• Teppichbrand@feddit.deEnglish
    0·
    9 months ago

    I strictly use <100€ second hand phones and I love it. I flash LineageOS with MicroG and don’t use Google at all. But if you need to, go ahead and add it.
    To me, the Fairphone feels more like a status symbol, it’s a cool but expensive conversation starter. But why buy new stuff when there’s already an infinite number of cheap used phones available?
    I’m using a Pixel 3a now, Galaxy A5 (2017) before that. Life is good 3 generations down the road.

  • rikonium@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    0·
    9 months ago

    I own an iPhone since it fits my use case with a retail presence, (more) available repair, longer (if murkier how much exactly) software support, customer support and local backup option. (iTunes)

    Out of the box it’s a superior privacy experience to a Pixel but if you’re someone who wants to tinker, there’s less potential. Personally, I don’t want to have to “work” on my phone these days and Google’s engineering snafus haven’t been reassuring. (Google Drive “fix” then sticking head in sand when problems persist, Android 14 bricking…)

    and my most personal reason is that they made my Moto Z Play materially worse by removing the OK Google with screen off feature to push the then-new Pixel and pretended it never was supported.

  • odium@programming.devEnglish
    0·
    9 months ago

    I need a lot more information about you before recommending something.

    • your location (not all models of fairphone support all countries)
    • what things you regularly do with your phone
    • how strongly you care about various issues (privacy, Foss, environment friendly, fair trade, anti-monopolies, etc.)
    • How much you need the money (it’s an expensive phone for the specs)
    • The Bard in Green@lemmy.starlightkel.xyzOPEnglish
      0·
      9 months ago
      • My Android phone that I’ve had for several years just died forever and I am currently without a phone (other than Google Voice on my computer).
      • I’m in the US. Carrier is T Mobile. I understand I’d have to place my order through a third party.
      • Things I care about: All of the above, as long as I can do my work.
      • I have the budget.

      Things I do regularly:

      • Make phone calls.
      • Check my email.
      • Text messages.
      • Signal
      • Podcasts and Audiobooks (I’m currently going nuts trying to do chores without my normal audio stimulation). I need Audible and I need some app that will let me keep all my subscriptions and Patreon benefits.
      • Magic Arena.
      • Lemmy (I currently just use it in a browser, last time I tried Jerboa it was super buggy)
      • ChatGPT app.

      I also “Hey Google” all the time. I’m not sure what the state of deGoogled voice assistants is. If I could “Hey ChatGPT” it would be orders of magnitude more useful than “Hey Google.” Losing voice assistance isn’t a deal breaker, but it’s something I do use frequently.

      Probably 40% of my phone use is Magic Arena and 40% is podcasts and audiobooks. Then probably 5% is “Hey Google, set an alarm for 5 minutes / OK Google, set an alarm for 6:00 AM.”

      Google Services I need for work… but I’m willing to hack my way around to get them, as long as it’s possible.

      • Google Voice (non negotiable, sadly).
      • My work email is through Google.
      • My work video conferences are through Google Meet.
      • My work calendar is through Google and my phone gives me 10 minute notifications before a meeting.

      I would like to degoogle as much as possible, but these are work requirements, and my ADHD brain can’t handle having two phones (one will get left uncharged / lost / never turned on and the odds are that will be the work one).

      • odium@programming.devEnglish
        0·
        9 months ago

        https://www.kimovil.com/en/frequency-checker/US/fairphone-5

        Fairphone 5 will support all of T Mobile’s 4g bands, but only half of the 5g bands. This means that it will have lower 5g coverage than a US phone, but it will have as much 4g coverage as any US phone using t mobile. Based on your use cases, I don’t think there will be too many problems if your phone doesn’t get 5g speeds. Remember that most ppl didn’t have 5g just 3-4 years ago and people were able to do everything that you’re planning on doing with 4g networks.

        Try to buy it from a place with a return policy so you can return it if your home or work doesn’t have service with a compatible band.

        If you are going to look into alternative OSes, consider degoogled androids over linux phones as you seem to need some android specific apps. Most degoogled androids have the ability to install Google apps with something called microg. For voice assistants, you might be able to install Google voice using microg or choose an open source voice assistant like this one: https://github.com/PoCInnovation/Elivia-AI. I don’t use voice assistants much, so I’m not too sure how well those work.

  • scoobford@lemmy.zipEnglish
    0·
    9 months ago

    In my opinion, the pixel is the best option simply for grapheneOS. The privacy and security is unmatched, which are serious concerns these days.

    That being said, the fairphone is an extra ~300€ here.