*In terms of privacy, customisation, camera quality, and battery time.
For the longest time I have only used either iPhone or Samsung. I plan on switching to Android for the next phone I get, but I find that Samsung phones are often too big for me and put too much energy on camera quality (I don’t take many photos). I have started to look into brands such as Nokia and Motorola, and I would like to know what you guys think of them. Additionally, do you suggest any other phone brands aside from them? My biggest priorities are privacy and long battery time. Bonus if the phone can run LineageOS (I have excluded Graphene as they are only compatible with Pixel phones).
Thank you for any answers. Cheers!
I don’t get people claiming stock iPhone is private. We literally have very little idea. It’s a closed system. It’s private if you take Apple’s word but all the other manufacturers also have similar claims. Why trust Apple and not them?
On top of that you end up locked into their ecosystem, unable to use most FOSS applications or have cut down versions of them because daddy Apple didn’t like some features.
A friend told me there’s no point in stealing them as it’s impossible to unlock or wipe them, which would give them the edge at least in that respect. Is this accurate?
Yes iPhones are secure but not private. The two are related but different concepts. I’m not sure what exactly your friend is referring to though.
He’s referring to how, if you are signed into an Apple ID and have a passcode, there really is no way to use the phone if you steal it (to my knowledge). The device is a complete brick if you don’t have the Apple ID credentials.
This is accurate, it is also accurate for (at least some part of) android though… Going into recovery boot requires the phone pin for my mid-range phone. Hell even turning off the phone can be set to require pin or biometric.
The turning off part is completely stupid though, nearly every phone has a button combo to hard power off (usually power + either vol up or vol down).
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Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
Apple’s authorised repair leaked a customer’s sex tape during iPhone repair.
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I’m open-source; check me out at GitHub.
Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
Apple’s authorised repair leaked a customer’s sex tape during iPhone repair.
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I’m open-source; check me out at GitHub.
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I don’t recall it was hard to install IodéOS on a Fairphone 4.
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True, since Fairphone’s focus seems to be on fairness in the hardware. I wish they were better on the software side as well.
I think if Fairphones get GrapheneOS support, it would be a no brainer for many. A phone you can repair yourself, which is fairly produced, with the safety and the absence of Google from GrapheneOS would be a good combo
I think if Fairphones get GrapheneOS support…
Then Fairphone needs to up their hardware security and software support. GrapheneOS has minimum requirements that vendors must meet for GrapheneOS to support them, and Fairphone doesn’t measure up. Only Pixels do, at the moment.
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In that case, would you not recommend Motorola? I’m not very well versed on their terms of privacy, and I really like the way they look and how seemingly good the battery is, but if it’s considered unsafe or full of malware then I might need to look other ways.
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I will read more into this, but it sounds reasonable. If I were to get a Pixel, is there any particular model I should get or does it not matter? Does Graphene support all models?
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Calyx does a lot of snitching on you
That is certainly over dramatic for what is in that article. All they do with Google is trivial things like updating your systems internal clock. A large portion of what is in that article is able to be disabled and prevented by not using Micro-G.
There seems to be massive beef and drama between Calyx and Graphene communities, I have no idea what any of that is about, but this dramatization doesn’t help.
GrapheneOS supports recent Pixels. I think right now they are supporting the 5a and later, with legacy and extended support back to the 4.
In general, they stop providing updates when Google does. Check both to be sure, but newer is better if you want longer support.
I’m going Google will launch a Pixel 8a in a couple months so I can either get it or the 8 at a discount.
For posterity and nuance, here’s the answer from their site: Which devices are supported? but you’re right for the most part.
Grapehene has historically offered extended support, but for the longest support time the pixel 8 isnt a bad option. The 7a is also I think the king of budget phones right now but the 8 is on sale for a few hundred off the last I checked :)
And the unfortunate part, is that only Pixels are supported by this.
Because unlike the Fairphone guys google actually plays fairly and builds a decent phone with security in mind.
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I can’t speak for privacy interworkings but Motorola makes it very easy to unlock the bootloader. I’m a fan of Xiaomi as well but my current Motorola is doing everything I need it to do and wasn’t expensive at all.
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GrapheneOS + Pixel phone is the only true option if you want any kind of ensure that even of the device is lost your data won’t be accessed.
I think that’s an exaggeration. You don’t need secure boot for your data to be encrypted. What secure boot prevents is someone modifying the device without your knowledge (e.g. to capture your keys).
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Why is this a problem? Buy one used if buying from Google is a problem. Then flash.
This irony shows the superiority of Google.
They monopolize without having intention of monopoly.
It’s admirable
casts protect
iPhone
In regards to stock systems, I agree.
Been stuck in the convenient ecosystem for a while, and I cope by telling myself Apple makes the bulk of its money with hardware and services. Not ads like Google. But if I would start over from zero, I think Graphene OS and Linux would be the way. But migrating the whole family away from our current Apple line up - I dread that challenge.
Eh, you can always start with yourself. Let the rest make their own decisions.
This made me laugh
The downside of Google Pixels is that they don’t have jack connector and sd slot.
But I accepted the deal just to use GrapheneOS (I bought one used on ebay). Sometimes the battery lasts 3 days without being recharged.
People at GrapheneOS should really focus on some brand that cares about users on the hardware side.
Yup, I honestly don’t care about the special features on the Pixel (esp camera), I literally only want it because of GrapheneOS and longer term software support.
I would love it if the GrapheneOS project made their own phone and supported it for a really long time. Maybe coordinate with Fairphone or something, IDK.
Same
another good place to buy a used one is https://swappa.com
Unfortunately, buying from outside US, although possible, is a pain in the neck. You need agreement with the seller AND use a freight forwarder.
Swappa is a US-based marketplace. Sellers located outside the United States cannot create listings on Swappa. International buyers can buy on Swappa if they provide a US shipping address and use a US-based payment source.
Which pixel is getting you that battery life? My 6 has been struggling to make it through a day on GrapheneOS recently.
6a. Though I don’t use the phone that much, most of the battery is drained by Telegram FOSS.
Here are two old screenshots
Do you use the google play services and/or the alternate user accounts?
No, I’m Google free for at least 5 years now. I only have Aurora Store for the PS App.
I really only use FOSS apps.If you need advices to breaking free, feel free to ask.
Ooh that might be why your battery is so good. The Google services do eat up a lot of charge it seems.
On the google free, I’m not perfect but I’m def conscious, and already am using mostly foss apps. The rest is just social media I can’t really avoid. Thanks for the proposition though!
Have 6a and I actually got the same battery results as you
For me it has to be Fairphone. They are more expensive than the others to buy new but they are more aligned with openness and free software. They receive updates for a long time, are well supported by CalyxOS, /e/os, Linux mobile OSs etc, are repairable, you can carry extra batteries, usually have an SD card slot and two SIM slots and are more environmentally-friendly than others.
i second getting a fairphone, but look into a second battery or a power bank for heavy use.
OnePlus.
I’d never buy Samsung again, they are full of bloat and make it excessively hard to unlock the bootloader and get root access or install an alternative OS.
@viking@infosec.pub @clark@midwest.social
I had multiple OnePlus phones and I still think it’s the best Android phone on the market with great CP. But I am currently using Moto X40, great experience too.Oh that’s good to know, thanks! I’ve read that from the OnePlus 12 onwards there won’t be a localized OxygenOS anymore, only ColorOS, which is full of China-bloat. I’m still happy with the 10 Pro, but when the time comes and this holds true, I’ll be looking for alternatives.
Samsung support is also a straight up scam. They’ll lie to your face about how they’re getting ready to send you a replacement, and then ghost you. I hope the feds sue them too but I’m not holding my breath. We filed a complaint with our state’s AG and fuck all came of it.
Don’t exclude Pixel phones so quickly. They are one of the most versatile for custom ROMs, and they check all of your checkboxes. I love my CalxyOS Pixel 6.
But no SD card slot. ☹
Or headphone jack
The pixel 6 is a heavy POS. I like the 4a. Its refreshingly & reasonably sized
What phone brand do you like the best?
(I have excluded Graphene as they are only compatible with Pixel phones).
You’re asking this on the privacy mag and intentionally/explicitly exclude the best privacy option with no explanation.
Wtf.
GrapheneOS isn’t a phone brand.
It might as well be since it only works on Google Pixels.
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If privacy is important, a custom ROM is highly recommended or rather mandatory. Most brands have locked boot loader which can’t be unlocked immediately without voiding warranty. Some let you to using some bs proprietary software but only after few months. That was the only reason I had to resort to getting a pixel. So look into all the brands available to you and check their policy on custom rooms before looking into the mobile themselves.
adb debloating is adequate.
there may be additional steps for LOS privacy.If you don’t remove play service and shit without being unable to use payment apps and other shut, it’s not gonna work for majority. Those are worst offenders that have to be removed for privacy.
Sony. They still have a headphone jack.
Also asus (at least zenphone)
Headphone Jack club
xiaomi has awesome hardware, audio jack, sd slot, even ir blaster.
their privacy policy is bad, but a lot of them have official lineageos (and microg-patched lineage) and it works really really well.
Currently in the process of installing Lineageos on my brothers redmi note 10 pro.
Its a huge pain compared to my phone, mainly because unlocking the bootloader requires an account with his number connected. Then I had to install Windows to use their shitty unlock app, which the requires you to wait up to 30 days for seemingly no reason. Luckily “just” a week for us.
But yeah the hardware is amazing.
yes the unlock process is obtuse as fuck! they do something similar to samsung and their RMM bullshit of having to wait.
luckily, unlike samsung, after its done they wont bother you again.
Its actually so good that the redmi note 8 (with lineageos-mucrog) I had before performed basically the same as my pixel 6a
also their subbrand Poco.
Until their cheap manufacturing quality makes them stop working because of a motherboard failure
chinese electronics have come a long way, if you dont get them from the dollar store that is
Check out the Poco X3 Pro motherboard failure, and this is a common issue in a lot of Poco and Redmi phones, the only one that are worth it are the high ends Mi devices, and at that price point you can just buy a Pixel phone
a poster is indicating its a software issue, caused by an update. im not using stock firmware and there aint more official updates to my phone. this seems to contradict what you are saying a little bit, you just looking this up?
i also had a motorola motherboard die on me, faulty nand, doesnt mean all motorolas have bad motherboards.
pine64 because freedom.
You can’t just recommend Pinephone.
It is at best an half baked device. Phone calls are not that good and I had to manually enable VoLTE and flashed a custom firmware on the modem.I’d love a Pinephone, but that’s not happening until it’s usable as a phone, meaning:
- MMS
- decent call audio
- reliable wake up from suspend
- decent battery life
I don’t even care about the camera working, fingerprint sensors, etc. I literally just want a phone that works reliably as a phone with super long term software support.
it ha physical killswitchs. thats pretty appealing if u need that.
Why exclude GrapheneOS? It’s a really good mobile OS, and the creator has given his reasons for only supporting Pixels.
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If you mention Graph<nospam>eneOS, you summon him. Check his history
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For Privacy?