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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] 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

The Pixel 8a is more affordable vs the 8 and 8 Pro. The 8a comes in at $499, while the 8 cost $699 and the Pro runs $999. The 8a still has an amazing camera, the battery will give you no problems, and it's not a MASSIVE device like most phones these days. It's probably the best way to get on Graphene OS at a reasonable price point.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

$500 is NOT "affordable". $300 for my 7a new was already hard to swallow, and I think only previous-gen models border on "acceptable price". 7 was only a bit more expensive in the store I used though - didn't go for it because it is larger, and 7a is already at the edge of what I can comfortably use one-handed, but for someone this might be indeed a better deal.

Edit: just remembered another factor in favor of 7a: it has a plastic back instead of glass. I don't know why you'd put a more brittle material on a more expensive phone...

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I said "more affordable" as I was comparing the 8a, 8, and 8 Pro. Whenever a new model comes out, last years always has a price cut. I didn't think referencing the 7a was required, as it's implied it's less expensive than 8a. But the 7a only will be supported for 5 years, while 8a will be for 7 years. This alone could make it the better choice. However, I know finances are different for everyone. Regardless, when I said it's more affordable, this was a reference to it being noticeably less expense than the 8 and 8 Pro.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

Well, given how short phones' support is, most people end up using it past EOL anyway. But at least Pixels are pretty universal in their custom OS support, so they can have, for example, Lineage installed if updates are important. Spending $500 on a phone is insanity, two extra years of support are not worth it imo.