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What smartphone to buy and what CustomROM to use? (lemmy.ml)
submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 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] 29 points 4 months ago (2 children)

You can buy a used Pixel smartphone

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago (4 children)

I thought about it too but I don’t see any other benefit buying a used Pixel besides that it isn’t a new phone from Google.

  • Battery life will be shorter already
  • It isn’t the newest model so it won’t get the longest period of updates
[–] [email protected] 17 points 4 months ago (1 children)

But do you really need update from Google if you're planning on installing a custom rom ? Genuine question, I thought your security updates would be handled by /e/ or graphene or whatever you choose

[–] [email protected] 10 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Not necessarily, they'll get some OS updates after google pulls the plug, but they'll stop getting firmware and other hardware-specific updates.

Per GrapheneOS:

Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 are end-of-life and shouldn't be used anymore due to lack of security patches for firmware and drivers. We provide extended support for harm reduction.

https://grapheneos.org/releases#changelog

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

This is the important bit. Talking about updates on OS level is kind of confusing and hiding the fact that it's the chipset going EOL in old devices and not the system.

Firmware gets obsolete, not software, is closer to the right idea.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

https://grapheneos.org/faq#device-lifetime

You can buy a used Pixel 8 and it will be supported by Graphene through 2030 at the very earliest, probably the best support lifecycle you can possibly get on a phone.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 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 4 months ago* (last edited 4 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] 4 points 4 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 4 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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

  1. Battery life isn't a given - I have a 2018 flagship that still runs most of a day because it runs DivestOS instead of battery-eating Google rom

  2. You can replace a battery for little

  3. Updates are over-rated. Yes, they can be important, but if your security is layered as it should already be, it's just another piece of the puzzle, not the only barrier.

  4. Graphene does a great job trying to keep it updated.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

this is the way