Need help/recomendations for next phone

GNUser · May 30, 2025, 1:29pm

Hello,

Well, seems like my good old S4 Mini is dying
I will have to consider buying a new one soon, and I would want a middle-low end device (as in price range) that I can easily connect to my Trisquel laptop and install a custom rom (Lineage or something similar). Idea is to run free softwareas much as possible considering also the price range.
So yeah, it has been a long time since I bought a phone or even looked for one, so… any help welcome

Thanks!

Licaon_Kter · May 30, 2025, 1:43pm

take a look at the “modern devices” here Device Support imho

Cue · May 30, 2025, 1:49pm

If you intend to keep your phone for an extended time like you have for the S4 mini, then the Fairphone and Shiftphone models are what I would suggest since they are designed to be repairable if needed.

flock-apart · May 30, 2025, 3:36pm

Well of course use the lineageos device wiki if you’re gonna use LOS and filter by brands not on this list

GNUser · May 30, 2025, 7:16pm

Thanks for the inputs so far.

So, just to be clear… merely connecting a USB cable and running heimdall or something similar in GNU/Linux is no longer enough to get the job done? I remember installing TWRP in some Samsung devices was easy and from there on it was always possible to install any custom rom. Now I read about unlocking issues and what not…

Confused =S

GNUser · May 30, 2025, 7:53pm

So, following those lists I found the OnePlus to be officially supported by LineageOS, seems to be ok on the unlock list, and the price range (for the 6 and 6T) is acceptable. Kinda crazy a smartphone from 2018 is still being sold!

Anyway, anyone has experience with these and can say if it’s a simple/clear process to get Lineage in there? Thanks!

GNUser · May 30, 2025, 7:56pm

Thanks! I actually like Calyx a lot, but don’t know how easy is it to actually install that. I even thought about buying a pre-installed phone with LOS or Calyx or /e but… either can’t find it in Europe, or they are so expensive!

SkewedZeppelin · May 30, 2025, 8:13pm

Get a Pixel 8 or newer: Google Pixel | endoflife.date

Licaon_Kter · May 31, 2025, 5:24am

That’s rather elitist c’mon, price and availability varies. Although i agree…

Ignore performance, ignore wide distro support (even runs Linux), avoid them as the battery is long gone…

GNUser · May 31, 2025, 9:37am

Thanks for the replies. Yeah, Pixel are nice but too expensive.

@Licaon_Kter I didn’t even know it could run GNU/Linux, I was only thinking of that because of the fact in LineageWiki it seems the entire process is done with fastboot and adb. I have noticed that for some extra money I can get a ONEPLUS 9RT which seems to be slightly more modern and have a better battery. Of course also has more memory and storage. Think this will work better? Also, can these batteries in the future be replaced (in a technical shop of course, not at home)??

Living6324 · June 1, 2025, 12:18pm

I for one would go for a device that is

produced under fair conditions,
built from fair materials as far as possible at all,
designed and built modular and self-repairable.

So far only Fairphone (NL) and Shiftphone (D) come to my mind. Both foster and support the development of Custom-ROM to a large extent.

rainer · June 1, 2025, 2:00pm

Refurbished Pixel 7 are available starting from ~200 EUR with in as good as new condition.

Pixel 3a has the additional big advantage, that you can run mainline linux with postmarketos (e.g. if it is end of life for you, you could run a mainline kernel and use it as an embedded linux device e.g. as LTE router or just experiment with a pure linux phone)

Jens · June 2, 2025, 7:39pm

To be more specific about custom ROMs and Shift: In past they used MediaTek SoCs and the newer phones have a Qualcomm SoC inside. The old phones usually have no custom ROM support, especially the Shift5ME is still sold but not supported by custom ROMs.

GNUser · June 2, 2025, 7:40pm

Thanks @rainer
I am not interested in running it as a pure linux phone, but I did check some Pixel phones. I am mostly worried because I read you need to have a gmail account so it will connect to the internet and download a “unlocking token” for the bootloader. Apparently after that it’s a smooth ride for installing Lineage. BUT I don’t have a gmail account and don’t want to get one only for this. Do you have experience with those?

The Oneplus 9RT would be a good option too but I am afraid after reading that later versions do not allow for bootloader unlock.

GNUser · June 2, 2025, 7:42pm

Thank you for the information. Both Fair and Shift are outside of my price range anyway. Wanting to stay between 100~250 and not looking for anything fancy, don’t plan on doing heavy work with it.

SkewedZeppelin · June 2, 2025, 7:49pm

You do not need any account or token to unlock a Google Pixel.
You simply power it on for the first time, skip through the setup wizard, connect to (public) wifi, open the settings app, tap the version 5 times or whatever, back out a menu, enter developer options, and then enable “allow oem unlocking”, after that you can reboot to fastboot and “fastboot flashing unlock”. Then flash a good OS like GrapheneOS or what have you.

Living6324 · June 3, 2025, 5:00am

“outside of my price range” – you get what you pay for.

flock-apart · June 3, 2025, 8:26am

That’ll work if it’s not carrier locked.

github.com/melontini/bootloader-unlock-wall-of-shame

brands/google/README.md

main

# Google

- Verdict: **⚠️ Proceed with caution!**
* [**🔓️ Unlock Guide**](../../misc/generic-unlock.md)

Allows unlocking on almost any non-carrier locked device, but is also a pioneer in making rooting and custom ROMs painful with things like Safety Net and Play Integrity. With the latest feat being RCS messaging which requires DEVICE integrity to work. (To prevent "spam", of course)

Google is also one of the few OEMs to support [custom AVB keys](../../README.md#custom-avb-keys).

Despite all of this, Google has started [disabling AI features][disabled ai] upon unlocking the bootloader on the Pixel 9 series, even if you aren't rooted, and it's not related to Play Integrity, and it's likely that in later Pixel models they'll disable more features.

## OTAConfigNoZeroTouchPrebuilt
OTAConfigNoZeroTouchPrebuilt is an app on Pixels that checks for a carrier lock. When a Pixel first connects to the internet, this system app will immediately check if the device is carrier locked. If it's not or is locked to a carrier that doesn't restrict unlocking, it will retrieve a token from Google's servers which will allow bootloader unlocks. If the token cannot be received, then the bootloader **cannot** be unlocked. This means if Google's servers ever go down, you will not be able to unlock your Pixel's bootloader, as it won't have the token.

Notably, this unlock token is persistent, both across OS reinstalls and bootloader unlocks + relocks. Once the unlock token is saved via this process, the bootloader can be forever unlocked and relocked offline. OTAConfigNoZeroTouchPrebuilt does not have any mechanism for revoking a previously granted token either. This means once you've connected to the internet, and the token has been grabbed, you can safely disconnect from the internet and even reset the phone, the bootloader unlock token will remain. 

While this is mostly a negative thing, an error can lead to carrier-locked devices being able to unlock. A few years back, Google accidentally provided unlock tokens for Verizon-locked Pixel 1's for a few days, despite Verizon being a carrier that normally completely removes the ability to unlock.

***
Additional info provided by [Ivy / Lost-Entrepreneur439](https://github.com/Lost-Entrepreneur439) and [Andrew Gunnerson](https://github.com/chenxiaolong).<br/>

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Wells · June 3, 2025, 11:13am

Pixel 4a, 5a or older oneplus phones are good budget choices. They run lineageos great.

GNUser · June 3, 2025, 8:24pm

Thank you everyone for the inputs!

Right now I have my eyes set on a Pixel 6a 5G (6.1’’ - 6 GB - 128 GB). It’s just below 200€, and between that and a 4a the price is not a lot different, so I think I will pay a bit more and get a more capable device (especially because it has a better battery and being newer should also be in better condition in that regard as @Licaon_Kter mentioned.

This model should also be unlockable without any gmail account right @SkewedZeppelin ? Provided of course it’s carrier unlocked (I am waiting for confirmation on that from the seller).

Thanks a lot people!