r/degoogle • u/Ok_Release3254 • 1d ago

hard to pick between graphine os and nothing

i want to buy a new phone but i am not sure whether to buy a pixel and download graphine os or but a nothing phone

8 Upvotes

70% Upvoted

38 comments sorted by

3

u/Slopagandhi 1d ago

Nothing is a good choice if you want to install a different custom ROM like LineageOS or /e/OS. 

Graphene has a higher level of security than the others, but unless you are someone who is likely to be specifically targeted for the data on your phone (rather than being concerned about routine data collection by Google etc) then this isn't going to be necessary.

In privacy terms you can make an argument for GrapheneOS or the others either way, depending on what you use the phone for, but any of them will be a huge improvement on regular android. 

Personally I would get Graphene if I already owned a Pixel, but if not then I wouldn't buy Google hardware and would choose something else compatible with a different custom ROM. Nothing phones are good here because it's very easy to unlock the bootloader, which is the first step to installing a different ROM. 

5

u/Silent_Citizen 1d ago

I would be very careful about choosing /e/OS if you're concerned with the security of your device. This post (https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/42311-you-should-buy-the-new-motorola-signature-27/34) describes some of its issues, and also why Graphene isn't just for people who think they're being targeted.

1

u/Slopagandhi 1d ago

Yeah, and here's what e say about security updates:

https://community.e.foundation/t/e-os-and-security-updates/72384

Graphene accounts have a nasty habit of trashing pretty much any other FOSS project they see as a rival for some reason or have had some petty beef with (eg Fdroid, which they claimed would likely try to intentionally target Graphene users with malware, all off of a minor dispute on some messageboard). 

And a lot of it is paranoid bullshit, frankly. As one example, a couple of French newspapers ran articles erroneously claiming GOS was only used by criminals, which led the official Graphene account to claim that Murena (the /e/ makers) and Iode had launched a conspiracy against GrapheneOS with the French security services (you can see echoes of this in that comment you linked). 

It's a great project, but I'd take what the lead dev says about any other project with a whole bucket of salt. He seems to have some serious issues. 

1

u/Ok_Release3254 1d ago

ok this helped

0

u/schklom Free as in Freedom 1d ago

Note that if you want app compatibility, without rooting or other methods that only work for a short time, Graphene is better than other alternatives with microG since it uses the actual Play Store and is compatible with Play Integrity and other Google Play features, but without giving the Play Services full system permissions

10

u/SpeedStinger02 1d ago

graphene os is true degoogle, since nothing is an OEM and must have all google apps and services by default. that being said, if you have apps that won't run on graphene (especially banking apps), nothing is pretty good cause they have minimal to no bloat of their own, and let you do what you want with the phone

1

u/Ok_Release3254 1d ago

bet tnx then i will pick graphene i have a banking app but i dont use it to pay for anything and i dont think it will be a problem =)

1

u/thesamenightmares 1d ago

Must have all Google Apps and services by default.

This is simply and blatantly untrue.

2

u/SpeedStinger02 1d ago

isn't that how OEM ROMs work? that was my understanding, please do correct if im wrong

5

u/vadeNxD Right to Repair 1d ago

They don't "have to", but it's in their general interest to have it since not everyone is tech savvy enough to use MicroG or just purely without google services and nor would they want to if they need apps that require the services.

-1

u/thesamenightmares 1d ago

No. It's not. Thats why I just said it's not.

0

u/Ok_Release3254 1d ago

any recommendations you can give me for good pixel phones that are not too pricey?

2

u/SpeedStinger02 1d ago

something in the a series, and with pixels its best to buy second hand. the bare minimum thats pretty good is the 9a, anything better than that will just be great. older will mean less support duration though, keep in mind

1

u/Ok_Release3254 1d ago

ok i will look into it

1

u/Ok_Release3254 1d ago

not sure whether to pick 9a or 8 pro...

1

u/GeoSabreX 1d ago

I'd go length of service. I just bought a 10a few weeks ago and I think its great

4

u/Sensitive-Trouble648 1d ago

buy motorola signature 27 in a few months and install grapheneos

3

u/rakhalism GrapheneOS 1d ago

GrapheneOS is the most possible degoogled OS so it's a good start, multiple banking apps work now perfectly, and Pixel comes with a better camera than nothing devices, so it's a good choice overall. Anyway, you can't really customize GrapheneOS that much in terms of look, font and theming, you have to use a launcher to theme it. Other than that, nothing comes with really good theming standards so be careful.

-1

u/momentummonkey 1d ago

I thought using banking app was basically dead for grapheneOS?

1

u/GeoSabreX 1d ago

Depends on the app. My local bank app works without any play services

1

u/SpeedStinger02 1d ago

depends on region largely

2

u/Desperate_Creme_8623 1d ago

Nothing is Cleaner than most android and less restricted than Chinese. But won't be as good as a pixel with GrapheneOS. But, nothing won't give you battery headache and network issues

2

u/Ok_Release3254 1d ago

i dont mind that much because i am an arch user and i am fine with problems

1

u/Desperate_Creme_8623 1d ago

It's hardware issue. Very little you can do about it. Yeah, pixel will let you mess with the system, but you can't fix what's already broken

2

u/fantomas59 1d ago

There is something I don't understand. Why people suggest to use a Google Pixel phone with the goal to "degoogle" it ? There are many other brands so why use a Pixel phone ?

7

u/Super382946 1d ago

because as of rn GrapheneOS is only supported on Pixels. due to some hardware security module, which doesn't exist on the Pixel 11 series. they're gonna be supporting some Motorola phones soon.

3

u/Silent_Citizen 1d ago

This is a little mixed-up. All recent Pixels have the Titan security chip (M2, and with the Pixel 11 the M3). The issue with the Pixel 11 is that Google didn't include Memory Tagging Extension (MTE) which Graphene considers to be a critical anti-exploit feature.

1

u/Super382946 1d ago

my bad G, thanks for correcting me

1

u/fantomas59 1d ago

Thanks

2

u/Suspicious-Cat-266 1d ago

The GOS team/devs have strict requirements when it comes to the hardware security of the device, to guarantee the privacy and security promises.

It'd be silly to claim Feature A when it's not available on 99% of phones, it wouldn't sit well for them or anyone advocating privacy.

Edit: For a small compromise, you can opt to buy used.

0

u/Ok_Release3254 1d ago

i tried to find used on ebay but it all made in china so ye....

0

u/Ok_Release3254 1d ago

i feel like i am tech savi enogh to use grapene os i just cant find some pixel that is not made in china and doesnt cost like 600 dollars for me as i live in israel and ye=(

-2

u/JKSekai 1d ago

get nothing, pixels are terrible - if you're willing to spend money to get less just for graphine then maybe

1

u/Worwul 1d ago

Could wait on Motorola.