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submitted 2 months ago by hector@sh.itjust.works to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

(Please when answering, assume I’m not a beginner at privacy/programming :) I know where the good stuff at)

First off, shameful confession: I’m writing this on a dying yellow iPhone XR I bought second-hand three years ago (189€). I absolutely love the look of it: the screen, build quality, are all amazing. The only problem was the locked ecosystem (sideloading Spotify/Torrent client was sooo hard).

I saw the android phone of my mother dying really fast. She currently has a Xiaomi phone that’s ridiculously big for my hands, there’s advertisements in the stocks apps (?!!), the UX is janky and everything. It looks like a bloat, privacy nightmare.

So… because it’s impossible to find a jailbreakable phone nowadays I need to buy an android and ideally I would want:

  • Good screen (vivid colors)
  • Good build quality (not shitty plastic)
  • Don’t care about the camera (I don’t want those ridiculously big cameras they make nowadays)
  • Would want to install either GrapheneOS/LineageOS

The things that scare me off:

  • I really need my bank app and I need it updated so I have to use Google Play Services but I don’t want it to plague my phone with privacy bullshit (I want to be degoogled)

The things that excite me:

  • Customization possibilities
  • Learning experience
  • Even more privacy than a de-googled IOS phone :)
  • F-Droid!! (Maybe I’ll find a beautiful IRC client)
  • More choices for Mastodon & Lemmy clients
  • Freedom of free software.
  • client for open-source git providers :)

But to get all of that, I don’t want Google, I need shitty apps (non-free software) I have to install:

  • Instagram (for non-technical friends)
  • GitHub (job & open-source)
  • No-Ad Modded Spotify from Balatan
  • Discord (gamer friends)
  • Telegram (cryptobros friends)
  • Steam (because I still love gaming)

Any advices? Phone ideas? I’m so lost in this ocean of choice (freedom ✨)

My current phone:

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[-] Logical_Error@fosstodon.org 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

@hector If you want to tinker with both Linux and Android for your phone, look at this list: https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Devices

There are some devices that can dual boot Android and Linux (the one I know of is OnePlus 6)

Since mainline Linux works on the OnePlus 6, I think there were some efforts to get the latest Android running on it. Ask in the postmarketOS Matrix chat to make sure though

Also surprised people recommending GrapheneOS: https://youtu.be/4To-F6W1NT0

[-] hector@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 months ago

The GrapheneOS situation is crazy lol

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Take a look at Nitro Key. They're like Yubikey, but they sell pixel phones with a security and privacy focused custom grapheneOS.

[-] Andromxda@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 months ago

They're really overpriced though. Flashing GrapheneOS is really easy thanks to their Web-based installer, and there are countless tutorials on YouTube.

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[-] greywolf0x1@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 months ago

everyone keeps mentioning Pixel Devices, but I'd personally never use one for the same reason I won't wear branded clothes

you should check out OnePlus devices, the bootloaders are easily unlocked and they've major LineageOS support, the phones also have a high quality build, if you like the form of your XR, definitely check out the OnePlus 8/8 pro or 9/9 pro

another option is if you can get any of the Samsung S10 models with an exynos chip, they also have strong build and are supported by lineageOS as well

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[-] Chais@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 months ago

Throwing Fairphone into the pot. They're well supported by LineageOS and have the additional advantage of being user-repairable.
But they only ship inside Europe.

[-] baduhai@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 months ago

Havjng a look at CalyxOS may also be an option. It's another privacy android ROM, but it runs in more devices than just Pixels.

[-] MigratingtoLemmy@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

Take the Fairphone over the Pixel since you're in Europe

[-] clark@midwest.social 2 points 2 months ago

? I'm a European Pixel user.

[-] MigratingtoLemmy@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

Better repairibility and no useless features like they're pushing. Graphene is good but it's not the only privacy-focused Android distribution

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this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2024
74 points (90.2% liked)

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