Posted on:
1️⃣ The Tiny Workhorse – Unihertz Jellystar
| What it does | Why I love it |
|---|---|
| Size – Small enough to disappear into any pocket (or a sock drawer). | It’s the James Bond of phones: sleek, inconspicuous, and always ready for a mission. |
| SIM‑only – My sole carrier for calls and data. | Keeps the main line clean and lets me hotspot the rest of the crew. |
| Android (Google‑flavoured) – Limited to apps from F‑Droid or the Play Store. | Guarantees I only install vetted, open‑source goodies (or the occasional necessary proprietary app). |
| Banking & Government Apps – Driving licence, health records, etc. | Essential paperwork stays on a device that’s easy to lock away. |
| Sandboxed WhatsApp – For friends who haven’t migrated yet. | Gives them a familiar bridge without contaminating my primary ecosystem. |
| Signal & Delta Chat – Secure messaging. | Because privacy never takes a holiday. |
| Mail Clients – Proton Mail, Tutanota. | Encrypted inboxes on a device that’s literally pocket‑size. |
| Hotspot – Feeds Wi‑Fi to my other phones. | The little engine that could… power the whole fleet. |
Tip: The Jellystar’s tiny form factor makes it perfect for “phone‑only” days when you want to stay reachable but not distracted.
2️⃣ The Main Stage – OnePlus 9 (“IodeOS” LineageOS)
| Feature | How I use it |
|---|---|
| Hardened LineageOS – Built from the ground up with privacy in mind. | No bloatware, no Google‑tracking ghosts. |
| FDroid + Aurora Store – My curated app marketplace. | Everything is open‑source, verified, and up‑to‑date. |
| All Social, Productivity & Media Apps – Notetaking, cloud services, photo editors, email, fediverse apps. | This is where the day‑to‑day magic happens. |
| No SIM – Pure Wi‑Fi/Hotspot mode. | When I’m out, I simply tether the Jellystar. |
| Battery & Performance – Still humming after a year of refurbishing. | Proof that a second life can be a first‑class one. |
3️⃣ The Playground – OnePlus 6 (PostmarketOS)
| Capability | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| PostmarketOS – A true Linux‑based mobile OS. | Turns my phone into a mini‑desktop, perfect for tinkering. |
| Phosh (Phone Shell) – GNOME‑style UI for touch. | Seamless integration with the rest of my Linux ecosystem. |
| Software Sources – GNOME Software (Flathub) + native packages. | Access to a universe of apps. |
| Chat Apps – Flare, Conversations, Delta Chat (my favorite). | Keeps me connected on the Fediverse without sacrificing privacy. |
| Email – Tutanota (native), Proton Mail (PWA). | Encrypted communication. |
| PWAs via Tandem – All my web‑apps live together. | One‑tap launch for everything from calendars to note‑taking. |
| Simplenote & Tuba – Quick notes & federated social browsing. | Light‑weight, fast, and always synced. |
| SSH & Terminal – Remote access to the phone itself. | I can ssh into my own pocket‑computer |
| Calls – No SIM, but Delta Chat handles voice over data. | VoIP that respects my privacy preferences. |
| Camera & Maps – Functional, but not my go‑to. | Not even good enough for occasional snaps, doesn't matter as I'm a "proper camera" person anyway for serious photography. |
Looking Ahead – Hopes for 2026
-
Full‑time PostmarketOS Adoption – I’m aiming to migrate most daily workflows onto the OnePlus 6. The goal is a truly Linux‑first mobile experience, where every app runs under the same open‑source umbrella.
-
Phosh Maturity – As the Phosh UI continues to polish its gestures, notifications, and multitasking, I expect a smoother, more desktop‑like feel—without sacrificing the convenience of a phone.
-
Hardware Refresh – While the Jellystar remains unbeatable for size, I’m keeping an eye on newer ultra‑compact devices that could replace it without compromising my “no‑Google‑bloat” principle.
-
Expanded PWAs – With Tandem proving its worth, I’ll keep adding more progressive web apps—think offline‑ready note‑taking, collaborative docs, and perhaps a self‑hosted Mastodon instance.
-
Community Contributions – I plan to give back to the PostmarketOS and Phosh communities—bug reports, patches, and maybe inspire others who want to “re‑boot” their mobile lives.
✍️ Closing Thoughts
My three‑phone setup might look like a tech‑savvy circus act, but each device plays a distinct, purposeful role:
- Jellystar – The pocket‑sized sentinel for essential services and hotspot duties.
- OnePlus 9 – The powerhouse stage for everyday productivity and media consumption.
- OnePlus 6 – The experimental lab where Linux meets mobile, and where I get to geek out with SSH, terminals, and PWAs.
If you’re a fellow tinkerer, I hope this glimpse inspires you to mix, match, and maybe even re‑cycle your own mobile arsenal. The future is open‑source, modular, and—most importantly—fun.
Stay curious, stay secure, and keep those batteries charged!
Tagged with:
More posts: