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Comment by ghoul2 | Hacker News Reader

Does anyone know which is the cheapest phone that can be hacked to run Firefox OS? As in, is there a port to any of the , for example, the chinese Mediatek SoC-based phones - some of those sell for less than $50, retail. Vast majority sell for less than ~$100. They usually come with Android ICS/JB, but if even one of them has been hacked to run FFOS, i'd sure like to give it a try.

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I don't know the state of hardware support for random low-end phones is, but Mozilla just announced that a $25 phone with Spreadtrum that is in the works: https://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2014/02/23/firefox-os-unleashe...

Right now the least expensive phone you can buy right now that FirefoxOS definitely works on (that I am aware of) is the ZTE Open.

There isn't any official effort from Mozilla to port to existing devices that I know of, but there is a porting guide if you want to get your hands dirty: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Firefox_OS/Porting

I know that existing Android ROM hacking communities have made some progress too, but I personally use a phone that explicitly supports FirefoxOS (Geeksphone Keon) which I am pretty happy with. I'll probably switch to the new reference device (the Flame) once it is available, although I'm really interested in the $25 Spreadtrum model too.

You may be interested to know there is a (unofficial) port for Raspberry Pi. I just know about the first announcement, and am unaware of the possible further updates: http://www.philipp-wagner.com/blog/2013/04/firefox-os-for-ra...

Shouldn't it matter whether the OS can run at a usable speed?

conversely, are there any expensive phones that can run it yet? i would love to try it on my rooted HTC Jewel (Sprint EVO 4G LTE). currently running CyanogenMod nightlies.

Geeksphone just made the Revolution [1] that can run FFOS and/or Android.

Also according to Mozilla there are several Nexus phones that can run FFOS [2]

[1] http://shop.geeksphone.com/es/moviles/9-revolution.html

[2] https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Firefox_OS/Phones#Firefo...

i guess i was more interested to know which phones has it been ported to. i understand that technically it can run on every phone that currently runs android since the linux layer is identical.

It doesn't: https://autonome.wordpress.com/2013/01/15/firefox-os-devices...

There is nexus 5 support, if that qualifies as expensive for you. It's based on a KitKat port.

The ZTE Open is $70. There's an upcoming $25 phone too.

You can buy the ZTE Open on Ebay. http://stores.ebay.com/ZTE-Mobile-US

Before anyone buys the ZTE do be aware that the touch interaction with the device can be a little annoying. I have one of these phones and quite often I have a hard time getting it to correctly register anything.

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