This keyboard phone runs three operating systems, including Android
- Fxtec has introduced the Pro1-X, a keyboard phone that runs Android, Ubuntu, and even LineageOS.
- A Snapdragon 835 chip is still used, however.
- You can support the Indiegogo campaign for $ 499 or £ 386.
Typically, you don’t have a choice of operating systems for your phone. You won’t have access to a desktop-class operating system if you’re running Android, for example, but neither will you have the apps or simplicity of Android if you’re using a traditional variant of Linux. However, Fxtec would like to offer you the option – it updates the Pro1 with the Crowdfunded Pro1-X, an updated version of its keyboard phone, with the choice of Android, LineageOS or Ubuntu Touch “out of the box”.
The team between Fxtec and XDA developer promises more flexibility than you are used to from a telephone. Ubuntu lets you run a full-fledged Linux desktop environment when you plug the phone into a monitor, mouse, and keyboard. According to Fxtec, this is also the first phone to ship with LineageOS. This gives you a cleaner view of Android with more control over apps and privacy.
The Pro1-X is well known if you’ve seen its predecessor, and that may be a mixed bag for some. The highlight is a pull-out, five-line keyboard that helps with long emails and at work. You still have to use the aging Snapdragon 835 chip, however, and the 580-inch 1080p AMOLED curved screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 3 rather than Victus. You get 8 GB of RAM, 256 GB of expandable storage, a 3,200 mAh battery, two 12-megapixel rear cameras and an 8-megapixel front camera for video chats.
You can now support the Indiegogo campaign for the Pro1-X for $ 499. Shipping is expected in March 2021 when the project reaches its funding goal.
Will this change your stance on Fxtec design? Not necessarily. Like the original Pro1, the X is likely to appeal to hardware keyboard loyalists the most. You can get phones with similar prices that are faster and take better photos. However, support for LineageOS and Ubuntu can expand the audience for the phone, whether you want more control over Android (but don’t want to install LineageOS yourself) or like the thought of a phone that doubles as a PC.
Next: Are there still phones with physical keyboards?
