Operating system · Linux
Ubuntu Touch (UBports)
Limited No Google Active
Checked against the makers' own pages · Last reviewed October 15, 2026
Ubuntu Touch is a free, open-source Linux operating system for phones and tablets, maintained by the non-profit UBports Foundation and volunteers since Canonical stopped work on it in 2017. It has its own app store, the OpenStore, and can run some Android apps through Waydroid. The current release is 24.04-2.0 (July 2026), offered on about 20 devices including the Fairphone 4 and 5 and Volla phones. [1][2]
- Android app compatibility
- Android apps only through Waydroid; banking apps unlikely [3]
- Phones it runs on
- 111 devices listed; 24.04-2.0 on 20 devices incl. Fairphone 4/5 and Volla phones [2][4]
- Buy it preinstalled
- UBports names Volla, Pine64 and FXP as sellers of preinstalled devices [4]
- Project status
- Active; 24.04-2.0 released July 24, 2026 [2]
- Latest version
- 24.04-2.0 (July 2026), based on Ubuntu 24.04 [2]
On this page
What it is and who makes it
UBports says Ubuntu Touch "was originally created by Canonical (the company behind Ubuntu) in 2013." When Canonical "stepped back from the project in 2017, the UBports Foundation took over." The Foundation is "a registered non-profit, not a company," funded by donations and memberships.
Ubuntu Touch uses the Lomiri interface and is built for convergence: with a monitor, keyboard and mouse, Lomiri switches to a desktop-style layout. On Android phones it replaces Android but keeps the low-level parts that control the camera, modem and GPS, through a layer called Halium. [1]
How it compares to stock Android
UBports is direct about this: "Ubuntu Touch is not a drop-in Android or iOS replacement." It says the app selection is smaller, many mainstream apps have no native version ("banking apps are the most commonly missed category"), GPS accuracy can vary by device, and the supported device list is limited.
Native apps. All native apps come from the OpenStore, where "everything there is free and open source." UBports names native clients for Telegram (TELEports), Matrix, Signal (Sigul UT) and WhatsApp (WhatsNew, Greenline). Many web services work in the Morph Browser, which moved to a Chromium 134 engine in 24.04-2.0.
Android apps. Android apps run in Waydroid, a container. On Halium 9 and newer devices it ships with the system, but you set it up and install apps from a terminal. UBports warns that "Not all Android applications will work," that apps needing "Google's Play Integrity service or SafetyNet, such as banking apps, are unlikely to run," and that Waydroid can raise battery use. App stores like F-Droid can run inside Waydroid but won't update apps automatically.
Google services. Ubuntu Touch "doesn't run Google or Apple services by default." UBports does not describe support for Google sign-in, Google Wallet or Android Auto.
Calls in North America. The devices site warns: "Communication issues with VoLTE may apply to North America." VoLTE (voice over LTE) is how calls are carried on 4G networks; check with your carrier and the device's page before relying on calls.
For all systems side by side, see phone operating systems compared. [1][2][3][4]
Supported phones
The Ubuntu Touch devices site lists 111 devices as of Oct. 15, 2026, at different stages of completeness. Ubuntu Touch 24.04-2.0 is offered on these devices, according to UBports:
- Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1; F(x)tec Pro1X; Fairphone 4; Fairphone 5; JingPad A1
- Lenovo Tab M10 HD 2nd Gen; OnePlus Nord N10 5G; OnePlus Nord N100; Rabbit R1; Sony Xperia X
- Volla Phone, Phone X, Phone 22, Phone X23, Phone Quintus, and Volla Phone Plinius
- Xiaomi Poco X3 / X3 NFC; Redmi 9 and 9 Prime; Redmi Note 9; Zinwa Q25 (new)
UBports says 24.04-2.0 needs more system storage, so it can't go to every supported device yet; others get the 24.04-1.4 maintenance release. The devices site also lists the PinePhone and PinePhone Pro. The Furi Labs FLX1s+ can install Ubuntu Touch as a dual-boot system, according to Furi Labs. [2][4][5]
Installing it yourself vs. buying preinstalled
UBports' devices site says "Volla, Pine64 and FXP offer devices preinstalled with Ubuntu Touch." (PINE64's current PinePhone listing ships with Manjaro instead.) To install it yourself on a supported phone, UBports recommends the graphical UBports Installer and discourages manual installs. It says to check that the device is supported and the features you need work before buying a phone for it. [1][4][6]
Project status and news
UBports released Ubuntu Touch 24.04-2.0 on July 24, 2026. It added the Chromium 134 browser engine, an optional Widevine installer for DRM video, notch avoidance, a screenshot editor and printing support. UBports holds regular public Q&A sessions; Q&A 199 took place on Sept. 19, 2026. [2][7]
Phones in our database that run Ubuntu Touch
| Phone | Type | Price | Status | US | Carriers | Google apps | OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Furi Labs FLX1s+Furi Labs · Hong Kong6.7" · 8 GB RAM · 128 GB · 5,000 mAh · 201 g | Linux phones | $499 (list $550), plus shipping | On sale | Yes | AT&T bandsT-Mobile | microG | FuriOS (Debian Linux)Also runs: Ubuntu Touch |
| PINE64 PinePhone ProPINE646" · 4 GB RAM · 128 GB · 3,000 mAh · 215 g | Linux phones | Last listed at $399 (now out of stock) | Discontinued | No | Verizon bandsAT&T bandsT-Mobile bands | n/a | Manjaro Linux (Plasma Mobile)Also runs: postmarketOS (Nura), Ubuntu Touch, Sailfish OS |
| Volla Phone PliniusVolla Systeme · Germany6.67" · 8 GB RAM · 128 GB · 5,300 mAh · 230 g | De-Googled Android | €598 | On sale | Import | No US carrier | microG | Volla OS or Ubuntu TouchAlso runs: iodéOS |
Questions people ask
Is Ubuntu Touch still being developed?
Yes. UBports says Canonical stopped development in 2017 but the UBports Foundation has continued it. The current release, 24.04-2.0, came out in July 2026. [1][2]
Can Ubuntu Touch run Android apps?
Some, through Waydroid. UBports says not all apps work and that banking apps that need Play Integrity or SafetyNet are unlikely to run. [3]
Does Ubuntu Touch have WhatsApp?
Not officially. UBports points to WhatsNew (WhatsApp Web) and Greenline (a native client) in the OpenStore, or the Android app through Waydroid. [1]
Sources (7)
- FAQ | UBports, UBports Foundation. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Ubuntu Touch 24.04-2.0 and 24.04-1.4 release, UBports Foundation. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Android apps - UBports documentation, UBports Foundation. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Ubuntu Touch devices, UBports Foundation. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Changelog, Furi Labs. Checked October 15, 2026.
- PINEPHONE – Beta Edition with Convergence Package Linux SmartPhone, PINE64 (Pine Store). Checked October 15, 2026.
- UBports Blog, UBports Foundation. Checked October 15, 2026.