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Android/Phone Alternatives? [Discussion]

With the advent of Google's draconian business decisions, do we have alternatives?

The entire reason I use an android phone is that it's just like a little computer where I can decide how it's used. I was wondering if anyone is familiar with other options.

I remember the PSP with its 3g modem that was a fun novelty. Are there any modern devices like the OpenPandora that could be suitable?

Most of my paid apps are through alternative markets so I'm fairly sure with some effort I could get them running on a Linux device.

I thought about using a laptop but it wouldn't have the same convenience to answer calls asap from my pocket. I'm also unsure if it's possible to use tools like Google maps to navigate.

My apologies if this isn't the appropriate community. I'm hoping that because this likely affects everyone here it's the right place for this discussion. Thanks for reaching the end 💜

15 comments

  • As in ready to go phones? Not really no. There are Linux phones like the pine phone, but they are not really ready for prime time in any way.

    sailfish os says its Linux based and supports android abi 33, but they’re Europe only. I’ve not heard much about them other than they support old Sony Xperia phones so can’t really comment if they’re more usable than the pinephone.

  • Stuff like PostmarketOS looks interesting. The new Furilabs phone doesn't sound too bad either.

    If you have the money, consider donating $5 to a couple Linux mobile projects. Small donations here and there can be the difference needed to make Linux mobile a viable option.

  • I don't think any alternatives exist that are easily viable.

    Most require you to buy specific phones and flash the OS or buy them from a specific supplier who pre-images them.

    Carrier compatibility is also a major issue if you're in any country with a cellular network requiring that you use VoLTE services in general...these third party OSes can't always get at the vendor binary blobs or simply won't include them because legal and privacy preserving reasons.

    You may have some luck with GrapheneOS or maybe LineageOS but those are the only mainstream "alternates" to Android that exist; which actually have a decent chance of working well and can usually be installed to a fair number of different devices; as long as you can unlock their bootloaders and root them day one.

  • I have already been researching this very topic myself, and I'm thinking I'm either going GraphenOS or off to Apple's walled garden. I'm hesitant to try something like the ONEPLUS, as they are running a reskinned Android which is the thing I hate about Samsung, and why I'd never buy another.

    • As long as you verify the model of OnePlus you use works in your country, you could give them a try with lineage OS. My OnePlus 5T ran it great. However, in Canada Rogers just recently nerfed their Network so that my 5T no longer worked -- 4g, LTE or 5g required now, and voLTE on Rogers apparently wasn't compatible with OnePlus models. I'm trying to work up the courage to install graphene OS on my new pixel 9.

15 comments