I currently use an iPhone, but given the recent attacks made by the US president and members of his administration on my country (tariffs, annexation threats,etc) I am loathe to support any company based out of that nation any longer. Obviously I know that it is likely impossible to get a functional mobile experience with zero US corporate involvement, but what is the least possible I could do and still be practical? A degoogled fair phone device? Something Chinese running a custom rom like lineage os?
I want to sell my iPhone and Apple Watch ASAP and get something that won’t have my sending money to the US via my app purchases (store cut), monthly services (iCloud), and my data being used/sold.
Thanks!
Devices
- Fairphone 5 (Netherlands)
- OS: LineageOS, CalyxOS
- Or buy it new from iode (France), they also sell other phones as well
- Shiftphone 8 (Germany)
- Is the only Android phone with hardware kill switches (for mic and camera)
- Working on CalyxOS and LineageOS support
For OS comparission
I would add the Mudita Kompakt to the list. It’s from Poland and runs on a de-googled AOSP. With a 4,3 inch e-ink screen it is a niche phone though.
For OS comparission
It’s worth noting that graphene doesn’t have automatic calls recording, and the Devs have been weirdly aggressive about deleting and banning people that ask for it.
Graphene OS just has weirdly aggressive devs.
I guess it’s very “on brand” for the devs of a privacy project to be extremely paranoid.
isn’t it more security focused than privacy?
I use GrapheneOS and have reviewed a lot of the documentation in the OS and built in apps. They like to pair the words privacy and security together in that documentation. The info sheet for the chromium degoogled browser they developed called Vanadium is very focused on both aspects. I personally think the two concepts go hand in hand.
Its also the first time I’ve used a non-firefox type of browser in almost a decade. It feels weird, but they are good at describing why it’s more secure in GrapheneOS due to its superior ability to maintain app sandboxes, which is a big reason I use the OS. Full control over what apps can see on my device.
Maybe because… automatically recording calls is literally illegal in some places around the world? It should probably be user choice to opt in to that so it wouldn’t be on by default. And then, if you have it on while travelling, you could forget and break the law when going through a jurisdiction that does not allow it. Better to explicitly allow for each call, like it does currently.
I have the Fairphone form iode with their OS on it. Best phone I had so far and the System ist pretty much set up the way I like it out if the box.
Such a bummer that I can’t use one here in the US.
- Fairphone 5 (Netherlands)
You already own it. You aren’t doing Apple any favors by continuing to own it and you’re not hurting them by getting rid of it.
False. You are hurting them by not providing them a recurring revenue and stream of your data.
What “recurring revenue stream” are you referring to? And what data?
OP mentioned store or inapp purchases plus cloud subscription.
And ALL data, noone knows what apple is doing with it.
OP mentioned store or inapp purchases plus cloud subscription.
I mean they could simply…stop doing that?
noone knows what apple is doing with it
I assume nothing until proven otherwise, considering we know for a fact that any other device is going to be sending a plethora of data for Google to monetize.
Another comment mentioned GrapheneOS.
Even Graphene is nigh-unusable without Google services.
I use GrapheneOS without Google services and the only issue I have to work around is Slack notifications. Everything else is fantastic.
Well, it is if you depend on google services. But you don’t have to.
Used pixel, put grapheneos on it.
Helps prevent e-waste and youll end up with a fully functioning phone
Yes, used is the way to go to be the most socially and anti-capitalist conscious.
Yep buying used is the route to go to not directly source a company with new revenue.
For the phone itself I would say fairphone, but another option is buying a second hand android and installing a custom rom, No money given to the owner company.
Hard part is software distribution. You can buy Chinese phones but what app store? Can focus on open source applications. Use F-Droid. I have an iPhone and an older Pixel 7. In the past I’ve had ZTE phones. I guess you can buy a Chinese phone with a Mediatek processor that has YMTC memory chips and … whatever else
Desktop/laptop you should and encourage other to try Linux. Something common. Ubuntu or Linux Mint. Even if it’s US based, supporting Linux and open source software aligns with what you want
Open source software isn’t tied to countries. Unless you consider every developer, every person evil just and only because they’re American, it shouldn’t even matter if the project leader is American as no money goes to US companies anyway
Maybe Fairphone (Netherlands) with /e/OS (Google free Android from France).
Not being stupid here, but: do you need to? I completely understand and support the anger, but what in-app purchases are you making and can’t you stop making them? You can switch to the free iCloud account (so they don’t get money) and download/delete your content so they don’t have access to it.
I think your data being used is the big one, but it leads down a big privacy hole; you’ll have to decide how far you want you take that.
I’m just wondering if you’ll end up giving more money to them by buying a new phone, Rather than sticking with your current phone, stopping in-app purchases, deleting iCloud, and installing privacy protection.
Right. Purchasing new sends money to the ultra rich somewhere in the world.
Anything second-hand, really.
if your in the EU give fairphone a look, over 7 years of updates promised for the fairphone 5 in addition to being one of the more repairable phones out there
Samsung is from South Korea, and their flagships are on par with iPhones.
Samsung is basically all Korean?
If you want to cost a company money, calling and talking to a person is a big expense for any company.
Maybe Jolla with SailfishOS would be the best bet.
They had significant Russian funding last I knew. Has that changed?
Nothing Phone is British, if I remember correctly
Probably a Huawei.
