I’ve been looking for a good privacy first phone but I feel like I’m not looking in the right direction. I don’t have lots to spend and it feels kinda redundant imho as there shouldn’t be a price on security
I’m trying to degoogle and have used Privacyguides as a good resource for some things that im using now. Biggest issue is trying to degoogle with my smartphone. I have a Samsung phone (Xcover Pro 6) and I hate how it has google smeared all over it. I want something like it (Headphone Jack, SD Card slot, Replaceable battery) as I am right to repair, but want a phone that’s easy to repair.
As far as the OS goes for a phone, I saw that grapheneOS is really impressive, but only works on the pixel phones becuase of the hardware and security requirements, that I can understand as an ex-pixel user. And as much as I would run over to a google pixel phone. The battery isn’t something I can hot swap. And I don’t think that there’s any other security OS that I know of that would work for the Xcover Pro 6
I sound a little lost here and any guidance would help me out a lot. Thanks!
What you’re asking is a lot of people’s dream. Hope GOS can make it a reality when they release their hardware in a few years (from I remember their timeline for it but don’t quote me on it).
As of right now, the best option is a Fairphone. Degoogle that as much as you can but it’s still Android. Security I think is worse off than stock Android however. This won’t be a privacy first phone but is a right to repair first phone.
I still say, the inability to hot swap a battery is not worth not going with a Pixel (because you can get GOS on it). But seems like you know your options already for the most part so you don’t need me to tell you that.
People look at the EU for this it seems like. In 2027 they’re supposed to mandate that batteries in devices can be replaceable. So then it comes to how will device manufactures will do this (Hoping not making a phone like the iPhone EU and US models)
I was looking at it. I saw they have something called /e/ OS that’s a degoogled OS that replaces google services with open source ones (Woohoo!) but comes at 600-800 USD depending if you want /e/ OS or Stock android
Having it all would be great but we don’t live in a world even close enough to it when it comes to a smartphone, FOSS, and right to repair friendly, with the best privacy & security. All of this is too much to ask.
The best option to me is still Pixel with GOS but you do what you think is best for you.
Unless your threat model involves sophisticated government actors or physical compromise, you can consider a degoogled Fairphone as long as it is not used for sensitive tasks.
GOS is a security-first project which happens to be incredibly good at implementing privacy-friendly features. As much as both digital security and privacy are related, they can occasionally conflict in some situations. For example, installing apps in GOS’ sandboxed Google Play Store versus doing so through Obtainium or F-Droid.
If you don’t care about security features, by all means get a Fairphone for its repairability. Chances are, you will be okay as long as you do not install random apps or do anything that warrants anti-forensics features. Keep your installed apps to a minimum and update as soon as any patches are released.
Aw skewed you’re breaking my heart here lol. E phone home (google ) was not on my OS bingo list today. Looks like graphene is the winner on all of this. I was going to say Calyx but that’s another google caller there
It looks like the EU battery replaceability just requires the battery being easily removable and replaceable with commercial tools. It doesn’t mandate them being hot swappable.
) was not on my OS bingo list today. Looks like graphene is the winner on all of this. I was going to say Calyx but that’s another google caller there