I would want to try one, especially if it's fully compatible between Linux and the mobile modem. Wouldn't need any controller hardware on the phone itself, just needs a companion clip on controller that integrates nicely. Would definitely try to buy one if it had an underclocked/power limited laptop processor, that switches to full power when connected to a dock or charger. Something that could drive dual 1080p monitors.
this post was submitted on 15 Mar 2026
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Steam Hardware
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no, because having all your eggs in a single basket is a patently bad idea. no matter what brand the basket is
Nice try Nokia ngage crew!
🤣
So a Linux phone that works?
On one hand I would love that. On the other hand it would have access to my steam games and that might be a problem
Isn't Sailfish OS already pretty much "a Linux phone that works"?
As someone who's used a couple phones running SFOS, it's worked pretty well. it's not perfect/has some quirks but the UI is really nice and there's a community of people making apps for it and the like. Plus it's Linux which is nice.
Yeah this is the important bit to me. Valve does good work and contributes to FOSS, sure, but I'm not going to blindly follow everything they do. Right now the Linux phone space just flat out isn't viable for daily drivers. If Valve are the first ones to really address this, cool! But I'm not going to put them on a pedestal over any other options.
Considering that they are the only pro-Linux company in a position to start delivering to my country, that might just be my only option.
So, as long as they let me install custom stuff without restriction and have enough Linux support for the hardware they choose, they don't even need to do any special repairability stuff for me to happily give them my money.
Oh for sure. They're no saints but they're very far from the worst option out there, and they've been making some massive contributions to the linux space in general. I'd gladly grab something they made if they happen to be one of the first on the scene - look at the Steam Deck and what it's done for the handheld space.
Had they added a cell SIM slot to the deck, I would have just bought that.
Yes but not for gaming, just to get a Linux phone.
That's actually a great point. If it runs actual Linux, not Android, that's a decent reason to buy. Valve might actually upstream the patches, if any, which would enable virtually all Linux distros to run in it.
Just to get away from Apple and Google.
I love the trend towards Linux phones. I hope that gets a good enough foothold for me to get one.
If its a viable way to get a linux phone then sure.
depends.
if it's basically a continuation of the xperia play, but otherwise a regular modern day smartphone with passing safety net, unlockable bootloader, a 3,5mm jack, sd card slot, stereo front firing speaker, decent camera,
absolutely.
depends, if it's [continues to describe the most perfect dream phone to ever exist], absolutely.
i mean, that's my requirements. OP didnt specify what it would be and i dont wanna put out a blanket yes or no and then be called a liar or something when it eventually comes out and doesn't cover my requirements for a definite buy.
Absolutely, we need more Linux phone options.
A Steam smartphone implies to me its main purpose is to play PC games and not caring about the other stuff. And no, for that reason I wouldn't buy a Steam smartphone. Because playing games on mobile phone sucks, for controls (and I always need a controller in addition), battery life and size. And its probably as expensive as a PC. I would rather buy a dedicated handheld, if its available in this form. And if its based on Android, its a nogo anyway, for privacy reasons.
Probably not Steam OS, specially, but I'd love an alternative Linux-based smartphone OS.
No, because I don't care about gaming on a phone. But I'd love to have numerous viable Linux phone alternatives to break the cartel duopoly.
I would, yes, if it was not OS locked.
Steam Deck is plenty, I wouldn't want to try "real" gaming on a phone.
Nah
Need my banking apps and other things for life
Maybe, if was cheap. Dislike Google and Apple.
Don't care so much about games on the phone as like GPS, texting, ad blocking in the browser.
Mobile sucks. Smartphones are just too limited for real gaming. First problem is the hardware; you cant just put a desktop or laptop processors into a mobile device. Second is a small screen, which is very difficult to use for touchscreen controls and simply too small to actually see what is being displayed.
Define "real" gaming.
There's plenty of excellent games that can run on a toaster, and can run on a tiny screen
By real games i mean pc games. There are plenty of various open source lauchers or third party android ports from github which can run real pc games on android. But the problem remains: either bad performance, as the game is not optimised for mobile hardware, or terrible touchscreen controls, as the pc games might require a lot of keys to play.
For example, i can play minecraft java edition on android using zalith launcher, but some medium modpacks may not work due to lack of memory or unsupported mods, and playing it using touchscreen is very difficult. Unlike some other games, minecraft java edition isnt really designed about controllers, and even with dedicated mods which add support for them, arent really useful.
Sounds like gamerbro elitism to me tbh. You need to widen your horizons and/or touch grass.
I didn't know that those millions of games on every other device through the last 56 years were actually imaginary. That's fascinating!
look if you played the SNES in the 80s im not saying youre a bad person, but like thats just not the same thing as real gaming. PC gaming is the only real option, consoles, especially normie consoles like the SNES just cant perform
You, right now
I dont think i understand what do you mean.
I'm saying you need to touch grass if you think PC games are the only "real" games
You can already emulate all those consoles on Android though...
Ah but people who use phones to play games aren't real gamers, this is the statement made by @gegil@sopuli.xyz
I wouldn't buy it to replace my phone. I want to keep that and my gaming devices separate.
I would buy it a dedicated handheld in a similar form factor to a phone + some controls. I've actually been looking at the AYN Thor for this exact use case. It would have to be the right price too.
I just made a similar comment and totally agree on both points. In the past, handhelds were actually this small, like a (bigger) phone with controls attached. Smartphones have bad battery life too and if its based on Android, then privacy concerns too. A dedicated handheld should be cheaper then full fledged power smartphone being able to play those games.
Absolutely. Can you imagine hearing the big picture mode starting every time you slide out the modern equivalent of this bad boy that was ahead of its time
If it allows side loading and has expendable storage, sure. That's all I'm looking for.
I already despise having to charge my phone once a day. I might buy one if it were FOSS, but I don't think I'd play many games on it.
Not if it used Android, but if they ran like a Linux based OS, yeah, I’d give it a try.
As an alternative for the Apple/Google duopoly, I'd be curious. As a gaming machine, having tried playing PC games on Android, I'd say a lot of work is still needed.
Maybe. My phone is not a gaming device for me. But I would choose based on how well it works for other purposes.
No, but I am looking forward to try Lepton on my Linux phone.
I had a fucking N-Gage at one point.
Never again. Not even from Valve.
I already have a smartphone, no intention of buying another one.
This is what is known as a "hypothetical question", the idea is that your don't answer based on your actual situation, but based on a hypothetical one.
So, now imagine instead that a wizard teleported your current phone into the plane of fire, destroying it, and you have a gift voucher that can only be spent on phones that's "one free phone" and there's a Steam Phone in the shop. Would you want it? Would you buy it?
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