Privacy

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A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

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What smartphone to buy and what CustomROM to use? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I am looking for a new Android smartphone (currently on iOS).

Obviously I read about GrapheneOS as the „Gold Standard“ of alternative OS. But the downside is that it only runs on Pixels. Which is kinda weird to buy a device from a company you want to „boycott“ (de-Google).

On the other hand I kinda like the approach of Fairphone: most parts are easy repairable, parts are available and cheap compared to Google and Apple. But the downside here is that it isn’t supported by GrapheneOS, doesn’t have the most capable hardware for the price and probably won’t get 7 years of updates like the Pixel 8a in comparison.

So that leaves me with a „analysis paralysis“: I have to choose a device and a CustomROM.

/e/OS does seem interesting but I read some comments that it isn’t that secure like GrapheneOS. I don’t need that high-level of security but it should be significantly more than stock Android to be worth all the hassle by installing/using a CustomROM. On the other hand I don’t want to sacrifice every comfort for the sake of the last bit of (theoretical) security.

Did someone go down this path as well recently and can share some experiences? Maybe there is even some better alternative.

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[–] [email protected] 33 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

If you buy a new Pixel and then run an alt rom like graphene or lineage, you're most likeley costing Google money. I believe they manufacture the Pixel at a small loss because they expect to make their money back harvesting and selling your personal data. Denying them that should mean you get decent hardware at a fair price, without really "supporting" Google as much as you fear. I could be wrong, but I've definitely seen that mentioned before.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Alternatively you can just buy a used one from a private seller.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I recently bought a Pixel 5 for less than $200.

I despise paying even that much for a phone.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago

Well privacy costs money now unless you can live without electronics.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago

I don't recommend others follow suit as the Pixel 5 has stopped receiving security updates. Obviously could use a ROM that has them them but no guarantee or obligation to do so in a timely manner. Pixel 6 however will receive updates until 2026.