Replicant

h1. Targets Evaluation

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This page contains information on the freedom of various device, along with the ability to be ported to Replicant. It can be used for many different things:

* It can be used to evaluate potential target devices

* It can be used to denounce very vicious attacks on users freedom, for instance if the kernel is signed.

* It can be used to track if new devices have removable batteries

To track the upstream status of various devices, we also have the [[Upstream]] wiki page. Here we really need information on the upstream status of smartphones and tablets, even if the devices are worse than the ones currently supported as it helps plan the future of Replicant. For instance we could use the data to understand how to build virtuous circles with various upstream project that care less about freedom.

That page was previously used to evaluate potential target devices to which we may port Replicant, but the information on the devices Replicant would not want to support turned out to be useful as well.

Also note that adding support for a new device in Replicant takes some time and effort.

Because of that, adding new devices in that page doesn't guarantee at all that the device will be supported in Replicant, even if that device has significantly less freedom issues than the ones currently supported by Replicant, as some people still need to step up and do the work.

Other resources:

* There is also a "forum section":https://redmine.replicant.us/projects/replicant/boards/27 about devices evaluations.

* The mailing list can also be used to discuss about device evaluations

The [[DeveloperGuide#Commonly-used-terminology|developer guide]] explains the terminology used on this page. See also the "website":https://www.replicant.us/freedom-privacy-security-issues.php for background information.

The [[Index#Replicant-porting-guides|porting guides]] provide information how the following requirements can be evaluated.

h2. Evaluation criteria for accepting new devices in Replicant

h3. Minimal requirements

List of the bare minimum requirements for a device to be ported to Replicant:

* Users must not be required to use download, install or use any nonfree software to install Replicant.

* The bootloader must not prevent users from installing modified kernel versions.

* Replicant will need to be usable on the device without having to redistribute any nonfree software.

* Users or automatic programs are not expected to download and install nonfree software to make the device usable. 

* The device also need to have enough resources to run Android. For instance, at the time of writing, it's unrealistic to port devices with 128M of RAM to Replicant.

Also keep in mind that:

* The device must have at least one usable Linux kernel with with complete corresponding source code. If this is not the case, it might still be possible to obtain the complete corresponding source code from the device manufacturer, or to port the Linux kernel to the device yourself before starting to work on Replicant.

* Some devices might have CPU architectures not supported by the latest Android version, like MIPS. Replicant may refuse to support such devices due to concern over long term maintenance of the code.

* Replicant doesn't support CDMA yet. If your device has CDMA, adding support for CDMA may or may not be a lot of work depending on the device.

h3. Good target

What makes a good target for Replicant:

* Bootloader must be ready to flash images, or be very easy to unlock

* Free user-space implementation for most of the hardware already available

* Standard or well-known protocols used in the hardware (V4L2/ALSA/NMEA, etc)

* Proprietary loadable firmwares only needed for Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, and not camera, or other peripherals etc

* Freedom-compliant hardware design: Modem isolation (no shared mem, GPS, audio)

* It should be possible to deactivate the modem, either by hardware or software.

* To make the port easier, and to amount lower the maintenance work it would also be a good idea if the chosen device meets or exceed with some margin the minimum [[HardwareRequirements]] of the latest Android version.

h3. Ideal target

An ideal target for Replicant would be:

* Free bootloaders that allow easy flashing for the user

* All the hardware using standard protocols, kernel-drivers and no user-space binary blobs

* Components do not require loadable non-free firmware

* There are ways to update the internal firmwares of the chips (for instance to allow a free software modem implementation)

* Has total modem isolation (doesn't control audio, nor GPS, mem, NAND, etc)

* not SIM locked

h3. Known to be bad targets

Here is a list of the bad targets for Replicant and reasons why:

* *Qualcomm MSM/QSD* devices are known to have bad hardware design where the modem controls GPS, audio (including mic), RAM, NAND.

However, some MSM/QSD SoCs don't ship with a modem embedded, so they may be good targets. See [[Qualcomm_SOCs|the page on Qualcomm System On a Chip]] for more details on this issue.

* *Nvidia Tegra 2* devices are known to be too slow with Replicant, since there is no NEON nor any free hwcomposer/gralloc.

Perhaps newer Tegra SoCs (which include NEON) would be faster on Replicant.

* *Motorola* devices manufactured after the Milestone (inclusive). These have non-free locked bootloaders that check kernel signatures. *sbf_flash*, a utility capable of flashing Motorola devices, is non-free.

h2. Devices evaluation

h3. Android devices

|_. Manufacturer |_. Device |_. Upstream |_. Flash method |_. SoC |_. Graphics |_. Sound |_. Modem |_. Camera |_. GPS |_. Sensors |_. Removable battery |_. nonfree |_. Freedom issues |_. Verdict |

| *Asus* | *Nexus 7* | CM 10 (Android 4.1) | Fastboot | Tegra 3 | ? | Free module | 3G version modem uses AT | Non-free tegra module, perhaps not even v4l2 | BCM4751: secret protocol | ? | ? | ? | ? | Port possible but unlikely to succeed |

| *GeeksPhone* | *One* | CM 7.2 (Android 2.3) | Recovery | MSM7K | Should be fast | Should work | Non-standard protocol but AT seems possible, bad design for freedom | MSM undocumented mechanism | Probably NMEA from modem, bad design for freedom | ? | ? | ? |\2=. Qualcomm, hardware is BAD for freedom |

| *GeeksPhone* | *Zero* | CM 7.2 (Android 2.3) | Fastboot | MSM7227 | Should be fast | May need non-free firmwares | ? | MSM undocumented mechanism | Probably NMEA from modem, bad design for freedom | ? | ? | ? |\2=. Qualcomm, hardware is BAD for freedom |

| *LG* | *Nexus 4* | CM 10.1 (Android 4.2) | Fastboot | Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 | ? | ? | Unknown protocol | ? | ? | ? | ? |\3=. Really BAD: has "too many proprietary things":https://android.googlesource.com/device/lge/mako/+/77f8e6b51a8f26ea9288a9186179511a92c07df0/proprietary-blobs.txt and the hardware is bad for freedom: modem controls the GPS (included in the modem chip), audio and perhaps NAND too |

| *LG* | *Optimus L9* | CM 10.1 (Android 4.2) | ? | OMAP 4430 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |

| *Motorola* | *Defy* | CM 7.2 (Android 2.3) | Recovery | OMAP 3630 | Should work | ? | ? | Non-free | ? | ? | ? | ? |\2=. *Kernel is signed*, making a Replicant port impossible |

| *Samsung* | *"Galaxy Note 2 (LTE) ":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_Note_II* | "LineageOS 14.1":https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/t0lte | "heimdall":https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/t0lte/install | Exynos 4412 | 1280x720 | ? | "Qualcomm MDM9X15":https://github.com/LineageOS/android_kernel_samsung_smdk4412/blob/cm-14.1/arch/arm/configs/lineageos_t0lte_defconfig#L557 "HSIC":https://github.com/LineageOS/android_kernel_samsung_smdk4412/blob/cm-14.1/arch/arm/configs/lineageos_t0lte_defconfig#L558 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |

| *Samsung* | *"Galaxy Note 3 (HSPA+ version) ":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_Note_3* | "LineageOS 14.1":https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/ha3g | "heimdall":https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/ha3g/install | Exynos 5420 | 1080x1920 | ? | "XMM6360":https://github.com/LineageOS/android_kernel_samsung_exynos5420/blob/cm-14.1/arch/arm/configs/lineageos_deathly_ha3g_defconfig#L1393 "HSIC":https://github.com/LineageOS/android_kernel_samsung_exynos5420/blob/cm-14.1/arch/arm/configs/lineageos_deathly_ha3g_defconfig#L1398 | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? |

| *Samsung* | *"Galaxy Note 4 (LTE Cat.4 & South Korea LTE Cat.6 & LTE Cat.9 (S-LTE)) ":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_Note_4* | ? | ? | Exynos 5433  | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? |

| *Samsung* | *"Samsung Galaxy Note Edge (South Korea version) ":https://en.wikipedia.org/wikiSamsung_Galaxy_Note_Edge* | ? | ? | Exynos 5433  | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? |

| *Samsung* | *"Galaxy Note 5 ":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_Note_5* | ? | ? | Exynos 7420  | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | ? |

| *Samsung* | *"Galaxy S4 (GT-I9500​) ":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_S4* | ? | ? | Exynos 5410 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? |

| *Samsung* | *"Galaxy S5 (SM-G900H) ":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_S5* | "LineageOS 14.1":https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/k3gxx | "heimdall":https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/k3gxx/install | Exynos 5422 | 1080x1920 screen | ? | "XMM6360":https://github.com/LineageOS/android_kernel_samsung_k3gxx/blob/cm-14.1/arch/arm/configs/lineage_k3gxx_defconfig#L1235 "HSIC":https://raw.githubusercontent.com/LineageOS/android_kernel_samsung_k3gxx/cm-14.1/drivers/misc/modem_v2/link_pm_hsic_xmm626x.c | ? | ? | ? | Yes | "proprietary-files.txt":https://raw.githubusercontent.com/LineageOS/android_device_samsung_k3gxx/cm-14.1/proprietary-files.txt | ? | ? |

| *Samsung* | "Galaxy S5 Neo (SM-G903F, SM-G903M, SM-G903W) ":https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/s5neolte | LineageOS 16.0 | heimdall | Exynos 7580 | Mali-T720 MP2 | ? | "Shared memory:":https://github.com/LineageOS/android_kernel_samsung_universal7580/blob/lineage-17.0/arch/arm64/configs/lineageos_s5neolte_defconfig#L1101"

"Samsung Mobile Modem Driver (SVNET2) V1 for Memory-type Interface"

CONFIG_LINK_DEVICE_SHMEM=y

# CONFIG_LINK_DEVICE_HSIC is not set | ? | ? | ? | Yes | "s5neolte/proprietary-files.txt":https://raw.githubusercontent.com/LineageOS/android_device_samsung_s5neolte/lineage-17.0/proprietary-files.txt

"universal7580-common/proprietary-files.txt ?":https://raw.githubusercontent.com/LineageOS/android_device_samsung_universal7580-common/lineage-17.0/proprietary-files.txt

"universal7580-common/proprietary-files-bsp.txt ?":https://raw.githubusercontent.com/LineageOS/android_device_samsung_universal7580-common/lineage-17.0/proprietary-files-bsp.txt | Has at least a modem that is not isolated | not isolated modem => too bad for freedom to support in Replicant |

| *Samsung* | *"Galaxy S6 ":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_S6* | ? | ? | Exynos 7420 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | ? |

| *Samsung* | *"Galaxy S7 ":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_S7* | "LineageOS 14.1":https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/herolte | "heimdall":https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/herolte/install | Exynos 8890 | 2560x1440 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |

| *Samsung* | *"Galaxy S7 Edge ":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_S7* | "LineageOS 14.1":https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/hero2lte | "heimdall":https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/hero2lte/install | Exynos 8890 | 2560x1440 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |

| *Samsung* | *"Galaxy S8 international ":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_S8* | ? | ? | Exynos 8895 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | No | ? | ? | ? |

| *Samsung* | *"Galaxy Tab 8.9":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_Tab_10.1* | CM 9.0 (Android 4.0) | Heimdall | Tegra 2 | ? | Free module | Samsung IPC, XMM6260 | Non-free tegra module, perhaps not even v4l2 | BCM4751: secret protocol | ? | ? | ? | ? | PaulK had one but failed to port to it because of Tegra slowness issues |

| *Samsung* | *"Galaxy Xcover 3 ":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_Xcover_3* | ? | ? | Marvell Armada PXA1908 | Vivante GPU | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? |

| *Samsung* | *"Galaxy Xcover 4 ":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_Xcover_4* | ? | ? | Exynos 7570 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | ? |

| *Samsung* | *"Nexus 10":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nexus_10* - codenamed Manta | Downstream "LineageOS 16.0":https://github.com/followmsi/manifests/tree/manta-lineage-16.0 ; Downstream "AOSP 9.0":https://github.com/followmsi/manifests/tree/manta-aosp-pie ; PostmarketOS "wiki":https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Google_Nexus_10_(samsung-manta) and "repo":https://github.com/postmarketOS/pmbootstrap/tree/master/aports/device/device-samsung-manta ; Devices with same SoC that have some upstream support : Samsung SMDK5250 eval board: "kernel":https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/arch/arm/boot/dts/exynos5250-smdk5250.dts "u-boot":https://gitlab.denx.de/u-boot/u-boot/blob/master/configs/smdk5250_defconfig ; "Samsung Chromebook Series 3 XE303":https://www.chromium.org/a/chromium.org/dev/chromium-os/developer-information-for-chrome-os-devices/samsung-arm-chromebook - codenamed snow : "kernel":https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/arch/arm/boot/dts/exynos5250-snow-common.dtsi "u-boot":https://gitlab.denx.de/u-boot/u-boot/blob/master/configs/snow_defconfig can use nv-U-Boot to "boot unverified kernel":https://www.chromium.org/chromium-os/firmware-porting-guide/using-nv-u-boot-on-the-samsung-arm-chromebook "tutorial to install upstream kernel at boot time":https://archlinuxarm.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11812 "ifixit teardown":https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Samsung+Chromebook+Series+3+Teardown/12225 "XDA thread about porting AOSP/CyanogenMod to this Chromebook":https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2258446 "Tutorial on running Android on this Chromebook":https://web.archive.org/web/20151008074657/http://community.arm.com/groups/android-community/blog/2013/12/16/installing-android-on-the-samsung-xe303c12-chromebook "Tutorial on bootloader unlock on this Chromebook":https://krblogs.com/post/63809988096/bootloader-unlock-on-samsung-arm-chromebook ; "Arndale board":https://web.archive.org/web/20130926124911/http://www.arndaleboard.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page : "wiki":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arndale_Board "kernel":https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/arch/arm/boot/dts/exynos5250-arndale.dts "u-boot":https://gitlab.denx.de/u-boot/u-boot/blob/master/configs/arndale_defconfig supports "non-secure JTAG debugging":https://forum.odroid.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=5185&p=41945&hilit=5250&sid=3309c923bca29ee9f3097f621730ed97#p41945 ; "HP Chromebook 11 G1":https://www.chromium.org/a/chromium.org/dev/chromium-os/developer-information-for-chrome-os-devices/hp-chromebook-11 - codenamed spring : "kernel":https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/arch/arm/boot/dts/exynos5250-spring.dts "u-boot":https://gitlab.denx.de/u-boot/u-boot/blob/master/configs/spring_defconfig | Fastboot | "Exynos 5250":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exynos#cite_ref-41 , also called the Exynos 5 Dual. "1.7 GHz dual-core ARMv7 Cortex-A15 ":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARM_Cortex-A15#cite_ref-31 "User manual":http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/file/product/Exynos_5_Dual_User_Manaul_Public_REV100-0.pdf | Free gralloc, hwcomposer, non-free 3d, beware: ultra high resolution (could be slow), display may need non-free firmware, Mali T604 GPU can run "panfrost":https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/panfrost | May need non-free firmware | Has no modem, so no modem isolation issues | Free module | BCM4751: secret protocol | Free module | No, but "ifixit battery replacement":https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Nexus+10+Battery+Replacement/62765 is ranked as moderate, taking only 10 to 15 minutes. | ? | ? |Port of Replicant 6.0 was planned but never pursued |

| *Wiko* | *"Highway 4G":https://www.gsmarena.com/wiko_highway_4g-6795.php* | ? | ? | Tegra | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | TODO: Check if the bootloader is signed |

h3. Other devices

|_. Device |_. Manufacturer |_. Android port |_. Bootloader |_. SoC |_. Standardness |_. Blobs |_. Firmwares |_. Modem |_. Notes |

| *Neo Freerunner* | *Openmoko* | "AoF":http://code.google.com/p/android-on-freerunner/ | u-boot, flash with dfu-utils | Samsung S3C2442, CPU @400Mhz | Audio: ALSA, GPS: NMEA, Modem: AT | No | No | Total isolation | Hardware is too old to be supported by Replicant, armv4t |

| *N900* | *Nokia* | Nitdroid | partially signed, chainloaded u-boot, flash with 0xff | OMAP3430, CPU @600Mhz | Voice calls depend on cmt_speech pulseaudio plugin, modem protocol is non-standard but implemented in ofono | Nitdroid uses blobs | Nitdroid uses non-free firmwares (Wi-Fi, bluetooth, camera) | GPS is controlled by the modem, modem transport is over high-speed serial | GNUtoo has one, Nitdroid is hard to build and undocumented | 

| *iPhone* | *Apple* | "iDroid":http://www.idroidproject.org | iDroid bootloader seems free | iPhone 3G: Similar to Samsung S5PC110 | iPhone 3G: Audio: ALSA, Modem: AT, Wi-Fi: libertas | Probably needs some | Probably needs some | Known to never sleep | already supported by the "Idroid project":http://www.idroidproject.org ,however it has "a really bad status":http://www.idroidproject.org/wiki/Status : it can't suspend to ram...  |

| *FLOW G1.55* | *GizmoForYou* | "Stock":https://gitorious.org/flow-g1-5/ | xloader + u-boot | OMAP3 | Audio: ALSA, Modem: AT | ? | Wi-Fi/Bluetooth | Needs to be check, could be OK | Instructions to build Android 2.2 for it are provided: http://www.gizmoforyou.net/wiki/index.php/Building_G155_Android Unfortunately that phone isn’t cheap. |

| *PengPod1000/700* | *PengPod* | ? "Android development forum":http://pengpod.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=12 | "u-boot":https://github.com/npeacock/u-boot-sunxi | Allwinner A10 | ? | both 8192cu and rtl8188eu Wi-Fi chips need non-free firmware | Some have rtl8192cu Wi-Fi, some have rtl8188eu | N/A | More focused on running GNU/Linux than Android. "Wiki":http://pengpod.com/pengwiki/index.php?title=Main_Page |

There are a small number of do-it-yourself phones where the user is expected to assemble the phone. Examples of this include the "odroid":http://www.hardkernel.com/ phones which comes with android support. However, the issue is that not all users want or are able to assemble their own phones.