Purism Librem 5

Yes, it’s an open-source smartphone for the privacy- and security-conscious user, but is it easy to operate, asks Christian Cawley…

- Christian Cawley

SPECS

OS: PureOS

CPU: NXP i.MX 8M quad-core 1.5GHz Cortex A53, 64-bit Arm

GPU: Vivante GC7000Lite

Mem: 3GB

SSD: 32GB eMMC

Screen: 5.7-inch, 720×1,440 IPS

Baseband: Gemalto PLS8 or Broadmobi BM818

GPS: Teseo LIV3 GNSS

Comms: 802.11n dual-band, Bluetooth 4

Ports: USB C (data, charge, DisplayPort), 3.5mm audio, microSD

Camera: 13 MP LED flash (rear), 8MP (front)

Sensor: 9-axis LSM9DS1

Battery: 3,500mAh, replaceable

Size & weight: 150x75x 15.5mm, 230g

Announced in 2017 as crowdfunding that was impressively supported, Purism’s Librem 5 is a smartphone take on the Librem laptops. The device is equipped with kill switches and other privacy-enhancing measures, and has been positioned as the company’s solution to forced obsolescence, digital surveillance and the lack of a genuine Linux smartphone.

The Librem 5 was released in late 2019 and was shipped to some but not all of its early supporters, and those who received the smartphone noted it sported fewer features than originally advertised. Review devices were suspicious by their absence, until six months later when we can finally examine the Librem 5 phone.

Weighing in at 230g, the Librem 5 is a charcoal grey slab containing a quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of eMMC storage, expandable to 2TB via microSD. The 5.7-inch 1,440x720px TFT IPS display looks imposing and the bezel is minimal. On the back is a removable cover, revealing the 3,500mAh battery. This can be swapped out with a replacement cell if necessary.