good chance the linux running in your high end phone's modem runs 2.x kernel.

i dont deal with that anymorrle, but last one I saw with 2.x was the pixel 6 pro.

Just check, my 2YO phone runs kernel 6.6, not latest but i think good enough for production.

Edited: I misunderstood what you mean, you were talking about the modem subsystem, sorry.

I don't think you misunderstood, I think they're talking out their arse. Modems don't run Linux, they run RTOS operating systems. ShannonOS in the case of the Pixel 6 with a exynos modem

The pixel 6 pro runs ShannonOS an RTOS system, it's an exynos modem