I do an updated look at the hardware support on the PinePhone Pro about a year after launch. While the software has come a long way, it is still nowhere near the stability you would expect from desktop Linux.
The wireless charging case is extremely easy to swap with the default cover. It primarily differs from the original case in its thickness. The camera hole is inset instead of outset and the cover does not flex as much. Unfortunately, it was a bit ambiguous if the charging cover actually worked. There was no visual indication of charger, but according to the online documentation it is possible it was just charging so slowly it wasn't noticeable.
I next tried the keyboard accessory. It adds a lot of size to the phone to an almost hilarious degree. The only way the phone will fit into your pocket is if you have some cargo pants. Unfortunately, the phone did not show any battery status for the keyboard's battery. The keyboard itself also seemed non-functional. It seems the distro maintainers forgot to compile the support in in the current version. The keyboard also has the issues with the safety of charging accidentally from your phone, which may destroy the keyboard's battery. It is important to note that once the PinePhone is inserted into the keyboard, it is extremely difficult to remove. You will likely need a tool to help pry it out.
I last tried the phone's camera again. It now works! ...but with a strong green tint. It was fun seeing how the gnome ecosystem was used to create the functionality of photo previews and browsing the files. I it is definitely a start and was a showcase of what is coming down the line. Unfortunately, I later did a software update that broke the camera functionality again.
The main takeaways of the PinePhone are:
It's still extremely experimental. None of the sold accessories just work.
The software is nowhere near stable. You are likely best not installing updates outside of the releases as they often break the functionality.
In the case of Plasma Mobile, it will often make it become unstable and crash much more.
If you are thinking about buying this for the Christmas season, you should keep in mind that this phone and its ecosystem is still planted firmly in hobbyist territory.
#pinephone #accessories #camera #wirelesscharging #keyboard #linux #hardware #phosh
15 окт 2024
