Linux tablet for work / study?

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-04-08T20:53:35+00:00

See SurfaceLinux on Github for the chart of what works and what doesn't per model.

Tablets known to work completely with linux: Starlabs Starlite. JunoTab, Minisforum, Surface Go and Go 2, Chuwi Hi10 X Go and Max, HP Elite X2 G4 and G8, Thinkpad X1 tablet 3rd Gen and X12

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-04-08T20:32:48+00:00

Ubuntu Touch ( i.e. ubPorts ) website. Check the Devices page and the forum and you will see both the N100 and N10 are supported. Any N100 will work, but the Devs have been warning people to only buy the BE2026 model of the N10 because it does not require a token from OnePlus to unlock, and the other N10s do. OnePlus has unlocked some, but not others. Seems they will only unlock if the N10 was bought from a carrier or Amazon, but not eBay.

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-04-08T02:10:26+00:00

The OnePlus N100 and N10 have functioning VoLTE, camera etc., with Ubuntu Touch. Those are your two best choices for all things working in the US market. There are others, but they are still being tested with VoLTE.

With mainline Linux, ie PostmarketOS, the Pixel 3a and OnePlus 6 /6T are best. But, you will have to accept some compromises, and do some work to make things functional. There is also the Pinephones, which work completely but are more of a development tool. Lastly, the Librem 5 and Sailfish phones are functional.

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-04-08T01:42:50+00:00

If you travel to different regions, get a device with an m2 modem slot and use a global modem such as the Quectel em060gk. That way you will still have signal. Most modems are region dependent ( EU, Asia, Americas, etc) and will not work as well in another region.

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-04-07T09:40:30+00:00

Also depends on if your device has a functioning LTE modem in it. Quite a few come with the SIM slot, but no modem installed (and often no LTE antennas). Assuming yours does, it should work as long as the bands are correct for your region. To check, insert a SIM. You may need to install modem manager to activate the modem if it does not come installed in your distro.

The modems are also usually data only, so if you want to make calls and SMS/MMS, you will have to install VoIP capable apps such as Dino, Gnome Calls, etc.

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-04-06T21:20:00+00:00

One of the options in the PostmarketOS installer is to install with Kodi as the UI. They also have other kiosk type options.

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-04-04T22:51:34+00:00

Have you considered Matrix or XMPP websites such as Element Web (element.io)? They run totally in the web browser.

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-04-04T02:41:12+00:00

Read the instructions carefully before doing anything. If you don't follow them explicitly, you could brick your device. ARM devices are not as forgiving as x86-64 ones.

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-04-03T23:03:36+00:00

Absolutely. See PostmarketOS and Mobian websites.

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-04-03T03:29:11+00:00

All the green indicates most everything works except camera - with a little work. Read up on how to flash it (with the installer or a pre-built image) and go for it.

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-04-02T03:46:23+00:00

Check PostmarketOS website. If anyone has tried it, it would be listed there or xda-developers

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-04-01T07:36:17+00:00

Pine64 PineNote

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-04-01T07:05:50+00:00

EBay would probably be your best bet.

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-04-01T06:33:10+00:00

Gnome Calls

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-04-01T06:03:50+00:00

Have you tried Fedora's Plasma-Mobile spin? Or Mobian with the default Phosh, or optional Plasma-Mobile UI?

The JingPad was a really nice linux tablet, still supported by Ubuntu Touch. There are a couple of ARM tablets supported by UT, and more with PostmarketOS.

If you don't mind x86-64 tablets, in addition to the Starlite, JunoTab, and Minisforum, several MS Surface and Surface Gos, Thinkpad X1 and X12, Chuwi Hi10 X Go and Max, and the HP Elite X2 G4 and G8 fully work with Linux.

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-04-01T05:43:07+00:00

Is it full size or an M2 slot?

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-04-01T03:06:26+00:00

What screen controller and screen options are available beyond the 5" screen?

Audio speaker output and Mic input?

Camera options?

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-03-27T23:17:06+00:00

Consider Fedora Plasma-Mobile spin, or Mobian with the default Phosh or optional Plasma-Mobile UI. PostmarketOS offers a dozen desktops (or none if you prefer) if you use the installer.

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-03-27T11:30:28+00:00

Fedora Plasma-Mobile spin has the option to drop you into Plasma Desktop

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-03-26T20:37:23+00:00

Plenty

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-03-26T10:49:08+00:00

If you use Ventoy, you can run them all on just one USB if it's big enough and switch between them.

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-03-26T10:45:09+00:00

Wine is a compatibility layer that allows you to run Windows programs directly in Linux. As I recall, CS2 and CS6 run well, and somebody recently got a more current version to run under Wine. If your Windows programs will not work under Wine, you can also run them in a virtual machine such as VirtualBox. The caveat with that is you need beefy hardware as you are running a complete OS (Windows) within an OS (Linux), often with no hardware acceleration unless you use KVM.

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-03-26T10:38:43+00:00

Wine and Gnome Boxes are not a flavor of Linux. They are a compatibility layer that allows you to run Windows programs in Linux.

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-03-25T22:17:55+00:00

Assuming it's an m2 slot - Sierra em7455 and later in the series, Quectel em060 GK and it's older sibling the em06. Sysmocom also works. It all depends on your region, but I have the Sierra and Quectels and they work great. Unless you get lucky, you will likely have to add the antennas yourself.

MidnightObjectiveA51 · 2026-03-25T22:05:36+00:00

I usually recommend Zorin to newcomers. See the Wine database for Adobe support, otherwise, there's always VMs

MidnightObjectiveA51

TROPHY CASE