Which Google free phone?

Which google (and hassle) free phone would you recommend at the moment?

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What sum of money? New or used?

New, less then 450 €…

If you are in Europe try to get your hands on a Fairphone 2 in new condition. They are not making them anymore but with a Fairphone 2 you can install the FairphoneOpenOS, which is 100% Goo-free out of the box.

I don’t know how much Librem’s Purism phones are or how hassle-free they are.

Older phone’s can have ReplicantOS installed which is fully open-source and Goo-free

Newer phones might require LineageOS which does use some proprietary, closed-source(?) drivers.

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If you can flash it yourself, I recommend buying a Xiaomi Mi A2 and running CalyxOS: Mi A2 daily driver material (#9) ¡ Issues ¡ CalyxOS / calyxos ¡ GitLab

Google Pixel 3a with GrapheneOS.

Best ROM for security and privacy. No crap like LineageOS or other failed custom ROM.
You get it for ~300€

Best ROM for security and privacy. No crap like LineageOS or other failed custom ROM

Could you tell more? Why do you think LineageOS is crap? What are the advantages of GrapheneOS?
Thank you.

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LineageOS have failed Implementation like their privacy manager or the app based firewall.
Also they doesn’t support re-locked Bootloader so the phone run with a open Bootloader and also with a custom Recovery (TWRP). Both are securty desaster.
You can read more here: Reddit - Dive into anything

GrapheneOS is a hardened AOSP with Security and Privacy in mind.
The website explain that perfectly and better then any user can: https://grapheneos.org/

If you have more question, i try to help

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I’d be interested to learn LineageOS’s response to this. To busy to look now but please point me to it if you find it.

Thks. So I understand that GrapheneOS is more secure, but what about the de-googlisation of the device? Does it use any google apps or services? The project is maintained by 1 person, isn’t it a little ‘dangerous’ if only 1 guy does the work and maybe errors…?

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@webDev you will not find any response from LineageOS to that. They don’t have the knowledge nor they works as one big team. Every device dev make his own part.
I use LineageOS in past too for many years (even from CynanogenMod) but GrapheneOS is the real way.

@alexian
GrapheneOS run without GAPPS. So no Google stuff is running on the device.

Only these required Connectivity checks are made: Usage guide | GrapheneOS
Read why that’s not disabled.

GrapheneOS is a very new project (old name was CoppherheadOS which got corrupted) and Daniel Micay is the main dev, while he have some support from other people and the team grow. Also LineageOS is mostly too only maintained by 1 person for a device.

it run also very stable because of no useless implementations LineageOS have. This is also the sense of that project: Keep the code as much as possible clean/ unmodified and only harden the system.

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Thank you for the reply.

Regarding: > Only these required Connectivity checks are made: Usage guide | GrapheneOS

Read why that’s not disabled.

Yes, it is the same with LineageOS…

I might be tempted when I change my phone to switch to a Pixel 3 with GrapheneOS. What about the camera software? Can I, like with LineageOS, install the Google camera?

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@alexian The Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 (but not the Pixel 3a) have a Pixel Visual Core providing a hardware-based implementation of HDR+
More info at Usage guide | GrapheneOS

I personally have a 3a and i use this recommend OpenCamera (from F-Droid) and photos are much better then from my OnePlus 2 with LineageOS.
So if photo quality is important for you, you should buy a Pixel 3. If that’s not the main point then Pixel 3a is the way.
Security related both devices are equal.

Also the Pixel 4a may the next will get GrapheneOS - if the community help at least.

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True paradox that best phone to avoid monopolistic Google is to buy … google overrated Pixel, ( thanks to AOSP true success) . Sony used to be almost on par with Pixels, but they seem to cut their aosp participation more and more (like htc & lg few years ago).

Thanks to aosp Treble project, you can now have better Google-free roms on low cost devices than on sophisticated flagships :

I have uploaded on F-Droid a specific app to pre-test devices in shops, prior to purchase : kDI Device Info system permission | F-Droid - Free and Open Source Android App Repository

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Talking about privacy against GrapheneOS costed me a ban in reddit…

This is by far the most secure Android ROM. I completely agree with that.

However, it has a lot of automatic connections with Google. Daniel says, be in the crowd but that statement seems a mistake. Google will know your device exists, that it runs Android and some basic information about it.
Sorry! But for me automatic connections means no privacy whatever Daniel or other people may say.
BTW, you could avoid them with NetGuard and some antiGoogle hosts.

On the other hand, Daniel says we have to use chromium browsers because of their security. Ok, that’s correct due to their sandbox.
However, Chromium mobile engines do not allow ublock origin/umatrix. Even some trackers only can be blocked with Firefox engines (according to ublock/umatrix creator)
Again, for me that’s not privacy.

Finally, we have to give money to Google. A paradox, the same sentence that a partner said before.

So, What Android ROM do I recommend in terms of privacy? A LineageOS without gapps or a “netguarded” GrapheneOS.
In terms of security, GrapheneOS.
Nevertheless, I prefer a Librem, a Pinephone or a Replicanty phone by far.

Greetings.

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@Narsil Where in Reddit did you got the ban ?

it has a lot of automatic connections with Google
Not true. Only one for:
DNS connectivity and functionality tests
DNS resolution for other connections
Read Frequently Asked Questions | GrapheneOS
You should read why it’s a bad idea to block that.

Google also know anyway that you own a Pixel, because you need to allow Network once to get it unlocked. But that isn’t a problem.

Browser addons:
make you unique and you can use other methods to block ads. Using uMatrix isn’t recommend on such a small device.
Also looks like you doesn’t know how things works. Using such blocker doesn’t increase your privacy at all, as many other options exist to track you. You only make you more unique.

Google is sadlly the only Android company which care about Security. No other company provide 3 year full and monthly security updates.
Only Apple is better (5 years).

LineageOS is a joke. They think that provide Android updates make the secure longer secure then phone manufacturer provide support, but that’s not true.
Android Updates are only the half. You need firmware updates too and no, LineageOS doesn’t provide that, as the can’t.

Librem is a joke too. They say that their woudln’t be any firmware updates for baseband because of compatiblity problems.
That’s make sense but also is a security desaster.
Same also for Pinephone, Replicant, …

it only exist two ways:

  • Pixel devices (GrapheneOS provide better Security & Privacy then stock Google ROM, while Google itself provide good security too - but less privacy)
  • iPhone as they provide long time support and have same security as Pixel - maybe even GrapheneOS. Privacy related they’re not very much better then Google.
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Browser addons:
make you unique and you can use other methods to block ads. Using uMatrix isn’t recommend on such a small device.
Also looks like you doesn’t know how things works. Using such blocker doesn’t increase your privacy at all, as many other options exist to track you. You only make you more unique.

Could you elaborate, which other methods to block ads?

I agree that using add-ons make you more unique but in that case why so many people use these add-ons thinking it is good for privacy? What do you recommend to increase privacy and make you less unique?

LineageOS is a joke. They think that provide Android updates make the secure longer secure then phone manufacturer provide support, but that’s not true.
Android Updates are only the half. You need firmware updates too and no, LineageOS doesn’t provide that, as the can’t.
And GrapheneOS provides firmware updates? How is Graphene more secure than a LineageOS?

Thank you.

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Could you elaborate, which other methods to block ads?

Sure! For example you can use a DNS which use Adblocking on server side. I use DNSWarden

but in that case why so many people use these add-ons thinking it is good for privacy? What do you recommend to increase privacy and make you less unique?

This is because a lot of misinformation and privacy freaks exist on internet which spread solutions they think it help but they doesn’t know any technical info nor how things realy works.
On enduser side their doesn’t exist a real solution. The best one is using Tor browser without any own modifications.
As simplest solution you can block Ads + 3th party Cookies which will prevent the basic tracking and also improve your browsing speed and site behaviour. Against all other tracking stuff their doesn’t exist anything you can do - sadly.

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In Privacy.

Not only one.
Connectivitycheck and gooogle.com
time.android.com
play.googleapis.com

As for the browsers, it is a recurrent answer, the uniqueness.
Nevertheless, with Bromite I have always the same fingerprinting and on the other hand, I can change it with Mozilla engines. Moreover, Canvas can’t be blocked properly in Chromium browsers.
Besides, trackers and adds are better avoided with ublock/umatrix.
Undoubtly, you have to use few addons in order to avoid more uniqueness but in all web tests I get better marks than using Chromium browsers.

To sum up, IMO, GrapheneOS is a good a privacy oriented ROM but could be even better with some changes that are controversial, I know.

BTW, you talked about firmwares related to Pixel devices. Ok, that means security.
However, are these firmwares open source? Are wifi, radio and bluetooth drivers in GrapheneOS open source? Is it disabled baseband in GrapheneOS? Ok, it is mitigated with software but not disabled.
All in all, not privacy for me.

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Connectivitycheck and gooogle.com
time.android.com
play.googleapis.com

my GrapheneOS doesn’t connect to these domains. Don’t know where dd you read that.

Addons: As i already say, you don’t avoid tracking. You only think but blocking that stuff help, but you don’t know that the websites use more tracking options which you can’t fully block. Not even the Tor browser can do that 100%.

I talk about firmware in generall and this is the main reason why GrapheneOS only support few Pixel devices.
I don’t answer your questions about OpenSource here, as the research is your turn.

GrapheneOS open source

Yes. Looks like you never take a look at the GrapheneOS website which i post here more then once.

Is it disabled baseband in GrapheneOS

I don’t understand your question but disable baseband wouldn’t make sense on a Smartphone which is used for calls.

Ok, it is mitigated with software but not disabled.

Don’t understand what you mean

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