Unfortunately Android is the best I can do because of material circumstances. A Pinephone daily driver would be the dream however, but a fully FOSS phone is only happening under socialism.

[–] Bartsbigbugbag@lemmy.ml 3 points 5 months ago (3 children)

I plan on picking up a high end huawei next time I’m in China, it seems the only way to get android without supporting Google, and I just can’t do that for any reason.

[–] Xillionaire@lemmygrad.ml 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

That's not the only way, you could install a de-googled android ROM like LineageOS, CalyxOS or GrapheneOS.

[–] Bartsbigbugbag@lemmy.ml 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I almost bought a Linux phone when I got my last phone, but I need access to WeChat to talk to my wife and it doesn’t seem to have a version for that. Other than Google pixel, what high end phones can have other OS installed? Last time I looked into it, pixel seemed to be the main way to degoogle, which kinda defeats the purpose.

[–] Xillionaire@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

CalyxOS seems to support some motarola phones and two fair phones https://calyxos.org/docs/guide/device-support/. LineageOS seems to support a wide array of devices (including some from the Chinese brand Xiaomi) https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/. However GrapheneOS only supports pixels https://grapheneos.org/faq. You could always just buy a pixel second hand if you don't want to support google. WeChat should work on all of these ROM's as they are just modified android.

[–] Bartsbigbugbag@lemmy.ml 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

I used to work as a repair technician, even got certified by the big three. I wouldn’t use a pixel phone even if was free haha. I didn’t realize how many devices supported other OS’s though, thanks for the great resources. LG phones are pretty well together, and some models of Moto phones as well. If I don’t end up going huawei, I might go one of those directions. Thanks again, this is a very helpful post!

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 3 points 5 months ago

get a xiaomi and install lineageos on it.

[–] polskilumalo@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 5 months ago

Based