Are Linux phones and tablets ready for everyday use?

For a phone, a supported Android device with a community-developed operating system may be the more practical route than a phone designed to run Linux directly. Pixel models are one option people look at, but check the current device support and the tradeoffs before buying. Google’s own services and some apps may not work the same way, depending on the system you choose.

For a tablet, set expectations around what you mean by “decent.” A conventional tablet that runs a desktop Linux distribution can be useful for tinkering or specific tasks, but it may be bulky and less polished as a touch-first device. A rugged used tablet running Fedora is one kind of setup people explore, though that is a very different experience from an iPad.

I’d separate the app question from the hardware question and try a few open-source apps on a device you already have first. For decentralized apps, the right choices depend on what you need, such as messaging, social feeds, or file sharing. Check whether the app is actively maintained and whether the people you want to reach can use it too.