Pixel and GrapheneOS, or any device compatible with CalyxOS.
this post was submitted on 24 Oct 2024
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privacy
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To be quite honest, after Google screwed me over with their Pixelbook (firmware broke touchscreen, and they basically told me to buy a new one), I will not give Google money for their hardware.
I also generally dislike Pixel phones for a number of reasons. This sucks :(
I didn't give them money for my Pixel. I used AdNauseam, cost them over $2,000 in advertising losses, and then bought one.
Trollface.
Getting it secondhand also doesn't give them any money.
If you don't mind old hardware, get it refurbished from Amazon. You can get pixel 7 for 400 CAD, sometimes less. Amazon quality control is better than ebay, so was the support.
My biggest problem is with the camera of all mobiles, the photo looks good because there is a lot of processing in the background, and it becomes very apparent how the hardware is bad when you take pictures with an aftermarket OS.
You can sideload the google camera app and restrict any online access to it on graphene.
I tend to buy flagships because I know they'll last me many years without worrying about the hardware being too outdated.
But then updates stop, and the batteries need to be replaced... that's kind of where I'm at now. Seeing that OEMs now offer at least 5 years of major Android OS updates, I'd at least be covered there.
But man, are they all pushing hard for these AI features. Like I said, I'd be totally fine if these were all on-device AI features, but I really don't want Google getting their filthy hands on my data through Gemini.
Then look for a phone that supports CalyxOS, DivestOS, iodéOS... unlike GrapheneOS they support more models than just Pixels.
Then look for a phone that supports CalyxOS, DivestOS, iodéOS
Just had a quick look. It seems like none support newer phones. The non-pixel phones listed are things like Fairphone (not available in Canada) or Oneplus 6 (literally 7 generations old).
I used to only flash custom ROMs back in the day, but even then, top-tier Samsung phones could handle them easily.
Get a Google Pixel and install GrapheneOS on it.
It is crazy that they are so hated that this is not common knowledge.
I am already on Android 15, it just works.
What are your future plans when it comes to smartphones?
Same as my current plans: I pick a smartphone that runs a privacy-friendly OS, and only use privacy-friendly apps.
Right now, that's a de-googled Android phone running LineageOS, with F-Droid as the only app store. In future, it might be something else, like a non-Android Linux phone. My current model is 6+ years old, still gets OS updates, and still works great, so I imagine the open-source options will have improved by the time I need to replace it.
I care about things like data exfiltration, battery life, cost, and hardware longevity (important for minimising e-waste). I don't care about AI unless it happens to impact one of those things, but since there's nothing inherent to AI that does, the issue of whether a phone has AI capabilities is irrelevant.
By not using these AI features, you pay a lot for features you won’t be using.
Only if you're an early adopter. Like all new tech, further research and production volume will make it relatively cheap.
Samsung "Advanced Intelligence" has a "Process data only on device" setting:
For added privacy, process data for advanced intelligence features on your device instead of online. Online processing of data provides the best results and is required for some advanced intelligence features.
Other AI features provided by Google or other apps may not honor it.
That's great to know. I've used flagship Samsung phones for over a decade, but they are out of my budget these days.
The Oneplus 13 is on my radar, but I'll need to find out how private I can make the OS before I commit to anything.
If you don't need the best camera, or most modern speed, but you like Samsung's UI/ecosystem, I was sold on the Samsung Galaxy Xcover 6 Pro. Removable battery, microSD slot, 3.5mm jack, 5 buttons (vol+/-, power, top function, side function).
I dunno how well alternative Android OSes and services are supported on it so you're on your own there. My recollection is that for most modern phones support for alternative OSes just isn't great.
A friend suggested me Sailfish OS, sadly it only supports Xperia, and Sony does not make phones that attend the frequency where I live.
My next "phone" will be a pocket computer with a data chip. For the last 20 years, I only received phone calls from solicitors/scammers.
Just got an iPhone 16 Pro Max 512GB after using my XS Max for over six years. I probably won’t use the AI features when they are implemented, but I do appreciate that they’re only on-device.
Other than that, I love everything about it, it’s perfect. The cameras take incredible low-light pictures of my cats, 120hz is incredible, and the battery lasts AGES. Zero complaints.
Oh man, as much as I'd love the hardware of an iPhone 16 Pro Max, I just can't go back to Apple. On my Android phone, I use mostly FOSS apps, and self-host a lot of stuff that just works fine for me on Android.
But I do appreciate that Apple at least makes it a point to repeatedly say that data is kept on the device and that AI is done on-board.
These other manufacturers are so vague, that you have to assume it's being processed in the cloud (even if it's not).
If you went Android to go FOSS, why not just install a FOSS OS? As far as I know, none of the popular ones are pushing server-side tech right now.
The biggest problem is that most of those rely on older phones or phones that aren't necessarily top-tier.
At some point, support for all newer phones will likely be very limited, so what's the community going to do then? Keep using old phones?
For your use case, Android definitely makes a lot more sense! I don’t use a lot of software overall when I’m not working, just a couple Linux boxes for Pi-Hole, my server, computer games, browsers, VLC, and occasional stuff (recording in Audacity, Foobar2000, etc) so an iPhone works great for me. I mainly only use my phone for Lemmy, browser stuff, stocks, and taking an irresponsible amount of pictures of my cats and my partner n’ me.
There’s no reason I REALLY need a phone this expensive but I rarely ever buy anything so I figured I’d treat myself since I’ll prolly have this for another six years!
Fairphone + iodeOS. You can buy it with it preinstalled, so no fiddeling with the bootloader if you dont want to
Not im Canada, unfortunately. That would have been one of my first choices because of the reparability.
That is unfortunate... And you really can't import it?
Technically, sure. But no warranty, and parts would be a nightmare to get, which would defeat the purpose of a repairable phone. 😮💨
Yeah true.... :/
I've been thinking about trying a Fairphone next but I'm worried about how well their suite of apps function (especially maps), being able to install regular marketplace apps, and whether I'd still be able to fly my drone with it. Also I'd still have to use Gmail for work, so would that defeat the purpose of having a degoogled phone?
Organuc Maps and Osmand are working well for me. Using Gmail with K9 Mail for example would still work, but you should definitely not use the Gmail App (which probably wont even work) Installing Google Play apps works flawlessly worh aurora, but In App purchases and payed apps are not supported
privacy went out way before ai with smartphones.