I currently have an iPhone X. I like it, but it’s gradually dying. It’s also a bit too big. Perfect size would be the iPhone 7 or similar. I’ve had different brand phones before this, so while I’ve been on Apple for a while, I’ve had Samsung, Motorola, Sony, Nokia etc. all the way back to the Nokia 3210.

I’m becoming a bit fed up of big brands and so want to de-Apple myself, but also not go Google. I would love a dumb phone, but I do have some regular apps: MS Auth for work; Lemmy; Philips Hue; Sensibo; WhatsApp.

I was looking at alternative OS options such as Graphene OS, that in theory allow you to run Android apps without Google. But how well do they work?

This would be my primary (only) phone.

So given size considerations (iPhone 7), ability to not be Apple or Google OS, but also be able to run my key apps, what do my options look like?

I’d go into a store and ask, but say ‘not apple and not google’ and you get a vacant stare in response.

  • Ricaz@lemmy.ml
    01·
    1 year ago

    There are lots of privacy oriented Android flavors out there. Most of them won’t come with Google Play services installed. Any of them will be able to run any apps you need.

    In my opinion, Google isn’t bad at all when it comes to tracking and bloatware. They’re much like Apple. It’s the branded phones like Samsung that are absolutely horrible.

    Anyway, check out the LineageOS Wiki: https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/

    It can give a quick overview of the devices which can easily install a custom ROM (OS). I heard good things about Fairphone