Earlier quoted context omitted.
If one is okay with less-open hardware, the F(x)tec Pro 1 X seems to be a good higher-end smartphone that has a decent camera sensor, slide-out keyboard, AMOLED display, and can be ordered with either Ubuntu Touch or Lineage preinstalled. It's at the top of my if-I-ever-jump-ship-from-Apple list of phones.
Yeah, I'm going for Astro Slide instead. I have used a keyboard similar to F(x)tec in past (the Pro 1 X is just a rebrand, btw) with Nokia N900 and Nokia E71. It simply does not type comfortably on such a keyboard, the keys are too small (there's always a learning curve with regards to layout as it is never 100% standard qwerty). If the Astro wouldn't be available I'm better off with touch type with a second screen a…
Oh wow, that's a very interesting option - I like the way that hinge works, but I fear that a mechanical part that complex in a smartphone is likely to become worn out quickly (source: I had both a Moto RAZR and a T-Mobile Sidekick back in the day and both would barely stay closed by the time I upgraded).
> the Pro 1 X is just a rebrand
This is very interesting to me, would you mind filling me in on what it's a rebrand of?