GrapheneOS Users: Which is the best midrange phone to have?
-
@timconsidine Cool, thanks! I just noticed that 6a isn't even out yet. I'll check eBay for 4a / 5a phones. All phones are an overkill for me since I just need it to call, text, and email. I moved my TOTP 2FA to Vaultwarden so that's one less requirement. Having an OLED display sounds nice though. I don't have that in my iPhone XR.
-
@humptydumpty I Tried using the Pixel 6 for a month. GrapheneOS works very smooth on it. I'm just not happy with the hardware and Android in general which is why I switched back to my iPhone.
-
@humptydumpty Since the Pixel 6 is now available at a discount, you only pay about 50 Euros more than for the brand new 6a.
Grapheneos also needs some time to support new devices. Personally, I own the Pixel 6 with Grapheneos and am more than happy with it. Grapheneos comes with a small app store that allows you to install the PlayStore very easily. All banking apps even work for me, and apart from Google Pay, I have not yet come across an app that did not work. Netflix is strangely not displayed via the PlayStore, but can be obtained via Aurora-Store without any problems.Furthermore, f-droid (droid-ify or Neo Store) gives you all the freedom and options to try out alternative apps. I switched from iPhone to Andoid and have not regretted it so far - I love my freedom
-
@andreasdueren I thought the hardware is supposed to be pretty solid. What didn't you like about it? If it's the display size then I totally agree, they're huge!
@7dowWilkes One of the reasons why I wanted to switch back to android is because I see a lot of apps on github that have an android app but no ios app which was the other way around back in the day. Would you say some apps won't work on GrapheneOS even if I manually get and install the APK file? Any limitations there?
-
@humptydumpty I do not see any limitations in the apps (except, as mentioned, GPay does not work). In terms of data protection and privacy, and the user's own control over data sharing, GrapheneOS clearly beats iOS here. This already starts with the use of DOT via dns.adguard.com or the service from nextdns.io, which also offer great adblockers. In addition, TrackerControl can still be used via F-Droid and every service (app) runs in its own sandbox (including GooglePlay and Google services).
What else came to my mind when comparing devices. The Pixel 6 has a better camera compared to the 6a, which you can also use with the original app "Google Camera". I advise you to install the "GCam Photos Preview" from the CalyxOS repository, so that you can immediately access the gallery from the Camera app.
-
@7dowWilkes interesting information about banking apps.
I have one that I thought I needed regular Android and PlayStore for.
I was reluctant to put PlayStore on my GrapheneOS device, even in a sandbox. Are you saying the experience is ok and the sandbox is good ?If so I might try the banking app via the Play Store (no APK or FDroid available for it).
-
@timconsidine the game changer actually seems to be the possibility to install the regular Play Services with Play Store in Grapheneos. i could not see any disadvantages to this yet, so far i could use all apps. About the functionality of the sandbox I could only repeat what Daniel Micay writes on his website. Daniel has also built a bypass function for the location requests by Google services. These are routed through the OS and served from there. Google gets very little of this and the apps get their "fake" location info.
I use the banking apps from DKB, ING, Lbb-Berlin (Amazon Prime VISA), N26 and PayPal. Everything works.
I used to be a hard iPhone and Mac user, but switched from iOS completely to AOSP with GrapheneOS and I'm waiting for a Linux notebook with a good processor that can replace Apple's M1.
Would you like me to test an app for you? Of course, only the start of the app and the general functions?
-
@7dowWilkes said in GrapheneOS Users: Which is the best midrange phone to have?:
Would you like me to test an app for you? Of course, only the start of the app and the general functions?
I'll take you up on that offer. I've been testing out GitJournal as the mobile side of a cross-platform note taking system -- obviously, synced via gitea hosted on cloudron
-- and I'm curious how well it works on GrapheneOS. -
@infogulch done. everything works fine so far. connected to github and cloned any repository ... at least the app guided me through the process. What exactly you can do with it now is not clear to me at once
for notes I use other apps. I hope I could help you with this... -
I'm not using Graphene, but I am using the degoogled /e/ OS and it's mostly great
I'm running it on a Teracube 2e 2021 model phone which does the job (aside from stupidly weak Bluetooth), has a replaceable battery and a great 4 year warranty (you can get a brand new replacement phone for $89 if you eg smash your screen)
-
@jdaviescoates I had also tested /e/ OS and CalyxOS. However, the MicroG implementation does not match the functionality of the "real" Google services. I know, we can have philosophical discussions here, each system has its specific advantages and disadvantages.
What should be mentioned ... the dual SIM support also works in Grapheneos (first SIM as a card, second SIM as an eSIM) and what I'm particularly happy about is that Google has apparently solved the fingerprint problems of the Pixel 6 (generally in AOSP and thus presumably also for CalyxOS).
My phone has a hard-shell-glass and the fingerprint reader works very well. Sometimes I also use the outdoor case from SP-Connect (with plastic window) and the fingerprint reader still works.
-
@7dowWilkes That's about it, you can sync back up but that doesn't change the experience. Thank you for testing it out for me!
-
@7dowWilkes said in GrapheneOS Users: Which is the best midrange phone to have?:
Would you like me to test an app for you?
that's kind !
The app tying mw to classic Android is "24" from PrivatBank (Ukrainian). It was a complex setup, maybe just testing install is all that is possible and also enough. -
@7dowWilkes said in GrapheneOS Users: Which is the best midrange phone to have?:
a Linux notebook with a good processor that can replace Apple's M1
System76 (company behind pop!_os) has some nice laptops with Intel 12th gen and RTX cards.
-
@timconsidine The installation via PlayStore of "Private24" works without problems. I was able to click through the functions after launching the app. The scan function also works. I don't see any problems for the login either.
-
@7dowWilkes wow that's great, thanks so much for checking !
-
@humptydumpty It is very solid. Just not the premium class I was hoping to get. My 2 year older iPhone 11 pro max has for example a much better camera module. As an example, distortions are pretty bad on the wide angle lens. Don't get me wrong, its pretty good bang for your bucks and probably excellent for many.
