Linux

Would like to know too! I use a proprietary OS for now and want to jump ship with my next phone.

I am on a pixel 7 with graphene OS. Been great. Ive been using this phone for about a year or so now.

Not in my ideal spot but tolerating Android via LineageOS for microG on a Sony Xperia 5 III as their ROMs make microG painless & hardware-wise I get a fast-enough CPU, OLED, a headphone jack, & microSD.

I'm using /e/ os for more than 3 years on different devices (with some customizations) and it works like a charm. An important aspect is that you can install e on any phone that has the bootloader unlock and supports GSIs - theoreticaly any device that runs Android > 9

/e/ has a gsi image which is neat!

I don't use nor promote any banking apps or other G**gle/proprietary dependendent apps.

Why nobody talks more about e.foundation /e/ OS?

Enlighten me please 🙂

I'm currently running GrapheneOS on a Pixel 8 Pro. I use the provided sandboxed google services because of some apps (banking, etc). I use F-Droid for most of my needs. I don't understand what you mean by misleading advertising.

Ι use Murena's e/OS, I like the iphone-likeness of it. It works.

I've had calyxOS on this phone now for about 2 uears now. Its pretty good. It comes with microG to simulate the google apis.

Can you elaborate on being misled there?

As for google devices - yes, there's irony in the notion that the most de-googleable phones are theirs, sure. They're often sold at a loss around the holiday season, though.

I've used LineageOS in the past, and have nothing to complain about it, but realistically I only root and change the OS of my phones after warranty is over and I could potentially lose it without being a problem.

There isn't any Foss phone. Graphene os and everything else requires proprietary software for the modem to operate at a minimum.

If you are ok with some proprietary software go with Lineage OS.

For devices that support Lineage OS go here: https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/

I use CRDroid /CRAndroid, because it was the only de-Googled ROM for my specific model of phone (S20 FE Exynos), also (I think) it's a fork of LineageOS.

I run LineageOS for microG, on LOS for more than 5 years now. I am not willing to pay for Pixel phones, even the used devices are to expensive for me. I do not really care about an unlocked bootloader, so that's alright.

Calyx. It just works. I've honestly just used it like stock Android, using as many private apps as possible. It's so fun seeing all the cool little projects not on iOS! I just recently discovered Petals, which helps with measuring THC intake.

I'm fairly happy with LineageOS myself

but there is so much false information about this OS, namely compatible phones that simply don’t work with this OS and no support.

I think you're overreacting a bit calling it "false information". LOS is a FLOSS project that many individuals have ported to their device — and either at some point they buy a new phone and drop that development, or they realise what a massive project it is to maintain it. That's just a general bummer with open source, especially when people volunteer their free time.

GrapheneOS as well with profiles

i have calyx on a pixel 7a since it's easy to use

GrapheneOS on a Pixel 8 Pro. I've been super happy with it since I switched from iOS.

Crdroid with microg is what I use Getting rid of google services altogether is a huge mess. Its hard for me tbh. Lineages for microg (lineageos4microg) is also something that I wanna checkout. Grapheneos is fine only if you want to pay for it.

GrapheneOS is probably the best option out there.

As you said, it's only for Pixels currently, because

1. They are more secure than most other phones. They have some kind of chip built in that makes them superior. I don't know the specifics, but other commentators might add some information if needed. Something with encryption if I remember correctly. The GrapheneOS team is a bit ...picky... when it comes to security, and most other phones don't reach their requirements for a secure device.
2. Google is one major contributor to Android, and their phones are fine tuned to work perfectly with it. Other manufacturers' phones feel less polished.
3. It's easier to maintain one line of devices that are very similar, instead of keeping hundred phones up to date and secure. Pixels are similar to iPhones, they get updated almost simultaneously and are similar. If you now add a phone from a different line, e.g. a Fairphone or Nothing Phone, things get more complicated. If you look at Calyx (more onto that later), the FP4 caused quite some headaches for the dev team.

Pixels are cheap(ish) for what you get, and I believe Google makes them so cheap because 99% of users don't care which ROM/OS is installed. Those are the advertisment-cows that will get milked. If you buy a Pixel and install a custom ROM on it, they will loose money.

My experience with GrapheneOS has been great. My Pixel 5 hit EOL a while ago and still gets maintenance updates almost weekly.
Many security additions are overkill for me, but quite some make a lot of sense.

I used CalyxOS for a year too, but now that I don't get full updates anymore, I don't feel safe anymore with it.

I think GrapheneOS is technically superior to Calyx, especially due to the sandboxing they do. MicroG has full root privileges and can do with your phone what it wants, while also breaking some apps due to missing dependencies. If you choose to enable Play Services on GrapheneOS, they are user level and heavily restricted, and only you decide how much access you want to give them.

Regarding Calyx, since they don't limit themselves as much in terms of security, they also offer a ROM for the Fairphone. Maybe check that out too.

DivestOS also seems to be a good option. AFAIK it's based on LineageOS and supports a lot of devices, while being more secure than LOS.

Regarding Linux phones, I don't have any experience with them. I tried Phosh (Mobile Gnome) on an exhibition a while ago, and it felt great and interesting, but from what I've heard, they are nowhere as good as Android.

My personal ranking:

1. GrapheneOS on a Pixel. Get an used/ refurbished device if you don't want to support Google. Best price-performance ratio, great OS, and very good hardware (battery life, camera, etc.)
2. CalyxOS on a Fairphobe. Modular device with good repairability. Nowhere near as good in terms of what you'll get for your money. Better security than 95% of other phone ROMs, oh, and you can just swap your battery in seconds if you want that :D
3. DivestOS on a random supported phone, e.g. a China device. Nowhere near as sustainable (short lived update support, no spare parts, etc.)
4. Linux phone. Only a good option for a tinkering device right now imo.