The GNU/linux distros (in contrast to android) available for mobile phones are so far from usable, it is not funny. Android is a viable choice, but only if it doesn’t come with all the shit from the vendo/Google, which gives you effectively.. a pixel phone with GrapheneOS? Not too much of a choice, especially if you would like to filter based on hardware as well (where apple is just laughably ahead, iphones are ~2 generations ahead in raw performance)

I don't bring this up to start an argument, only because someone reading might look at this comment and assume they can't use a DeGoogled ROM for their phone unless it's a mainline Google flagship -- but LineageOS maintains a list of fairly lengthy list of supported devices, so if you want to use something other than your phone's stock ROM, you should definitely check to see if it's supported, it very well might be.

I also encourage people to check if their devices are supported by LineageOS when they run past their support period, it can be a good way to keep getting security updates past official support windows.

https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/

Good point, though pay very close attention for which device you have, some vendors (e.g. Sony) will wipe their camera’s fancy firmware or pull similar shenanigans. That way the tradeoff may very well not be worth it.

Yep, thanks for bringing that up. I should have mentioned that.

The forums should list some caveats for the device if they exist, but don't assume just because it shows up on the list that everything will work perfectly out of the box -- double check to see if there are any downsides.

Also, I should bring up that LineageOS comes in two variants: one without Google services and one with Google services. If you want to actually de-Google your phone, check to see that you are not going to run into problems with the apps you use.

Occasionally I see people who don't realize how deep Google services can go on Android, which in some ways gets back to your argument about how "open" Android really is. So it's just good to make sure that your stuff will all work afterwards if you're planning to go down that route.

Any phone that doesn't trust the user to install software shouldn't be called "consumer centric".

You cannot match the features or usability of iOS with anything open-source. Full stop. It's not even a comparison.

Sure, if you're so laser-focused on privacy that you want some obscure phone which will do nothing aside from text, call, and send Signal messages, go buy the weirdest one you can find. otherwise you won't be finding anything remotely enjoyable if it's not iOS or a major android flagship. And out of those options, only one respects the user's privacy and security.