XDA partners with F(x)tec to make a phone that runs LineageOS and Ubuntu Touch OS

27 October 2020
Yes, the XDA that was the birth place of CyanogenMod. The phone itself is largely unchanged from the F(x)tec Pro1.

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Mine just broke so I've got a temporary "normal phone" while it's being repaired. Man do I miss the keyboard.

Like Eske, there are some people who just want a keyboard designed as slickly-integrated part of their phone, not an add-on.
Don't hate us for this! And F(x)tec aren't wrong to cater for us. They've done an amazing job at bringing a low-volume niche device all the way to market. I really hope they made a profit on this (given the new version I think they did)

Granted it's not for everyone. But it is for me ❤️
But why is it not listed in gsmarena's database?

    Anonymous, 30 Oct 2020Jesus do people really want a huge physical keyboard on a p... moreI do. I don't like using Bluetooth, so having a physical QWERTY keyboard is definitely a big bonus.

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • JD2
      • 02 Nov 2020

      Well, I like XDA, that´s why am a member since 2007, but this phone.... No thanks.

        Anonymous, 30 Oct 2020Jesus do people really want a huge physical keyboard on a p... moreIf you by people mean everybody then sure you are right a clear NO. If you mean if there are some, then a equally clear YES.

        The BT suggestion works terrible for people with only two hands... You can not hold both a keyboard, a mobile phone and type too... So you will limit the use case to work at a desk, and frankly that is not where most people use a mobile phone. You know there is a reason why it is called mobile and not portable or moveable, like decades ago.

        Sure you can make some sort of case binding the two, but it is not easy to make a working solution. I made one for an aPple device, by tinkering different parts together. It is certainly not for everyone to do. (And though substantially cheaper the weight and size of this tinkering is very unlikely to be able to compete)

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • Pum
          • 30 Oct 2020

          Jesus do people really want a huge physical keyboard on a phone? Imagine how lighter and smaller that phone would be without that thing. If you want it to double as a PC you can always get a bluetooth keyboard & mouse, there're tons of options for that already.

            Reason, 29 Oct 2020Thank you. From your measurements, it needs less weight ... moreLet me put it this way: It is really hard to find a way to hold it so it feels top-heavy during typing, I'm not saying it can not be done, but I did not find it.

              EskeRahn, 28 Oct 2020"...and the weight needs to be in the keyboard ...&quo... moreThank you.

              From your measurements, it needs less weight in the screen.

                • M
                • Magnaroader
                • 7Pk
                • 29 Oct 2020

                LOL this is hilarious. A bunch of enthusiasts have built a working Desktop mode...which Google and their "top class" engineers still haven't managed to implement in stock android.
                The fact that they managed this with "4 year old" chipsets proves another theory - we don't need the "latest and greatest" flagship chipsets to have great performance.

                  • C
                  • Cristi
                  • srr
                  • 29 Oct 2020

                  So guys, when are you going to review this? It looks very interesting!

                    Xytanox, 29 Oct 2020This phone reminds me of Nokia E7 from the past. The design... moreThe sliding mechanism is indeed the exact same principle Nokia used. A support plate and a support arm of different length and with axis in different depth. Tried to describe it in detail with a principle GIF here. https://eskerahn.dk/?p=3286/#SliderMechanism
                    Like biking a little hard to learn, but once learned it is awesome (IMHO).

                    And seeing the colour of this also gave me a trip down nostalgia lane, remembering the old Nokias. Personally I think the old black model looks better. I really like the way the antenna lines are a subtle ornament on black. They are certainly not subtle on the blue.
                    ( I still took a perk for one though *LOL* )

                      This phone reminds me of Nokia E7 from the past. The design looks almost the same - except the cameras on the back ofc, but rest of the phone is copy-paste of Nokia E7.

                        Good old xda, nobody wanted to build us an updated HTC HD2, so they going to go one better and give us an old HTC tytn2 on steroids !!
                        Will put my order in for one as soon as I have the cash.
                        Who cares if its "only" an sd 835 ,still plenty enough grunt and speed, and they don't cook to death if they get a bit warm like these new 865 etc do, a problem "they" forget to mention about sub 10nm chips is they are less and less heat tolerant, one small heat blip and their smoking !!

                          • a
                          • amy
                          • pvZ
                          • 28 Oct 2020

                          damn this actually looks pretty great. tho I'm not sure about Ubuntu OS. I'm studying computer engineering and I wish I could develop my own OS. but that's a stupidly hard task that needs a huge team. and a lot of support. but god all these OSes lack in one way or another in terms of design etc. Maybe one day my dream will be true...

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • n4L
                            • 28 Oct 2020

                            John, 28 Oct 2020So how much are you getting paid to promote this phone?How much are you paid to discredit people?

                              John, 28 Oct 2020So how much are you getting paid to promote this phone?Oh not a cent. But I've been searching for something like this since I used a Sony Xperia Pro, quite a number of years back, so was thrilled when it was launched.

                              So I'm such an enthusiastic follower of the project that they asked me to be a (voluntary) moderator on their community, and I helped testing a pre-production unit. But I'm certainly not uncritical, as you can see in my blog.

                              It is just that there are nothing better available fitting my needs&wishes.

                                • J
                                • John
                                • M5}
                                • 28 Oct 2020

                                EskeRahn, 28 Oct 2020I see many complaints on the price and the chipset. In s... moreSo how much are you getting paid to promote this phone?

                                  Great idea especially with that Ubuntu Touch OS, but I'd still be waiting for Planet Computers Astro Slide 5G next year.

                                    • V
                                    • Vivek
                                    • XRQ
                                    • 28 Oct 2020

                                    Even the XDA phone will come with Android 9 :P

                                      • H
                                      • Hhss
                                      • X$t
                                      • 28 Oct 2020

                                      Coming to your local pawn shop for $70 in a year or two. This just dethroned the microsoft dou for the DOA product of the year

                                        Reason, 28 Oct 2020I also agree. This is a $200 phone, and the weight needs t... more"...and the weight needs to be in the keyboard ..."
                                        And so It is. :-D
                                        See balancing image almost at the bottom of my 1½ years old (p)review https://eskerahn.dk/?p=3286/

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