this post was submitted on 24 May 2025
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Privacy

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What phone should I buy for privacy? (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by someacnt@sh.itjust.works to c/privacy@lemmy.ml
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My current phone is 7 years old, does not support recent android versions, and battery life is becoming atrocious. This feels like right time to change my phone.

Currently, I know of & am considering 3 options:

  • Google Pixel
  • iPhone
  • Samsung Galaxy

I heard that Pixel is the best choice for privacy, despite it being Google^TM. Should I go with it, and install Graphene OS or similar options? The very fact that the name "Google" is attached makes me nervous. Also, I don't think I can trust android, so I would have to install Graphene OS or the like. In the case, app support would be lacking, though.

I am considering iPhone as well, since it has "reputation" of being secure. Of course, Apple can access my data, but that might be a good enough compromise? Honestly, I don't know. It's the best supported option as well - lots of apps support iPhone.

Galaxy is just the one that I am the most familiar with (my current one is Galaxy S8). I don't trust it, though. Do they even make good hardware nowadays?

EDIT: Turns out, Pixel phones are poorly supported by local telecomm companies. It is relatively cheap though. Still worth it?

EDIT2: I heard that data & message is fine, but the call quality is impacted by lack of VoLTE compatibility.

(page 2) 50 comments
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[–] haui_lemmy@lemmy.giftedmc.com 2 points 3 weeks ago

I'm currently testing lineageos on a oneplus 6t since it is dirt cheap (from 50€$) ob ebay.

So far my track record has been:

  • Around 6 months of daily use
  • wifi, bluetooth, lte, gsm all work without issues
  • calls work 99% (same as iphone)
  • headset needs usbc bc no headphone jack. Works with adapter but so far only for music
  • camera works, qr codes work
  • nfc works but without google services, ive found no oayment provider thay supports it
  • around 16 hrs of battery life under normal use
  • no ads in os (or browser, thanks to ublock)

As with all custom roms, you need to unlock the bootloader and if you dont encrypt, you should not do anything on the phone that cant ever be found by a third party, say law enforcement. I would argue that the majority of phones with a locked bootloader arent any better but apparently, if you want that extra security, graphene on a pixel seems to be much more fitting. I have heard of issues with reliability so I'll stick with lineage.

I do develop for and did try postmarketos (actual linux) and I love it. But its absolutely not end user ready from last time i used it. If you tinker and want to help, postmarketos deserves your help but please dont use it as a daily and expect more than 80% reliability. Its for people who love linux and want it to become the real deal and who can manage their frustrations.

[–] Zerush@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 weeks ago

Privacy finished with the first Smartphone

[–] rirus@feddit.org 2 points 3 weeks ago

What apps do you need? Do you know that app support is lacking on GOS or just think it? I would go with Pixel8a and GOS.

[–] krolden@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Rotary

[–] davel@lemmy.ml 3 points 3 weeks ago

🍌

[–] throwawayacc0430@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 weeks ago

Telegraph with One Time Pad

[–] JamesBoeing737MAX@sopuli.xyz 1 points 3 weeks ago

In EU, I would recommend a xiaomi. Cheap, bootloader unlockable (which breaks security a little since you cant relock), but they are a gamble in terms of reliability.

[–] Bronstein_Tardigrade@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 3 weeks ago

My old phone is on its last leg, but I'm holding out for a Huawei or VIVO with HarmonyNextOS. I so want to end everything Google.

[–] pathos@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

Use Galaxy with debloater (you can also remove Google Play Services) + AdGuard DNS + TrackerControl (you can get with droidify)

You can also dual boot Linux desktop distro on it also.

This way you get best performance and all the choices.

[–] teuniac_@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Fixed URL to universal-android-debloater

Somehow Lemmy in the browser was able to deal with the URL formatting, but the app I use wasn't.

[–] pathos@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 weeks ago

Thanks, edited, hopefully it's fixed for everyone

[–] macaw_dean_settle@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

Pinephone. It is what I use.

[–] yournamehere@lemm.ee 1 points 3 weeks ago

shift

[–] MajesticElevator@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

GrapheneOS tested and I ended up going back to Apple.

It’s good in concept but in reality you’re just forced to used play services because most apps require it, but you lose mobile payment and access to some apps because you’re not running a whitelisted OS. App makers don’t give a fuck because custom ROM users are fewer than Linux users, and we all know most software and games don’t give a fuck about Linux users.

Stock GrapheneOS also feels like a jump in the past in terms of UI and accessibility. I felt like I was always going out of my way to make it somewhat usable.

The Pixel also has a battery that doesn’t last long and poor charge retention on idle (Android phones do be like that though). I found out that many tasks cause it to heat a lot. Something like updating an app takes ages and shows visual bugs, like no progress indicator.

I hate Apple but at least I trust that they don’t sell my data to everyone, and they have a good UI.

If the end it’s about how much you’re willing to trade your convenience for privacy. I realized I wasn’t ready.

[–] throwawayacc0430@sh.itjust.works -1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Apple

I trust that they don’t sell my data to everyone

The same corporation that donated money to a fascist?

🤔

[–] MajesticElevator@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

What? Who?

You prefer Google, a company that actively works with Israel for military purposes, against Palestinians, by offering them their cloud services, and then firing the employees that were protesting? It must feel good to purchase a Pixel from them, heh?

[–] throwawayacc0430@sh.itjust.works 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

What? Who?

You prefer Google, a company that actively works with Israel for military purposes, against Palestinians, by offering them their cloud services, and then firing the employees that were protesting? It must feel good to purchase a Pixel from them, heh?

  1. I never said to buy a pixel, I merely refuted your claim of apple being "the good guys"

  2. How does Google being evil make Apple any better? Google, Apple, its both the same. Same genocide. You are being hypocritical by accusing others of being pro-genocide while you yourself are supporting genocide yourself. Get off your high horse, you are just a Pro-Apple Pro-Israel supporter that hate Palestinians, you literally cannot claim to have the "moral high ground".

[–] MajesticElevator@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Me, critical about Google because they passed a deal with Israel against Palestinians

You:

you are just a Pro-Apple Pro-Israel supporter that hate Palestinians, you literally cannot claim to have the "moral high ground".

Ok buddy

Apart from that, where did I say that would make Apple better? I asked for proof that Apple donated money to a fascist. I’m still waiting for that, because afaik it did not.

Plus about you original comment, I don’t see any link with them not selling my data and being able to donate to a so-called fascist.

1. I never said to buy a pixel, I merely refuted your claim of apple being "the good guys"

I’ve never said they were. I was just saying what was my preferred phone for privacy and convenience. I also said I hated them. That’s straw man fallacy.

[–] DrunkAnRoot@sh.itjust.works 0 points 3 weeks ago

pigeon with paper that lights itself on fire when human skin touches it

[–] ragebutt@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 3 weeks ago

Sunbeam f1

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