BEFORE YOU ANSWER WITH JUST: “DUH PIXEL 8 WITH GRAPHENEOS” OR “GET THE LATEST PIXEL AFTER 2 YEARS” LET ME EXPLAIN AND READ CAREFULLY (I see you people who skip things and reply without reading the context)
Threat model: Mainly surveillance capitalism with concern for mass surveillance but not necessary. Security is not an absolute but if it outweighs I’ll take it and obviously cannot be the most insecure thing in the world but it does not have to be extreme or perfect.
Title
Lately I’ve been starting to prioritize compactness on my phone and so im weighing in options based on those but trying to maintain privacy and as much security as possible within the constraints however I am getting very undecisive so I wanted to ask for community feedback:
I’ll list the pros and cons of each option:
Eliminated 1
Pixel Fold:
Pros:
Most compact Google Pixel by far
Still supported by GrapheneOS and Custom OSes will be here for it to stay
Cons:
Will only be supported by Graphene until 2028, after that it’s harm reduction then LineageOS
Won’t be much of an upgrade over the 7 but do not mind.
Considering the cost and the less time left, If I buy it for what it costs on the market, I will be forced to use LineageOS for harm reduction and my main concerns are the lack of sandboxed google play and limited user profiles. I also lose verified boot unless I sign it.
Pixel 8
Pros:
Supported for 5 years to come from now, with GrapheneOS
MTE Support with the upgraded chip
Cons:
Only Third most compact phone, in the pixel lineup it is most compact but not compared to Apple and Samsung and the Pixel Fold
iPhone 17(e):
Pros:
It’s an iPhone, backed by Apple’s security and some/most good jobs for privacy coming from Apple, keyword: Some/Most on Privacy.
the 17 is a little less compact than the pixel 8
ADP, Lockdown Mode and MIE
Cons:
Apple being Apple: potential to be locked into an ecosystem, hindering repairability, limited compatibility with things (eg. Can’t use a WearOS watch with iOS, instead forced to Apple watch and I can confirm as I had to also buy new game controllers just for my 16 pro max alone due to incompatibilities with: Razer Kishi v1 and wired controller)
Not as compact as the Pixel Fold let alone the S25
Eliminated 1
Samsung Galaxy S25/S26
Pros:
Second most compact phone, next to the Pixel Fold
At the very least it seems Samsung is doing some or most right things about security but privacy, oh boy, cons time
Can at least try to debloat OneUI without breaking it to try and improve privacy mainly there alongside the settings toggled for it that the phone will allow me.
Cons:
Especially as Google is moving towards “verifying developers for sideloading”, the future is uncertain about sideloading apps, we still don’t know if disabling google service or uninstalling them brings the functionality back or not
Notable history for Samsung to hinder or outright prevent Custom OSes on the Phone. So stuck on OneUI.
Samsung never had great history with user privacy at all. Unless safe debloating and toggling helps but likely will not do significantly.
Last Option
The last option I’ll leave the pros and cons and try to explain it.
The Pixel 7 ends support in October 2027, where I originally plan to upgrade the phone, helps with overlooking to what the next phone to get that can still use GrapheneOS, Latest possible pixel or the Major OEM device and also saving money.
However this options means that compactness is not a priority which is not what I want and focuses more on practicality which I do not want if possible.
And please do not give me the “Compactness is dead if you want best security and privacy” crap and let’s outweigh in the options based on my threat model thanks
I’ve been personally leaning towards pixel 8 and fold as options however I do have concerns with the Pixel Fold mainly to do with using LineageOS which I mentioned in cons.
Finally even if the 17e does not exist yet, im primarily willing to wait due to MIE and maybe we’ll see how compact by 6 inch standards will be.
When you say compactness, can you clarify how you mean? I know what the word means, just never heard someone use it like you have in such a context. I ask to not misinterpret it in my head.
But the moment you add a case, it is no longer compact.
And there is no point being concerned about 5+ years of support if one little drop ends up destroying it.
A. Why do I have to clarify compactness? it’s in the definition more or less, a small enough phone, Ideally ones that fit comfortably in the pocket and is one handleable
B. yes i’m not stupid, the 17e is indeed not a thing but since it might be as compact as the S25 or might not, It’s something I could wait for anyways.
adding a cash does not make a phone any less compact… (depending on the case of course)
Focus on the recommendation please.
and it can be a concern for me as holding on to a phone long term is something I plan when I make the decision. Longer the better but not too necessary.
Trust me I have a friend who’s still holding on to the Xiaomi MI 10T Pro after all those years later, refusing to upgrade despite being EOL for years now until a specific year. so longer years is especially beneficial.
and let me put it that way, if im spending 700 dollars say on a pixel fold in current market, I definetely am expecting to last at least the 5 years or so, so that’s that.
The reason I ask is because while I know what it means, I do not consider any of the smartphone options mentioned to be compact. So I was confused and wondering if you’re trying to say something else. But thanks for clarifying.
Dude, relax. You could have just as well said “iPhone 17e (if or when it comes out)”. I was just clarifying.
Apologies, just wanted to be in check for that, alot of people would’ve called me stupid for even mentioning it without that context,
so what do you got?
true, the only best compact phone in the list is the pixel fold, but I am geniunely not sure about using it with lineageos in the future so.
and knowing apple killed the mini lineup (unless they miraculously revive it with silicon carbon battery but I digress), not much can be done so basically scrambling with what companies have at this point.
yes or 13 mini and pixel fold but yeah
Apple killed the 13 mini (and in around 2-3 years, software support will end completely, and Apple rarely gives extra updates), and the pixel fold is destined to be EOL in updates, with only the best way to keep it alive is with harm reduction, ideally something like lineage in the future, but then again still have 2 concerns.
As I told John, I’m really just scrambling with what companies are giving at this point.
But if you still ask, I’ll go with Pixel only because you get GOS on it and all the privacy, security, and freedom to do what you want. And it’s supported for a long time too. Its compact enough.
That said, for your threat model - I would go with iPhone 17. It’s pretty, well built, will last a long time too and Apple does support it for 6-7 years. The new chip set and the stronger glass on the front makes it a solid option.
I have a similar threat model but I have recently moved to Pixel 8a from iPhone mini. It’s larger than I want it to be but the freedom and better privacy & security with GOS is great to have. This is a long term experiment to see if GOS is really working for me or not. Great thing is, you get all the freedom. Bad thing is, it’s more DIY than I’m ever used to so need to always keep ensuring of a few things to keep it working as I want.
if it’s okay to ask
if you’re referring to Pixel with graphene, I suppose you’re choosing 8 and above? Which outside of 8 being compactish by modern standards (6" and above basically) are not considered compact compared to the fold.
The fold has approximately little less than 3 years, and if im planning to use it for more than that considering its cost today, I will be forced to have harm reduction with Lineage after Graphene’s own harm reduction so yeah. which As I said I have 2 main concerns with lineage, lack of sandboxed google play and limited user slots (I might volunteer for a con so having at least 4 or more profiles would be great)
Yes. I always discount and personally disparage a fold smartphone. If I wanted a small tablet, I’d use a tablet. But companies are going where the tech trend is. Can’t blame them but the real courage of Apple here would be to stick to their guns and provide the best product at different price points and sizes.
You’re thinking too far ahead. Who knows what will happen with AOSP and what kind of hardware Graphene releases in a few years time (I’m hoping that’s still on track from what they’ve said about wanting to get it done).
Pixel or iPhone. You choose for the preferred compactness. I think it’s coming down to that.
appreciate the suggestion and all but I do not prefer risking phones with back pocket as it has more cons than pros
especially main concerns are:
durability with all the weight the phone is being pressed on
theft especially when not on guard, back pockets make it easier for pickpocketing than ever
I’m gonna be honest I’m okay with being called ironic or equivalent with this but im more focusing on the pixel fold due to it’s inner smaller body, I think I’ll rarely be using the foldable display (not that I have a reason anyways yet)
Foldable is a gimmick unless your primary use case has become using a smartphone and a tablet like device at once for some reason after years of not having such an option. I don’t get it.
I don’t really have a good answer, but I really don’t think the fold is the way to go. You say it’s not much of an upgrade over the 7, which is one way to look at it. The other way is that both are 7th gen devices, and as such, it isn’t an upgrade at all.
Personally, phone size is really a non-factor, and while I used to think my 8 Pro was massive, now I’m just used to it.
