Please write the 3 phone brands (in order please) which you think they bring the least number of third-party apps.
Notes:
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1- PrivacyGuides recommends Google Pixel. But it is not selling on my country. I can not bring it from other countries because it will not have warrant.
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2- We also don’t have fair-phone and nothing-phone (i can not bring it from another country).
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3- we only have: general-mobile, huawei, samsung, asus, tcl, htc, xiaomi, vivo, infinix, oneplus.
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4- please dont recomend custom ROM. Its technically difficult for me. Also I will recommend the device to my friend (they don’t have even an idead what is custom-rom)
Pixel phones from Google are the cleanest.
Pixel phones ship the entire Google garbase.
Anyway, OP said can’t get a Pixel phone.
I appreciate OP has requirements. But as this discussion reaches a wider audience, it is absolutely necessary to indicate that pixel phones are the cleanest out of the box phone experience you can get. For all of the people who are not OP who are reading this.
The absolute cleanest experience is a pixel phone loaded with grapheneos, which isn’t hard to install - they have a website that does it all for you.
The cleanest out of the box would be a brand shipping AOSP or something closest to it. Maybe Nokia, I’m not sure.
Pixel phones do not ship third party apps other than Google apps.
If you want to install pure AOSP, the only pure AOSP builds I’m aware of are for Pixel phones. And you can install them here, clean without any Google proprietary stuff, just AOSP pure and simple.
From the docs:
https://source.android.com/docs/setup/test/flash#device-requirements
Pixel 2 and newer DragonBoard RB3 (also known as db845c) HiKey 960 HiKeyThat’s not “out of the box”.
It’s as close as you can get.
Then you should edit your original comment to reflect this.
it is absolutely necessary to indicate that pixel phones are the cleanest out of the box phone experience you can get.
No they’re not. Have you actually bought a newer Pixel and used it without a custom ROM? They are loaded with extra Google applications and features now. It’s a very different experience to several years ago when everyone referred to Pixels as “stock” Android. Motorola phones have a more “stock” experience than Pixels now.
Motorola phones: asop + google + Motorola
Pixel phones: asop + google
Asop flashing pixel only: asop
How is the risk surface lower on a Motorola phone?
That’s not true, though. Motorola phones do not contain all the same Google features and applications as Pixels and the way in which their first-party applications are embedded in the OS is less significant than the way in which Google embeds theirs.
EDIT: Your risk surface question is also a strawman and shifting the goalposts. Neither myself nor OP made was making an argument about risk surface.
I see we are talking about very different things when we talk about bloat.
If Google play has super control of the phone I consider that bloat and a huge risk surface.
If Google play has super control of the phone
You are describing basically all phones, including Pixels. If you want to flash AOSP or some custom ROM, fine, but that’s not an “out of the box” experience as you originally claimed.
Motorola it’s a good one.
you can’t have both privacy and total convenience
I’m going against every one of your requirements by suggesting a pixel 6 or onwards used on eBay and install graphene os, it has the least amount of bullshit and is stupidly easy to install even for someone who’s never heard of a custom ROM
If you didn’t read the post, the OP doesn’t have Pixels available in their country and they want warranty so used phones are not an option either
They clearly read and understood the post. That’s why they said I’m going to go against every one of your requirements.
I’m sorry but what is this comment supposed to mean? I don’t understand. Is it an oxymoron?
He also said he can’t bring it in for lack of warranty.
Well, ignoring warranty, used pixels are so cheap you can own 2 or 3 for the cost of one new one with a warranty. Basically eliminates the warranty concern.
I’ve replaced exactly one phone under warranty (well, the expensive extended warranty bullshit), and since then I only buy used phones and just keep spares. It’s a far better value in my opinion, and I can switch phones nearly instantly.
When you don’t have the money or ability to buy a new used phone when the previous one breaks down, warranty is a must, even if applying for a repair is as hard as making a phone yourself. Please keep in mind that even $100 is a substantial amount of money in some countries
Stupidly easy is an understatement, you can accidently install it its that easy!
This is a bit of a pickle. Apart from Google, I think only Motorola and Nokia have stock-ish android. But they don’t have stellar software upgrade promises
There is a German manufacturer called GigaSet which does stock. I am rather happy with their GS5 phone and they even have a senior option if you want a not as smart smartphone for a parent.
I had no idea Gigaset manufactured cell phones. I have a set of their DECT home phones, and they are amazing. Have had them for over 6 years now.
I had a Galaxy Note 10 die on me after just a little over 2 years (such a shitty fucking phone) and then, swearing I would never pay so much for a phone again, switched to a Motorola Edge 30. It cost less than a third of the Samsung, and it even came without the bloating bullshit. Highly recommend it.
My Sony xz2c does have bloats installed, namely amazon and facebook. Don’t know what the state they’re in now tho.
OnePlus offers mostly stock android too
It used to but oxygen OS is pretty far from stock now.
You mean other than forced Facebook and shit?
Amazon and Facebook app managers come preinstalled as System apps on so many android phones.
It’s a real pain in the ass, for sure.
In some cases adb can’t uninstall them, so even worse
General-mobile only makes phones with 10 years old hardware afaik. Asus is probably what you’re looking for. Huawei has fake ad icons on home screen by default which are not installed apps but still I don’t recommend them because they don’t have Play Store. Everything else will give you a lot of preinstalled 3rd party bloatware apps I think. Google Pixel or custom ROMs are the ways to go for lowest amount of pre-installed apps
If you can get a Blu phone shipped in, that would be exactly what you’re looking for. All Blu phones come unlocked by default, they’re about a third the price of name brands with the same specs, and while they have minimal bloatware to begin with, their apps are all unprotected so you can uninstall everything that isn’t a core system.
Bonus perks that aren’t relevant to your question, every phone they make is made with gorilla glass, so they’re ridiculously hard to crack or scratch. They come with a case, screen protector, charger block, cable, headphones, Sim key, and sticker in every box. Lastly, to put into perspective how bafflingly reliable these things are, I’ve bought 3 of them in 10 years. I’m replying to you from one I bought two years ago that has been a 6% decay in battery life and still has no issues running anything I use it for.
Never heard of them, I’m gonna check them.
For you fellow lemmies, here are the links:
It doesn’t look good with the hidden spyware listed on Wiki. I know Google is doing similar things but I would rather pick a less rotted apple.
I don’t have hands-on experience with any of the brands listed so sadly can’t give specific recommendations
Would a second-hand Google Pixel work fine for you, or do you definitely want to buy new? Mobile devices are really reliable nowadays, I doubt you’ll need to worry about a warranty (which would not cover accidental damage, like a cracked screen)
I’ve noticed most countries outside of the US and Europe (making that assumption based on inability to get a Google Pixel or a Fairphone) typically have some locally used apps preinstalled regardless; usually a social networking and mobile e-payment app. I’d expect it to be possible to remove these using ADB if you have access to a computer.
Are you buying direct from manufacturer, or via a carrier? Do note that carriers may have customized the apps installed on your device if you buy one through them. For the least preinstalled bloat, buying direct is ideal
Warranties are practically useless, or I should say I find better value buying a 2 year old phone for a fraction of new. I can own three or four Pixel 5/6 for the cost of a new Pixel.
I prefer having a spare around. One dies, just swap Sim and move on.
I don’t have bad experience with fairphone’s warranty. The part where I agree with you is that warranties don’t make sense for smartphones that are still functional. They become such an important part of our lived that parting with it for repaird is difficult.
Pixel and GOS , very easy to install. Warranty blaha. Oneplus usually have a lot of lineage support. Spend and afternoon on YouTube , XDA forum and learn.
All of your brand’s listed are bloated. Samsung is really bad though.
Take a look at https://lemmy.ml/post/13548401
Asus zen phone had received great reviews. You can use it as stock Android or with Asus’ slight customizations. It’s on the smaller side but it’s a good price.
You make it sound being small is bad when it’s the reason I bought it haha love not having a tablet for a phone!
Isn’t Asus disable the bootloader unlook and lost a case? I think I read this somewhere in Lemmy.
It was disabled on the 10, yes. ASUS promised to enable unlocking but last I checked (a few months ago) they still hadn’t done it.
i loved mine but 2 years from launch they stopped all updates. can’t recommend asus at all just for that reason. i havent tried custom roms because a couple years ago when i tried they all had weird issues
it will not have warrant.
No warrant will refund our privacy.
Its technically difficult for me. Also I will recommend the device to my friend (they don’t have even an idead what is custom-rom)
You think we were born knowing it?
If nothing works out; look into Android Debug Bridge (ADB) and use these package names to remove all the google bloat. Perhaps it’s a bit too involved, but AFAIK this is the easiest way to gain a semblance of privacy on your phone. I don’t screw about with custom roms either.
LMK if you do try to use it, I can provide some guidance if you need.
Dandy!
Nokia ? I have an XR20. Doubles as a GPS etc on the front of my bicycle, its great, has a headphone jack and SD expansion.
I am not that familair with their lineup though there is an XR21 I think? And a bunch of other models.
