So which on of these are better for my pixel 7a if we consider these:
i dont care about leaving the bootloader unlocked
i want customization to my os as long as this is possible
i hate google so i dont want any google things or google spyware (i dont use any google service)
i need push notifications for some apps (maybe microg or sandboxed google play services? idk)
i don’t use esim or google pay so idc about these
i need A LOT of privacy and security to my data to the point that i want to block trackers for any app i use
i wanna use google camera as it is in stock rom but i dont want google spy shit. if i use a firewall would that be ok?
Note: i can sacrifice locking the bootloader and customization for my privacy/security/not having spyware on my phone
Thanks in advance!
Edit: i just saw that there is iodé (which sees app trackers and i found it interesting) plus CopperheadOS
Edit 2: THANK YOU ALL A LOT, your answers are the best, imma go with grapheneos and donate them also cause their job is the best
also i found this matrix for oses that helped me: https://eylenburg.github.io/android_comparison.htm !!!
Edit 3: Deleted CopperheadOS from the title - no need to compare cause it’s garbage (see comments)
This is my second iteration of CalyxOS, I used to rock a Pixel 4a and now I’m on a Fairphone 5, and I love it. It’s rock solid and never had a compatibility issue, although I heard that some banking apps might misbehave with microg, but not in my experience.
Graphene has pretty much the same approach but instead of supporting microg, has decided to take the route of sandboxing Google Services, which is a better route for compatibility at the expense of letting some of your data leak through once in a while.
/e/OS is a wonderful project on paper, but in my experience it was the one with more issues and bugs: they try to support as many devices and services as possible, providing a full environment that’s easy to setup for any user, but having to deal with so may things makes them a little hit or miss sometimes. Nonetheless I still believe they’re a great project that brings privacy to the less techy people with a (mostly) working ecosystem.
LineageOS isn’t focused on privacy but in extending the life cycle of devices after they’ve been discontinued, so if your concern is to be private I’d go with something else.
Don’t underestimate the bootloader locking feature: once your whole life is connected to one device, you don’t want a guy with a USB cable be able to access it in case of loss/theft. DON’T ASK ME HOW I KNOW IT.
May I please ask whether an unlocked bootloader is still bad for privacy and the risk of data loss/theft, if the phone is enrypted?
My understanding is that while being able to mess with the phone (e.g. including installing a new OS) in the presence of an unlocked bootloader, a properly encrypted phone at least protects the data on it.
Did I get that wrong?
basically, i underestimate it cause in my country the thieves or anyone don’t even know what is the bootloader lol
they are so uneducated cause our educational system is very old
