this post was submitted on 23 Mar 2024
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Privacy

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*In terms of privacy, customisation, camera quality, and battery time.

For the longest time I have only used either iPhone or Samsung. I plan on switching to Android for the next phone I get, but I find that Samsung phones are often too big for me and put too much energy on camera quality (I don’t take many photos). I have started to look into brands such as Nokia and Motorola, and I would like to know what you guys think of them. Additionally, do you suggest any other phone brands aside from them? My biggest priorities are privacy and long battery time. Bonus if the phone can run LineageOS (I have excluded Graphene as they are only compatible with Pixel phones).

Thank you for any answers. Cheers!

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

HTC (Wildfire, Desire Z, [rip!]), Samsung (they are/were easy to flash; S3, S5, S7, A5 2017).
I once had Nexus 5 (by LG [rip!]) - I was disappointed, poor quality.

Nowadays, you should have control of a baseband firmware too!
So, looks like the Pixels are the best option.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

So I’ve gone back and forth between Apple and Android for the past decade and a half: I currently daily an iPhone 12 mini because I like the UI, size, ease of use, and the fact that I don’t use my phone as a multimedia device. If I could do akin to GrapheneOS or CalyxOS on iPhone I’d stick to it.

In the future once my iPhone breaks or finally becomes obsolete, I intend to go to either a used Pixel or a Fairphone. Both are supported by secure OSs but I also dislike how big both of them are.

TLDR: love iPhones, appreciate Fairphones.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

Well Nokia is a no no They don't allow bootloader unlock, I would recommend that you check which privacy oriented custom ROM you want to install and check the supported phones they have listed and buy one of those models for installing the ROM

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

The hardware is wholly unremarkable, but the pixel line supports Graphene. Custom Roms are a necessity if you care about privacy even a little bit, but there are other options.

Unfortunately in many places, illegal searches are the rule, not the exception and as such security is almost as critical. If you need security AND privacy there is simply no substitute.

Motorola hardware looks kinda nice though...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

Be careful with Motorola, here's a Louis Rossmann rant about Lenovo/Motorola sucking, and here's the official unlocking policy and procedure he mentioned. Some specific issues to call out:

  • need to wait a week before unlocking the bootloader after purchase
  • you lose your Motorola warranty
  • you cannot sell or transfer your unlocked device (in linked legal agreement)

That's pretty scummy IMO, and why I'm not interested in Motorola devices. I don't intend to ever use the warranty or sell my phone, but I'm not okay with that being a legally binding agreement.

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

you cannot sell or transfer your unlocked device (in linked legal agreement)

The fuck? There's no way they can forbid doing that, right? Video game publishers would be all over that with physical discs to make it the same as for digital releases.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

Unlocked meaning you've unlocked the bootloader. So if you want to flash your own ROM, you agree not selling your device.

I'm not sure if it's enforceable, but it certainly chills people from trying.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

Here is an alternative Piped link(s):

here's a Louis Rossmann rant about Lenovo/Motorola sucking

Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.

I'm open-source; check me out at GitHub.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Not under your specs but the Sony Xperia line offers a headphone jack + microSD, can be unlocked, & has flagship specs (1 & 5). The 5 & 10 models are also smaller devices that actually fit in one hand too. This characteristic combo does not come in the other models folks are suggesting. Older models have LineageOS for microG support if you want an ungoogled phone (but beware the stock camera app is trash).

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

i loved my XZ2 Compact SO MUCH and then all the carriers in my country simultaneously dropped voice calling support for it. i'm still so salty

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

Because we need innovation, even if we got on just fine then

[–] [email protected] 10 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Only with physical access, which nowaday nobody does.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago

Nah, just ask the telecoms nicely and they'll give you whatever stream you want.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago

I wouldn't put it past an insurance company.

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