I am looking for a new Android smartphone (currently on iOS).
Obviously I read about GrapheneOS as the „Gold Standard“ of alternative OS. But the downside is that it only runs on Pixels. Which is kinda weird to buy a device from a company you want to „boycott“ (de-Google).
On the other hand I kinda like the approach of Fairphone: most parts are easy repairable, parts are available and cheap compared to Google and Apple. But the downside here is that it isn’t supported by GrapheneOS, doesn’t have the most capable hardware for the price and probably won’t get 7 years of updates like the Pixel 8a in comparison.
So that leaves me with a „analysis paralysis“: I have to choose a device and a CustomROM.
/e/OS does seem interesting but I read some comments that it isn’t that secure like GrapheneOS. I don’t need that high-level of security but it should be significantly more than stock Android to be worth all the hassle by installing/using a CustomROM. On the other hand I don’t want to sacrifice every comfort for the sake of the last bit of (theoretical) security.
Did someone go down this path as well recently and can share some experiences? Maybe there is even some better alternative.
google pixels sadly are the best device for any custom ROM. if you really don’t want to use google and your willing to sacrifice some performance and quality of life I’d recommended the fair phone 5 with /e/os. it is easily repairable and has I think 7 years of support. ofcorse it sacrifices a few qol things of most modern phones like the top end displays or the best photo quality and it costs the same as a google pixel 8 but its all ethically sourced and is a extremely good project and product. I’d reccomend watching reviews first “not Linux tech tips” the software updates fixed most of their issues anyways.
it even comes with a removable battery, Sim card slot, and SD card slot