailed information (logs, steps to reproduce, device, version) greatly helps in verifying and resolving issues more quickly.
Specific advantages if you already use Ubuntu on your computer
If you use Ubuntu on your PC or laptop, adopting Ubuntu Touch as your mobile operating system offers you some interesting synergiesTo begin with, you share a philosophy: both are free systems, focused on user control and with a familiar package and tool structure.
On a practical level, the possibility of Connect your phone to your computer and easily transfer files via USB.Using your phone as an internet hotspot via USB tethering fits perfectly into a Linux-based desktop workflow. It's a more "natural" relationship than that of a heavily bloated Android or an iPhone with its own limitations.
Convergence also works in your favor: a device with Ubuntu Touch can function as “pocket-sized mini PC” When you connect it to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, the interface feels familiar if you already work with Ubuntu daily. It's not a complete replacement for a powerful desktop computer, but it's a very convenient complement for light tasks.
Is it viable as a main system in 2024?
The big question is whether Ubuntu Touch is ready to become your primary mobile operating system in 2024. The answer depends a lot on your user profile and your specific needs.
For someone who prioritizes privacy above all else, it doesn't depend on very specific proprietary apps (banking, official social networks, corporate apps) And while it's prepared to live with the occasional glitch, Ubuntu Touch can be perfectly usable on a daily basis: calls, SMS, alternative messaging, email, web browsing, calendar, notes, and basic multimedia are reasonably covered.
However, if your work or daily life depends on specific mobile applications that only exist on Android or iOS, or if you need a completely polished and seamless experience, Ubuntu Touch remains a relatively risky bet as a single system. The app ecosystem is smaller, some features like VoLTE may not be fully optimized on certain devices, and the pace of development—while constant—is slower than that of the commercial giants.
In return, you get a more transparent, controllable environment aligned with free softwarewith a highly involved community and a release model that is becoming more professional to offer modern bases (24.04, future 24.6, 24.12…) without losing stability.
Overall, Ubuntu Touch in 2024 offers an interesting balance between maturity and free philosophy for demanding everyday use, but it works best as a primary option for conscious and flexible users rather than as an immediate universal replacement for Android or iOS in any scenario. Share the information so that more users can learn about the topic.
