Smartphones with "pure" Android (lemmy.kde.social)

submitted 1 year ago by tubbadu@lemmy.kde.social to c/opensource@lemmy.ml

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Hello! My smartphone is dying, so I'll soon have to buy a new one. I'd like my new phone to have pure Android, without all the apps that manufactures install. Ideally I'd like to remove the majority of Google services too, but there are some that I can't replace yet, so I'm still dependent on, like google maps. What smartphone do you suggest me? In your opinion, would it be better to buy a smartphone with already stock android or to buy any smartphone, and then replace the OS?

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[-] Frederic@beehaw.org 8 points 1 year ago

If you want pure android, then a Pixel phone, but if you want to degoogle, no...

Else you can find very interesting powerful phone like PoCo F4 for instance and replace the ROM with the dozen ones available, check XDA.

Know that when you unlock bootloader/replace ROM, you will most likely lose the ability to pay with your phone, or play a cat and mouse game with magisk and addon and google Wallet.

[-] tubbadu@lemmy.kde.social 1 points 1 year ago

If you want pure android, then a Pixel phone, but if you want to degoogle, no…

why? other than "your'e giving money to google just before removing google"

Know that when you unlock bootloader/replace ROM, you will most likely lose the ability to pay with your phone, or play a cat and mouse game with magisk and addon and google Wallet.

I didn't know about this, custom ROMs cannot run these kind of services?

[-] Frederic@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago

Nope, Google Wallet does not run with unlocked bootloader or with root. There's a lot of programs made to avoid this but setup can be broken anytime with a Google update. If you absolutely want to pay with your phone, it can be nightmarish to install all kind of add-ons to bypass failing CTS.

[-] helpimnotdrowning 1 points 1 year ago

Not always; I have a rooted+unlocked LG v60 with Universal Safetynet Fix 2.2.1 (2 y.o. version) and MagiskHide Props Config 6.1.2.137 from just as long ago and my Google Wallet works perfectly fine.