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.
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).
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.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.
Why did you stop using the G5?
I upgraded to the G6. I honestly don’t remember what my reason at the time was.
i was wondering the same, my pixel 2 has a dying battery
in case you go for a cheap new phone, around here the best option are some Redmi ones. recently got a Redmi Note 9 and slapped LOS on it for a friend, for about 170€. since none are very recent models, sometimes I had to spend a good time searching for them in shop stocks
Don’t Redmi phones require an online account to unlock the bootloader?
Xiaomi ones do. Does Redmi require that too ?
yes, they do (redmi the same as other xiaomi phones) and that’s an important thing I left out.
I did create an account long ago with an alias email that i’ve used for the unlocking of several phones’ bootloader. it also requires a phone number for “verification” when you start the unlocking process, so for anonimity you’d need an unregistered burner phone number
so it does leave a trace in their books
Its going be very hard to move away from my One plus 6T. Has been the best phone for trying out custom Roms, currently running /e/os on it. Just make sure you get an unlocked version
unlocked version? how do i tell if its an unlocked version or not? is there a good starting point to learn more about custom roms?
Dunno if it is a viable new phone choice these days, but my op7 pro is still going strong with crdroid.
Still going strong with my op6T.
Lg no longer gives out bootloader unlock codes, so lg phones are essentially useless unless you can get one that’s already unlocked.
Here is the supported device lis fot those lookingt:
Devices
Devices with a lower opacity image are no longer officially supported and the pages exist for reference only.
You can show them by disabling “Hide discontinued devices” in the device filters below:
