Hello there! This is my problem: I’m going to buy a new smartphone, and I’d really like to degoogle myself as much as possible. The idea would be to buy a device compatible with LineageOS, but… Supported devices are usually older models, and often there are newer devices with better specs for the same price, that does not support lineageOS. Is seems a shame to buy a device with lower specs than another one just because of software compatibility. So the alternative would be to buy an unsupported device, unlock the bootloader and debloat it as much as possible, flash privileged fdroid and aurora store on it, install microg, etc… What do you suggest me to do? Is the second alternative a viable option? What other steps should I do if I decide to go that way?

Thanks in advance folks!

Edit:
Thanks to anyone for the great answers! I finally decided to buy a pixel 6 (or 6 pro if I find a good deal) and install a custom ROM on it! GrapheneOS will support it for “only” 3 more years, while other roms like lineageos or divestos will have longer support. What do you suggest? Graphene OS and when support ends switch to another one? O directly use the other one?

  • BigTechBlows @mander.xyz
    1·
    10 months ago

    Read the guide here https://grapheneos.org/install/

    Your phone needs to be carrier unlocked and you need a proper computer - laptop or desktop.

    I tried to flash GOS with the web installer using a chromebook, android tablet and my previous phone and it kept failing.

    GOS claims many different devices can work as a host but none worked for me.

    I had to go buy a windows laptop. I hate windows with a blood-boiling passion.

    Once I had the laptop, flashing GOS was butter smooth.

    I spent the next 7 days trying to like the windows laptop but ended up returning it for a refund.