They sell the F4 with /e/OS

That’s an Android ROM and can’t provide the longevity of mainline Linux.

I agree, but first we’d need vanilla Linux working very well on laptops. If we can’t fix that, I don’t see how phones will fare better, what with their crazy amount of components and non-OSS compatible vendors.

Using Linux on laptops for 10+ years without any problem. Just buy it preinstalled.

I think specific devices will have more likely positive outcome over time as chips don't become more performant = the design wont be obsolete and still sell many years later.

Modular devices (laptops are a mix of many modems, displays, sound, disk etc.) have had more edge case bugs because the volume is too low per generation to warrant fixes.

Compared to laptops, smartphones have more sensors, and more complicated camera setup. That's about it. They're not significantly more complicated than laptops.

But also more vendors, market fragmentation, and far less open-source firmware?

Almost no laptops have opensource firmware.

Meanwhile in the real world, true convergence seems to mostly break down at the application layer. Many desktop Linux apps are not designed to work on a mobile device. It turns out that the UX in Android apps is purpose build for mobile use. This software gap seems really difficult to overcome. Not impossible, but we are not there yet in terms of mobile Linux devices being useful for the majority of consumers.... (I do think Waydroid offers some interesting opportunities here to bridge the gap!)

This is only a problem if you think the mobile has value.

To me it's a consume only device.

Much rather have a tablet (with a keyboard and mouse for making real world applications) and a Pebble watch for notifications.

The iPad still can't run MacOS...

You may be interested in GNU/Linux phones, Librem 5 and Pinephone.

Both lack OpenGL ES 3!

Would you care to elaborate, which practical consequences it has, apart from poor performance in 3D games?

OpenGL (ES) 3 has VAO, which IMO is the last GL feature.

You need it to build 3D MMOs that can run on low power devices.

Without the MMO things are not going to be fun when KWh > $1...