You should try the Ubuntu Touch operating system

Jul 27, 2015 07:24 GMT  ·  By

Lately, I've found myself being asked by readers about how I like the Ubuntu phone I own for some time now, if I’ve already got used to it, and if they should be buying one right now, or if they should wait a little more time. If yes, which one should they buy?

At the moment of writing this editorial, there are three Ubuntu Phone devices on the market, the BQ Aquaris E4.5, Meizu MX4, and BQ Aquaris E5 HD. Each of them is for different markets and people, as the BQ ones are being distributed only in EU (European Union), and the Meizu MX4 Ubuntu Edition is sold in both China and Europe.

Please note that I've said above that the Ubuntu-powered smartphones are available for different people. As such, if someone wants a cheaper Ubuntu phone that just works and has modest hardware and a smaller (by today's standards), 4.5-inch display, they should be buying the BQ Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition smartphone.

On the other hand, those of you who have large hands and want a more powerful device should buy the Meizu MX4 or BQ Aquaris E5 HD. However, please note that there's a big difference between these two, as the latter is €100 ($110) cheaper than the former and has lower specs. You can find more details on the Ubuntu website.

Is Ubuntu Touch a problem?

Despite these variations, they all have a common denominator of being powered by the Ubuntu Touch mobile operating system developed and designed by Canonical, the company behind the world's most popular Linux distribution, Ubuntu. And as expected, Ubuntu Touch is not your regular mobile OS.

I'm not saying it is a problem, but the Ubuntu Touch mobile operating system needs a lot of time to get used to. It is totally different from the "normal" mobile OSes you see today, such as iOS, Android, Tizen, or even Firefox OS. The main difference would be that there's no home screen with lots of app icons.

Again, it all comes down to choices and what exactly people do with a smartphone device these days. At the moment, Ubuntu Touch doesn't have all the applications you find in other phones, but someday it might have. However, it boasts features that are available in all the aforementioned mobiles OSes, and even some that are not.

Ubuntu Touch mostly relies on Scopes, which are some sort of screens with all kinds of information. You have total control of which Scope is displayed first, how many Scopes you want to have active, and their order. The fact of the matter remains though that Ubuntu Touch needs time to get used to, especially initially.

You should try before buying

Some of the features available in the Ubuntu Touch operating system might make a big difference for some of you out there, but the conclusion would be that Ubuntu Touch is not for everyone, as iOS is not for everyone, as Android is not for everyone, as Firefox OS is not for everyone, and so on. They are all designed for distinct markets.

If you want something different and you like to explore new things, as well as to think different than your friends, you might want to try an Ubuntu phone today, but my recommendation is that, before spending a couple of hundred euros on a smartphone you don't know if you would like or hate, you should first try Ubuntu Touch on a supported Android device, such as LG Nexus 4 E960.