Hello there! This is my problem: I’m going to buy a new smartphone, and I’d really like to degoogle myself as much as possible. The idea would be to buy a device compatible with LineageOS, but… Supported devices are usually older models, and often there are newer devices with better specs for the same price, that does not support lineageOS. Is seems a shame to buy a device with lower specs than another one just because of software compatibility. So the alternative would be to buy an unsupported device, unlock the bootloader and debloat it as much as possible, flash privileged fdroid and aurora store on it, install microg, etc… What do you suggest me to do? Is the second alternative a viable option? What other steps should I do if I decide to go that way?

Thanks in advance folks!

Edit:
Thanks to anyone for the great answers! I finally decided to buy a pixel 6 (or 6 pro if I find a good deal) and install a custom ROM on it! GrapheneOS will support it for “only” 3 more years, while other roms like lineageos or divestos will have longer support. What do you suggest? Graphene OS and when support ends switch to another one? O directly use the other one?

  • MigratingtoLemmy@lemmy.world
    91·
    1 year ago

    I am dismayed at the current scenario of basically nothing but the pixels being supported for rooting (not the fault of the community). Also a bit saddened by how easily everyone has accepted it.

    If I don’t go the pixel route, I will probably purchase a cheap OnePlus mobile next year with at least kernel version 5.10. By next year, KernelSU should be more mature, and if you know about KernelSU, you know that passing SafetyNet is not a problem. I’d run microG in the work profile and put my apps there, and also debloat the pathetic excuse of ColourOS (or whatever Oppo uses). Fuckwads couldn’t even keep the damn tool open to unbrick devices (which is why development stopped). By next year I just need to figure out how to install patches with a modded kernel.

    Sorry that doesn’t answer your question since you need a mobile now. I’m just quite annoyed at the state we are in. I really hope linux mobiles take off in the near future and I don’t have to deal with such nonsense.

    • azdle@news.idlestate.orgEnglish
      3·
      1 year ago

      I am dismayed at the current scenario of basically nothing but the pixels being supported for rooting (not the fault of the community). Also a bit saddened by how easily everyone has accepted it.

      Serious question, what the the community not accepting it look like?

      • MigratingtoLemmy@lemmy.world
        2·
        1 year ago

        More outrage at OnePlus maybe. More discourse in general. I’m astonished at how nobody seems to be batting an eyelid at the Pixel being the only real mobile which can be rooted (and if that’s the case, what’s the point of all the projects? Would you run anything other than Graphene OS on a pixel?)

        I dearly wanted the FP5 in the US but they didn’t do it. Quite disappointing. I’m just waiting for KernelSU to mature a bit more and learn how to install security patches on top of a custom kernel. Once I get to that point, I’ll just shut up.

        • azdle@news.idlestate.orgEnglish
          2·
          1 year ago

          I think people are just all outraged-out these days. (Well, at least for this…) The years and years of outrage about locked phones didn’t get any of the old manufacturers to change their ways and when the option of the pixel showed up, people who care about this were just tired and settled for just voting with their wallet. Or at least that was my experience.

    • TheAnonymouseJoker@lemmy.ml
      76·
      1 year ago

      nothing but the pixels being supported for rooting

      Your observation is incredibly US-centric and bullshit. Rest of the world gets to have OnePlus, Motorola, Xiaomi and other phonemakers that allow unlocking/rooting.