You could buy a used Pixel, if you don't want to support Google.
this post was submitted on 03 Sep 2025
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Privacy
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GrapheneOS is the only one cellebrite admits it has trouble with, I can't recommend another OS, but I can say that being resistant to the government hacking your phone has recently become more important and it might be worth reconsidering.
I sorely miss DivestOS for this purpose, but I'd consider CalyxOS (development sadly on pause) ~~and iodeOS~~ as runners-up. /e/OS got caught sending voice-to-text data to OpenAI, so I'd stay away for the time being.
edit: sad to see that iode has a freemium model on some of its features. see replies for more nuance on the /e/OS situation.
LineageOS will get the most years of support out of the most devices. While leagues ahead of Android for privacy, bear in mind that it still isn't airtight with regard to the occasional piece of telemetry data sent back to Google. It's about the only thing that can keep one of my older Pixels somewhat up-to-date.
LeOS is like LineageOS with all Google telemetry stripped out, but only in GSI form (no builds optimized for specific devices), so YMMV with hardware compatibility. I have this on my Samsung tablet.
I've also heard about Volla Phones (with VollaOS) and Brax Phones (with iodeOS or Ubuntu Touch), but haven't taken a serious look since the screen sizes offered are too big for me.
I might try out a Linux phone next, but the relative lack of battery optimizations and edge-case issues leave me a bit hesitant. Also, check out detailed comparison of the common Android ROMs with regard to privacy and security: https://eylenburg.github.io/android_comparison.htm
Thanks for all of the options! May look more into LineageOS
/e/OS got caught sending voice-to-text data to OpenAI
To clarify it's an optional STT service, not on by default if one is not using Murena services, which before sending data proxy it so it's not associated with a specific user account, for anonymization. It even says so in the screenshot of the links post, for premium Murena service users. FUD from https://lemmy.ml/post/35472063?scrollToComments=true seems to already be working out, sadly.
Details https://doc.e.foundation/murena-voice-to-text including "This feature is exclusively available to Murena Workspace Premium users."
The developers' response to the threads bringing this up with them were absolutely abysmal. They wouldn't even answer the question "does e send data to third parties when this feature is turned off" directly
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Do you work for them or something
No, why do you suggest that? If one were to say something incorrect about Google or Meta, even though not only I do not work for them but even spend quite a bit of resource to get away from them, I would still say it aloud.
Here I said, multiple times, that the post that sparked this is not correct... because it simply is not true. Nothing more, nothing less.
Ok but why use it over lineage without installing gapps?
Everybody has different reason but what Murena does is sell phones with /e/OS pre-installed, so if one is specifically looking for a deGoogled phone because they don't have one that already supports LineageOS and/or do not know how to install LineageOS then it's very convenient. It's like going to an Apple store and leaving with a phone, not downloading a ROM then installing it on a device one already has. I'm again not saying one is better or worst than the other, solely that if one is looking for a deGoogled device and they don't have one already, it's an easier path.
PS: note also that I didn't compare /e/OS itself to LineageOS, I'm highlighting precisely how there is some value for some people.
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Check out UBports/Ubuntu Touch, it’s a linux-based OS with a neat desktop mode when docked.
Suggesting a non-Android-derived mobile OS shouldn't get you downvoted. While I too risking going against the grain, I recommend OpenHarmony. It is available on laptops and should become available on smartphones eventually.
LineageOS and the companion microg for LineageOS is a good alternative. They offer a wide variety of phones (and some tablets) that are supported. Been using microg for LOS for over 5 years now with no major issues.
Good to know, thanks!
Why not install LineageOS on your S20?
Thought since my phone couldn't be rooted I wouldn't be able to change the OS. It's the SM-G981U model
Would anyone know of a custom ROM for an Oppo Reno 4 Pro? Looked everywhere, can't find one.
If you want a new phone consider /e/OS as you can directly buy a phone from Murena (who maintains /e/OS) and thus get something working from day 1, no tinkering.
To clarify, because there is constant FUD around /e/OS (I think the deGoogled Android crowd is VERY passionate and invests a lot of effort into picking the "right" ROM for them leading to a kind of "holy war" which tends to lose focus on what actually matters, namely leave Google!) so to clarify
- /e/OS is not Murena
- Murena is the French company that sells phones, including refurbished, running /e/OS
- /e/OS is open source https://gitlab.e.foundation/e/os/
- services from Murena are optional, including STT (which is a premium service) and anything cloud based requires Murena accounts
- one can buy a phone from Murena and not using any of their service, it's as straightforward as NOT creating an account when booting the phone the first time, or not using an account, that's it.
Honestly I recommend this solution if you want a good compromise because IMHO
- Linux phones, e.g. PinePhones (I have 2, cf post history for details) aren't daily drivers yet for most
- it works, simple as that
- it's quite affordable, you don't need a flagship to run /e/OS
- it is actually deGoogled Android, which is IMHO the whole point
- depending on your bank you might be able to use their banking app
Feel free to ask questions, happy to clarify.
Thanks for the detailed information. The Fairphone 6 is a strong contender to be sure and if I'm able to buy one with the OS installed all the better! Only problem is I'm in the US so I don't know how much more expensive it will be for me to buy.
And after doing a quick search of /e/OS it looks like an iOS clone, which I am not super fond of. Have you used it before?
Also, it seems my bank isn't supported. So that's another bummer
You're welcome, briefly :
- yeah... I'm not going to guess with tariff what's going on, they might not even ship anymore
- I have been using it for half a year now and I like /e/OS , it's literally just Android without Google, that's it. If you find Android customizable enough to have the look&feel you need then you'll probably be OK
- if you use mobile banking daily, it might even be enough to look for another solution. Be cautious though that if it's not working there, then most likely it won't work on other deGoogled solutions. Might have to consider changing banks. Before going through all that trouble though I'd try 1 week without the bank app and see how feasible that is. Maybe it's a big deal, maybe it's actually not that bad.
Thanks for clarifying. I guess I'll look more into /e/OS to see what it's really like.
My parents are going to France in October so if I decide on the Fairphone I may just ask them to pick it up for me. Not sure how that'd work though so I'll look more into it.
As for the banking, I use it about once a week or every other week to deposit checks. I will definitely still need that though since it's hard for me to physically go to the bank due to my limited mobility. Might be best to keep my old phone just for that purpose
If they come to France still check that the US SIM would work there, or that eSIM is supported. Theoretically it's compatible but US carriers can be ... finicky.
For banking if depositing check can be done simply via the Web, then the app is not needed. Might have to ask your bank. Keeping the old phone would work indeed but not the most convenient.
Oh right, sim card compatibility was not something I had considered. Thanks for the tip!
I tried using the browser site for my bank but unfortunately it doesn't allow depositing checks. Will have to think about that when choosing a phone.
Still, I appreciate all the helpful information you've provided. Lots to think about
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pinephone or a H.A.M radio
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