On Phoenix, you can not open a channel. You can easily just download the wallet and start using the wallet. This is not possible on noncustodial bitcoin lightning network wallet. I can generate invoice for pay on Phoenix without any channel opened for it. Or is there a way on the wallet to open and close a channel?
Phoenix is non-custodial wallet, you have seed words and node is created and operated on smartphone.
If you want option for opening and closing channels try checking out alternative lightning wallet Zeus LN.
You are correct. It is noncustodial. But let us say Phoenix is noncustodial and another lightning wallet like Aqua or others is noncustodial. Will you be able to recover your lightning coins from Phoenix on another lightning network wallet? I think you will need the same noncustodial wallet for the recovery. If Phoenix is gone and not accessible anymore, you money is gone. Or am I wrong?
You can always send sats from your installed wallet to some other wallet even if Phonex is gone.
They are not the only lightning wallet that works like this, and they made this decision because they wanted some protection against US official attacks.