this post was submitted on 30 Jan 2025
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Privacy

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Small phone with privacy friendly OS (feddit.org)
submitted 6 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
13 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

I am desperately looking for a small phone compatible with a privacy friendly OS, best would be if the phone is not too old, lets say Less than 3 years.

I had a pixel 5 with graphene. Its Brocken and to be honest it was already too big for my small hands.

Usually phones with a width less than 70mm are considered easy to use with one Hand -even with small hands. I dont need a big screen at all since i have good eyes and use small fonts.

E.g. the unihertz jelly max seems perfect but i didnt find an easy way to put a privacy friendly OS.

On the other Hand looking at the supported devices oft graphene/ callyx and e/OS not a single one seems to offer ONE small phone.

Are there people here with the same Problem? Whats your solution?

I See 2 options for me: either i get a cheap (second Hand) big phone and hope that there will be smaller phones again in the near future. or i give up on using phones with one Hand and get a fairphone or pixel (second hand) again... What do you think is better? The Option to compromise in privacy is not an Option for me.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

I'm also looking for this. I'll probably end up buying a Fairphone 6 when it comes out and use CalyxOS, but I have looked at alternatives.

These require using LineageOS:

The Asus Zenfone 8 is from 2021. It's 148 x 68.5 x 8.9 mm and has ok specs. I don't do anything demanding anyway.

The Sony Xperia 5 V is from 2023. It's 154 x 68 x 8.6 mm and has good specs, but is expensive.

The Samsung Galaxy S10e is from 2019. It's 142.2 x 69.9 x 7.9 mm and has below average specs (compared to modern phones). This is my favorite phone. I used this before my current one and miss it so much. I should have just changed the battery. I would pay lots of money for an S10e with a modern, more energy efficient processor and higher density battery.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Is lineage nowadaxs as good AS graphene ans calyx? I had it 10 years ago in a phone and when i switched to graphene it was so much better. But the list lof small phones they have is promising. Thanks!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

GrapheneOS is superior in many regards. CalyxOS is a more de-googled experience than standard LineageOS which it is based on with optionnal microG for better compatibility. LineageOS still have many Google blobs in it's code even though it's cleaner than every Stock Android OS in regards to privacy and third-party bloat.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Yeah, I should be using GrapheneOS. It is the better OS. I absolutely agree. I just don't like the hardware.

I want a small (max 71 mm width) phone with lots of local storage, a 3.5mm port, card slot, replaceable battery, optical fingerprint sensor, plastic back, IR port and wireless charging.

I understand that I can't get all of this in 2025, but I'm trying to at least get as much as possible. That's why I'm probably going to end up getting a Fairphone 6 when it comes out and use CalyxOS.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Fairphone are big tho

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

I know :( They also removed the 3.5 mm port. It's getting harder and harder to find a phone with good hardware in my opinion. Makers of phones largely focus on improving stuff I don't care about.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

CalyxOS is based on LineageOS, so it's very similar. microG is not included though, so you have to install that yourself if you want it. You can't get Datura on LineageOS but it's based on LineageOS's firewall which is kinda similar but more basic.

LineageOS does not come with Gapps. So LineageOS is basically a good clean Android experience and CalyxOS is the privacy focused fork. Both are waaaaay more private than the version of Android installed from the factory but CalyxOS makes privacy a bit easier.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Looks like Galaxy S3 has still replacement parts produced. Original Android got an exceptional update in 2022 (out of suppport since what, 2014?) and custom ROM scene is still active.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

The pixel 8a is slightly narrower than the pixel 5 (~1mm) and shorter (~4mm), so that could be a replacement, the 7a has similar physical dimensions to the 8a if you want something used/cheaper.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

And the 9a is speculated to be released around March, so Graphene is sure to be close behind whenever it drops (if they need to adjust anything at all).

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 days ago (2 children)

I'll be getting a new phone soon but is it a good idea to attempt to flash a new OS on a new kinda expensive device? i hate the idea of a used phone, but i wouldn't wanna brick something worth a month's rent. been over 10 years since I've attempted that (unsuccessfully).

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 days ago

If you are flashing GrapheneOS, it is a very simple and safe procedure. I've even interrupted the flashing when my laptop went to sleep, got the system corrupt warning, and just flashed again without a hitch. All that's needed now is a browser with WebUSB support and USB cable.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 days ago

A good idea? There's always risk, no matter if you're an expert with a 100% success rate. My heart pounds every time I flash a device, new BIOS update, install Linux, etc., despite having done those things many times.

That said, I flashed Graphene on an older Pixel, and they make the entire process stupid easy, provided you can read. They have a web installer where you just install a couple of prerequisites on the host computer, put your phone in recovery mode, plug in your device, and click buttons in order via your browser. No need to transfer image files, muck around in TWRP recovery, or anything like that. It uses some Google API to facilitate everything.

But if you can't afford the loss of the device to the unlikely but still possible event of a bad flash, either because of cost or loss of utility, you should at least take a moment to consider your backup plans before proceeding. Only you can decide if you think the risk is worth it and sufficiently low.