Hello! My smartphone is dying, so I’ll soon have to buy a new one. I’d like my new phone to have pure Android, without all the apps that manufactures install. Ideally I’d like to remove the majority of Google services too, but there are some that I can’t replace yet, so I’m still dependent on, like google maps. What smartphone do you suggest me? In your opinion, would it be better to buy a smartphone with already stock android or to buy any smartphone, and then replace the OS?
It may be best to buy an easily unlockable phone like a Pixel and then flash your own ROM to get it just as you’d want it.
If you want something devoid of Google stuff, you’ll likely want to go with a phone that can be flashed with GrapheneOS, which can also optionally run Google Play services in a sandbox for more privacy and control.
Fairphone with CalyxOS is what I’m going with
how is the experience? do you use any google service in strange ways or nothing at all?
I haven’t actually done it yet, it’s the plan for my next phone.
I should have written “I’m going to go with”
Motorola, Sony, and Pixel offer the closest to stock Android out of the box.
Google Pixel with something like GrapheneOS or Lineage
Asus ZenFone appears to have an option during first-time-setup to stick with stock android or add the Asus optimizations.
If you want pure android, then a Pixel phone, but if you want to degoogle, no…
Else you can find very interesting powerful phone like PoCo F4 for instance and replace the ROM with the dozen ones available, check XDA.
Know that when you unlock bootloader/replace ROM, you will most likely lose the ability to pay with your phone, or play a cat and mouse game with magisk and addon and google Wallet.
If you want pure android, then a Pixel phone, but if you want to degoogle, no…
why? other than “your’e giving money to google just before removing google”
Know that when you unlock bootloader/replace ROM, you will most likely lose the ability to pay with your phone, or play a cat and mouse game with magisk and addon and google Wallet.
I didn’t know about this, custom ROMs cannot run these kind of services?
Nope, Google Wallet does not run with unlocked bootloader or with root. There’s a lot of programs made to avoid this but setup can be broken anytime with a Google update. If you absolutely want to pay with your phone, it can be nightmarish to install all kind of add-ons to bypass failing CTS.
Not always; I have a rooted+unlocked LG v60 with Universal Safetynet Fix 2.2.1 (2 y.o. version) and MagiskHide Props Config 6.1.2.137 from just as long ago and my Google Wallet works perfectly fine.
I know, until next update that breaks it. I did it with my old Nokia and it was cat and mouse, it worked, but sometime not…
thanks for the info!
If it’s just about degoogling then you could look into phones with linux. There is at least Ubuntu Touch that supports a range of popular phones. I don’t know about other distros.
Well, android itself is more or less a linux distribution since it’s based on linux kernel. The version that ends up on normal phones just isn’t FOSS.
So I would definitely count lingeageOS and other FOSS derivatives of android.
Indian smartphone manufacturer ‘Lava Mobiles’ provides literally stock Android on their every latest phones. Also regular updates on phones regardless of price ! ❤️
#lavaagni5g #lavamobiles #India #smartphone #android14 #pureandroid #mastodonindians
