I’ve been about, and so far, almost everyone’s advice has been, “Buy a Pixel and install Graphene,” which I think is frankly quite unrealistic. Even the cheapest device that’s still supported (Pixel 6) is still about $200 refurbished, and that apparently loses support one month later (October 2026).
So basically, are there any options for people who aren’t wealthy?
Buy a phone supported by LineageOS. If the phone doesn’t have bootloader relocking, you’re pretty much trading security for privacy, but it really depends on your threat model. Lineage does support a much wider array of devices, whereas GrapheneOS only supports Pixels (until their partnership with Motorola kicks off), and CalyxOS supports Pixels, Motorolas, FairPhones and the Shiftphone 8.
CalyxOS, huh? I haven’t heard of that, and it seems to support some fairly reasonable devices.
Fun fact, the guy begins calyx was the first ever to successfully challenge A national security letter ever. The current darknet diaries episode tells that story.
Oh, wow, that’s actually super interesting to me. I’m gonna have to look that up, thanks.
I used CalyxOS prior to GrapheneOS, and I’d say Calyx is just as reliable as GrapheneOS. Give it a shot if you have or can purchase a phone that supports it.
You can still sideload apps. While the change is ridiculous, you still can sideload apps. They just make it significantly more painful to enable sideloading.
Yeah, except for developers who don’t want to give their ID to Google. Those apps won’t be able to be installed on standard android devices at all as far as I can tell.
The situation is pretty confusing, but you’re still gonna be able to side load unverified apps. The “advanced flow” that makes sideloading obnoxious to do is specifically for unverified apps, whereas verified apps (where devs have to fork up their ID to google) can be installed without any hassle.
I see. Safe to assume the confusion is part of the design.
Using any other ROM, not made by chronically abusive narcisissts living in their dream world where their own ROM is the only acceptable choice.
Eg. LineageOS. Good chances are it already works on your device.
I’m stupid. Does this mean I can install a new operating system on my phone?
On many Android devices, yes. Which phone do you have?
