Librem 5, the phone that the manufacturer says is focused on security by design and privacy protection by default. It is equipped with three (3) hardware kill switches (for cellular modem, WiFi/Bluetooth, camera/microphone). If all three switches are turned off at the same time, then GNSS and all sensors are also turned off. The specially designed hardware enables the user stay in control of the flow of information. It comes in two versions – Librem 5 (designed in the USA and manufactured in China), and the Librem 5 USA (designed and manufactured in the United States). Both versions have the same specs, but differ in places of manufacture and prices.
Specs and Features
Wireless Network and Software
2G mobile network bands: GSM, GPRS, EDGE 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz. 3G mobile network bands: UMTS, WCDMA, HSDPA 900 / 2100 MHz 4G mobile network bands: LTE VoLTE 1(2100) / 2(1900) / 3(1800) / 5(850) / 7(2600) / 8(900) / 20(800) / 25(1900) / 26(850) / 28(700) / 38(2600) / 40(2300) / 41(2500) – differs across variants 5G mobile network bands: No. SIM Type: Nano-SIM Software / OS: PureOS
Design, Form Factor, Appearance
Dimensions: 150 x 75 x 15.5 mm Weight: g Display: 5.7″, 720×1440 pixels, IPS TFT screen. Colours: Dark Grey. Physical Build:
Internal Hardware Specs
Processor Type: 64-bit 1.5GHz Quad-Core, Cortex-A53. Processor Name: NXP® i.MX 8M Graphics Processor: Vivante GC7000Lite RAM: 3 GB Internal Storage: 32 GB External Storage: microSD storage expansion
Photography, Video Recording
Rear Camera: 13 MP camera, f1.9 Aperture, LED flash, 1080p@30fps video recording Front-facing Camera: 8 MP, f2.0 Aperture, 1080p@30fps video capture.
Audio, Video Playback
Music Support: PCM, AAC / AAC + / eAAC + / MP3 / AMR – NB / WB / APE Audio: 3.5 mm audio jack Loudspeaker: Mono speaker Video Support: H.264/MP4/MPEG4 player FM Radio:
Sensors
Digital Compass: Yes. Accelerometer: Yes. Proximity Sensor: Yes Ambient Light Sensor: Yes Barometer: No. Pedometer: No. Heart Rate Monitor: No. Gyroscope (G-Sensor): Yes. Fingerprint Scanner: Face Unlock: Iris Scanner: No. Motion Sensing / Gesture Control: Voice Control: No. Intelligent Digital Assistant: No. Infra-red Sensor: No.
Connectivity Options
Bluetooth: v5.0, A2DP WiFi: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot GPS: Yes, Teseo LIV3F GNSS. USB: USB 3.0 data, Charging (Dual-Role Port), Video out NFC: No.
Miscellaneous Specs and Features
Battery Type and Capacity: Removable Lithium-Ion 4500 mAh Battery Charging: 5V/2A (10W) Fast Charging; USB Power Delivery Reverse Charging: Yes. Announced: August 2017 Market Availability: Q4 2019
Price and Availability
Country Availability: Global. Price: It had a pre-order price tag of $649 and has recorded several increases since release. From March 2022, the price goes up to $1299. A US-only version, called Librem 5 USA, is manufactured in the United States, carries a heftier price tag starting from $1,999.
What operating system does Librem 5 run?
The Librem 5 phone runs an operating system called PureOS.
Is PureOS based on Android?
PureOS is a privacy-focused smartphone operating system that is not based on Google’s Android OS. It is based on Linux.
What kind of apps does the Librem 5 smartphone run?
Librem 5 can run GTK-based apps and Web apps – apps that are built 100% with HTML5 and CSS. Android apps will not work on the Librem 5 smartphone.
When is the Librem 5 coming out?
It is out already, though there are gaps and delays in the shipping.
Where is Librem 5 made and where to buy it?
The regular Librem 5 is designed in the USA and manufactured in China. However, the Librem 5 USA is both designed and manufactured in the United States. You can buy both from the Purism website.
Why is Librem 5 so expensive?
Primarily, economies of scale is the first factor. It is not being produced in millions of units, which would have dropped the unit cost. Secondarily, as a secure, privacy-focused phone, it has extra physical parts and software layers that you won’t find in regular, mush less expensive devices.
Will librem 5 work on Verizon?
Librem 5 supports Verizon’s LTE bands (LTE B2, B4, B13). However, this is no guarantee that it will work, as you can’t activate a new SIM on the carrier without a device on their approved equipment list. A workaround COULD be to use an already activated Verizon SIM in it to see if it works. If you are getting a new Verizon SIM card, it can only be activated in a recognized/approved device.
Librem 5 works on AweSIM
Librem 5 also works on Purism’s new AweSIM cellular service in the United States.
MobilityArena Buyer’s Guide Verdict
Not available. Our Buyer’s Guide Verdict is recommendation that we make based on our evaluation the specs of the device. It is a general guide designed to help you understand how much value a smartphone offers for its price. It is not a stamp of quality assessment or an endorsement of the device or of the manufacturers. Be sure to ask questions and use your judgement when buying any device, as MobilityArena may not be held responsible for your buying decisions.
Librem 5 smartphone Review Rating
We are yet to review the Librem 5 smartphone and so do not have a review rating for it yet. This section will be updated with our review rating and a link to the review page, as soon as we have a review ready. Disclaimer: While we take the pains to ensure accuracy, we can not guarantee that the specs and information on this page about the Librem 5 smartphone are 100% correct. If you think that any information for the current phone is wrong or missing, please contact us.
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