Shopping around, seems like every option is doubling down on anti-user garbage… I don’t trust myself to do a root or anything like that - my tech skills are juuust good enough to be painfully aware of my own dumbassery, but I’m doubting an out-of-the-box smartphone that isn’t loaded with shit even exists.
Previously I’ve used Pixel and Galaxy, but those are both chief offenders.
Google Pixel Phone with GrapheneOS. You’ll have to flash a custom ROM, but GrapheneOS provides more security and privacy (even if you do install Google Play Services, they’re limited to only the permissions you give the app). And no built in AI or telemetry (I think). It’s free and open source. Added note: GrapheneOS will not have the restrictions on Android sideloading that are supposed to be coming this year. https://grapheneos.org/
Fairphone
I absolutely love my FP6 with e/os
Ironically, iPhones are pretty close to stock with no bloatware installed. You can delete most any of the Apple apps, they don’t allow carrier apps to be preloaded, and you can disable Apple Intelligence to get rid of anything AI they provide.
I am considering the Jolla phone. It looks like it fits the bill. Personally I have two issues. One is that stuff like banking and Danish id services probably won’t work because they’re bound to Google Play device integrity. The other big one is that my Google Pixel 7 pro still works fine, so there’s no pressing need to upgrade.
Is Graphene OS not an Option for you? Just asking, because you already own a Pixel phone.
grapheneos on a pixel
Don’t give money to google!
Even second hand purchasing encourages people to buy new pixel phones cause they know it sells well in the used market.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they lost money on the hardware. Remove their software and the revenue stream is severed from day one.
And instead buy a normal phone which Google gets all the data from anyway? I’d rather drive the used market for pixels up slightly than have people get any other phone which hands Google money indirectly. I can’t imagine the small bump in prices in the used market even matters to Google in new phone sales
When I bought my Pixel I saw it like in the meme: “I’m gonna pay you 460 bucks to fuck off”. I could have waited until Motorola releases their GrapheneOS phones, but mine was overdue for an upgrade, it was reeeeally slow.
Only if you buy secondhand online, they’ve no way to track in-store and in-person secondhand purchases
Buy a second hand Pixel phone. Google gets exactly nothing from me.
Xiaomi Poco series
Even on a years-old, out-of-service-window Pixel, GrapheneOS is worth it. I’m still using my Pixel 4a 5G and it’s functional if occasionally quirky because of the hardware’s age.
GrapheneOS has an in-browser installation utility now, so it’d be pretty easy.
Worth mentioning that GrapheneOS is going to be an out-of-the-box option for some upcoming Motorola models.
I use an iodé phone. It’s basically Android with all the Google crap removed, and it comes with Fdroid.
Assuming you’re not comfortable with trying to flash a ROM onto your phone: I’ve been decently happy with my Asus Zenfone 8, but the key to avoiding bloatware is to not buy a phone through your cellphone service provider. There’s still crap loaded in it, but it tends to have a lot less of it.
Sony is pretty vanilla android as far as android goes but it is still android. You can disable some stuff with an app like adb app control but it still keeps all the core os level bullshit unless you root to kill it properly.
On one hand, yes. However, they have absimal software support (2 major os updates and little to no updates in between). I’m also now having a problem on my 5V where my device is “uncertified” on the play store. I found that lots are having the same issue while Sony provides no solution at all. I had to root it to fix it.
Weird, I have a 5V too and its been great. I routinely get updates on it as well. What version/region are you on?
Some kind of Linux phone, eventually. Doesn’t seem mature or widely available yet, so I’m not really suggesting becoming an early adopter if you don’t rate your own tech skills, but it’s something to be aware of for next time you need to upgrade. Really just putting this here because plenty of people don’t know it’s going to be a thing, and it puts the benefits and drawbacks of other options into perspective.
If you do have something like a Pixel / Galaxy already, consider installing DuckDuckGo browser. It’s not just a browser… it also runs an onboard vpn, which has the side effect of blocking ad tracking requests. I was kinda horrified and surprised to see what kind of info most of the apps were taking, and how often they were making the requests. GPS (both coarse & fine), IMEI, post code, email address, all kinds of other identifiers.
You’ll have to manually let a few apps through (stuff like the wallet, maybe banking apps) but everything else is blocked on my phone.
If I was going to buy a new smartphone right now, I’d prob get a Fairphone:
Fairphone is a Dutch electronics manufacturer that designs and produces smartphones and headphones. It aims to minimise the ethical and environmental impact of its devices by using recycled, fairtrade and conflict-free materials, maintaining fair labour conditions throughout its workforce and suppliers, and enabling users to easily repair their devices through modular design and by providing replacement parts
it also runs an onboard vpn, which has the side effect of blocking ad tracking requests.
I like the adblock VPN and the browser UI, however, in the browser itself, I was surprised to see what third-party requests are “loaded to prevent site breakage”, Google and Facebook usually amongst them.
Current phone is near FUBAR. Had an incident involving the sidewalk, and, uh… the sidewalk won the fight.
Repair is an option, but shelling out more money for a brand I’ve come to detest is not super appealing.
Fairphone! I forgot about them. In light of recent events, the modular nature of their design is pretty appealing.
Bonus points for Fairphone: you can purchase it with /e/OS, which is a degoogled Android
Windows 10 Mobile. Still use mine daily.
What?
The Chinese manufacturers are actually really good about making a durable, long lasting device with no bloatware. I use a Ulefone, and I really like it.
No bloatware with Chinese manufacturers? Are you dreaming? Oppos, Xiaomi, and all the sub brands of the bbk group (vivo, realme, etc) come with so much bloatware that they are forced to include an aggressive task killer and Memory cleaner to make it work properly
OK, cool?
I don’t have one of those, and the phone I do have is free of crap.
I also have an ulephone but I’m looking for a way out. Sadly their phones don’t have replacement parts so if your power button breaks, you can’t fix it.
I actually just had to spray contact cleaner into my volume switch to get that to work, seawater is not kind to electronics.
Oh not that. The spring inside mine is broken
Hadn’t heard of Ulephone, but I like what I’m seeing so far!
What model do you have? A lot of their phones look like they have a thermal camera, which could be really useful (temps get pretty extreme where I live, so being able to see heat-leaks in my home could help to insulate them).
Also thermal aside, how’s the camera? I used to think more megapixels = better, but have since found there’s a lot more to image quality than just pixels (focus accuracy, good color saturation, etc).
I’ve got an Armour 17, it’s getting pretty worn out at this point and I’m looking at replacing it.
They typically have good cameras, I think mine is a Sony image sensor? It’s a feature they seem to value quite highly. I’ve played with the thermal camera on another phone, it’s a great feature.
I’m waiting for them to bring out a model with QI2 charging before I upgrade.
