Open-source Linux smartphone Librem 5 starts batch delivery at the end of this month

After several delayed-release times, Purism finally set up a delivery plan for Librem 5 and announced that the first handsets will begin shipping on September 24. Librem 5 is a free and open-source Linux smartphone based on user privacy and encryption. It runs on a Debian-based GNU/Linux operating system. The desktop environment uses KDE Plasma Mobile or GNOME Shell to run only open source applications. The project was launched in 2017 and received more than $1.5 million in crowdfunding before entering the hardware production phase.

At the end of July this year, Purism announced the final specification of Librem 5, which will use a 1.5GHz i.MX8M quad-core processor with 3GB of running memory and 32GB of memory. Todd Weaver, the founder of Purism, said:

“The iteration schedule starts in September, 2019, and the Librem 5 will be shipping in batches with incrementing code names. Each iteration improves upon the prior in a rapid rolling release throughout the entire first version of the phone, including the public plans for the second revision of the phone for context.”

The iterative plan enables Purism to collect user feedback and quickly make improvements to next-generation phones. Each iteration of Librem 5 includes updates to hardware, mechanical design, and software, and buyers can choose which batches they want to receive. From September this year to the end of next year, the complete iteration plan is divided into 6 batches, from A to F, named after the tree name.