Like its predecessor, the Librem 5, Liberty Phone runs PureOS. Its specs also include a 5.71-inch display, NXP i.MX 8M chipset, 8 MP selfie camera, 13 MP rear camera, and a 4500 mAh battery. However, it now has 4 GB RAM and 128 GB internal memory, and charging has been bumped up to 18W.
Again, like its predecessor, 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.
Table of Contents
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: 4 GB
- Internal Storage: 128 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: v5.3, 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: 18W Fast Charging; USB Power Delivery
- Reverse Charging: Yes.
- Announced: July 2023
- Market Availability: 2023
Price and Availability
- Country Availability: USA, Global.
- Price: $2,199.
Frequently Asked Questions
What operating system does Liberty Phone run?
It 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 Liberty Phone run?
It can run GTK-based apps and Web apps – apps that are built 100% with HTML5 and CSS. Android apps will not work on it.
Where is Liberty Phone made and where to buy it?
The regular variant is designed in the USA and manufactured in China. However, the Liberty Phone is both designed and manufactured (assembled) in the United States. You can buy both from the Purism website.
Why is Liberty Phone 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 Liberty Phone work on Verizon?
It 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.
Liberty Phone works on AweSIM
It works on Purism’s new AweSIM cellular service in the United States.
MobilityArena Buyer’s Guide Verdict
There are not a lot of secure, privacy-focused smartphones in the market, so if that is something you are looking for, the Liberty Phone offers that. Looking at its mid, dated specs, though, we find it difficult to recommend the Liberty Phone at the $2,200 price tag it carries. You might want to take a look at other secure smartphone options.
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.
Disclaimer: While we take the pains to ensure accuracy, we can not guarantee that the specs and information on this page are 100% correct. If you think that any information for the current phone is wrong or missing, please contact us.