I was considering getting a LG G5. Some models support an older version of LineageOS and I love the replaceable battery.
What do you recommend?
Pixel with GrapheneOS for me.
I personally don’t care for Graphene but the Pixel does have good support from Lineage OS
Why don’t you care for GrapheneOS?
As the matter of fact, I’m curious about the differences now.
Pixel is a popular choice with peeps!
Any information you would like to share with us on why you went with Graphene vs. others?
Any quick pros and cons you would like to share?
https://www.kuketz-blog.de/grapheneos-der-goldstandard-unter-den-android-roms-custom-roms-teil7/ This author made a series about custom roms (unfortunately only in German, but Firefox has a built in translation function) where he tested what data was sent in the first 24 hours of using the custom roms without installing any new apps or changing the settings. To summarize it: Most custom roms still build up a connection to some Google server (like a SUPL server for example) and some custom roms have rather bad security practices (like waiting for a month before rolling out security updates). GrapheneOS is the only custom rom that doesn’t connect to any google servers and has exceptional security (even better than Stock Android).
I know this wasn’t directed at me, but I use a Pixel + GOS
Pro: I keep my bootloader locked and just hit a button for updates.
On LOS, you could go through some kind of relocking process each time, but updates are pretty darn frequent. As a result I ran around with an unlocked phone… Which is honestly stupid.
Con: It’s really not a cheap route. New features on GOS like android auto require you to have a fairly newer pixel. They do drop out support as time goes along too. If you get a pixel 7 or 8 now you can expect something like 7 years support. What I’m saying is, if you get some Pixel 5 today, you aren’t getting all the updates…
Also android auto disconnects somewhat frequently while I drive. I can’t blame GOS entirely, android auto is a weird app, and aspects of it are head unit dependent… But my LOS experience was flawless.
I feel like the pixel 8 is in a good sweet spot right now for remaining update support, price, features, etc.
I’m sure it varies by country but I got two upgrades from my carrier during blackfriday deals and my total monetary commitment per 256GB pixel 8 works out to $240 CAD over 2 years while lowering my monthly plan fee and increasing my data cap compared to before on my BYOD plan.
Extremely cheap for what I would argue is an ideally sized (maybe a bit big) flagship phone.
1000% worth it to get grapheneos. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, its LIBERATING to feel in control of your own device again.
Edit: regarding your AA disconnects, my s10 on Samsung’s stock android had disconnects too over the course of several years and many updates;, AA just kinda sucks tbh.
Seems to me (and that doesn’t mean much) to be the most secure / well updated option. GrapheneOS on a Pixel runs GREAT for me, I honestly expected a buggy experience from a custom ROM.
Also, my grandmother could install it (this was especially enticing, I was worried about having to flash an OS, didn’t want to brick a phone).
You get a lot of flexibility when it comes to installing Google Play Services. What I do is install any app that needs gplay services to a separate user profile with them installed.
I honestly don’t have any cons, I’m completely satisfied with it, I can’t see myself switching back to an iOS device or trying stock Android.
I can think of two cons, although they don’t bother me (not sure if this applies to every ROM available):
You miss out on some features / apps that come with stock android, such as AI features.
AOSP apps are installed out of the box, but aren’t wonderful for day-to-day use IMO. I recommend Fossify and You Apps
Motorola’s Moto G series is usually supported and relatively cheap.
However, if you’re willing to spend a little bit more I recommend getting a Fairphone, if you can. Simply because they guarantee 10 years of device support after release and you can easily get original replacement parts.
So you won’t have to get a new phone just because the battery died.
So I was about to say “I love my Fairphone 5 and recommend it wholeheartedly but it’s not supported by Lineage is yet, which is really frustrating, especially after its been out nearly a whole year”, but then I checked and - well, I’ll be damned - LineageOS does support the FP5 now so I know what I’ll be doing later on: eating chicken wings. But after that, upgrading my FP5 to LineageOS.
Yea it took some time until my FP4 was supported by lineage, back when it was new. But if the price is an issue I doubt OP would get the latest model, anyway.
I maintain that it’s cheaper to buy better and keep longer, but, yeah, Vimes’ Boots strike again.
Lineage supports the phone not the phone Lineage. Okay, not the important thing.
What is cheap? For me, the Fairphone is the cheapest because the /e/OS support is announced at least for five year (FP 5: 8 years). So the device is not the cheapest but buying a new one whenever firmware updates run out is more expensive.
@TheDorkfromYork i use calyx with the moto g52
Sidenote…I loved my LG G5. The modules you could get for it were so cool. I had three batteries just because I could lol. I was sad when they went away from the removable battery.
