I’m aware of all the issues that people have with linux, how much more secure Android is and etc. etc. But, aside from being more privacy preserving, it seems that some old devices support new kernels with full security updates in the software side. My usecase is basic, I need calls/text and whatsapp to work via waydroid, which device should I get? I’ve been thinking about the Xiaomi POCO F1.
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If you are going to be buying a new phone or a new old phone, I’d still rather you get the oldest Pixel you can and install GOS on it (unless you have specific reasons to not want Android and GOS).
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Then I would have to run old, unmaintained software which I don’t want. I want a budget solution, mainline linux being the cheapest option to get maintained software is a plus
As well as the F1 is supported by postmarketOS, it is not daily drivable at all imo.
Why not?
Because it barely works.
I test pmOS on my OnePlus 6T (same sdm845 platform as the F1) every so often, most recently about ~4 days ago, it was a very unpleasant experience:
- Firefox wouldn’t even launch.
- Microphone didn’t work
- Cameras were pink/green tinted
- Cellular doesn’t work, can’t even call emergency services
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What do you mean by old unmaintained software? I don’t understand how this is the case on Android/GOS?
They’re still using a ton of outdated and insecure firmware.
Putting pmOS on an old phone isn’t a shortcut to a cheap & secure phone.
GOS only supports devices as long as they are supported by google (plus a small period of time for people to switch), after that you get no updates and bugs go unfixed
which is the same for most computers, no? All I want is to get equivalent security to that of a random desktop computer that can get full OS updates.
Thanks, would you have any recs of linux devices where at least calls and wifi works better?
Yes, but you do realize they do provide updates for years! More than half a decade atleast with each device. What more do you want for free (once you buy the device)?
Also, GOS does seem to have extended support for devices Google stops supporting as I understand it.
If this is the case/argument, then I feel you’re asking for too much. Or at the very least more than what’s reasonable.
nope.
desktop computers might have eol & proprietary efi and microcode and video bios and option roms or whatever but it pales in comparision to the giant radio and gpu and dsp firmwares used by phones
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Not for the oldest device that accepts GOS. The 6 series will be EOL in less than 2 years, June 2027 if I’m not mistaken. Your advice to get the oldest device is just terrible from a financial point of view.
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Oh! Yeah, I didn’t think of that specifically. Yes, then you’d want something newer to for it to make more sense.
I was comparing to what I got early this year, Pixel 8a (which still has 6 years left in it)
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Not to get off-topic but I’m curious, are recent low-end Samsung Galaxies an option with your budget?
but then you’re stuck on privacy invading stock
it truly is an awful situation
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Ok then, what is the sane take for the upcoming dark future without Graphene OS on Android Phones?
yeah but it’s not an insignificant investment and it’s also a bad solution because privacy is important. I think that I’d rather compromise on security here unless there’s a RCE that can result in full device takeover or something, which I guess there could be,
What makes you say that Android is more secure than Linux? Android is based on Linux after all. Also, what do you mean by more “secure”? It is certainly far less private than any barebones Linux distro because the Google backend is used for pretty much everything.
Linux phones are not good for daily use, and IMO they’ll never be. LineageOS is way better option if privacy is the main priority and GOS/pixel is not an option. I don’t think it’s less secure than linux