- Joined
- Mar 20, 2024
What Android custom ROMs would you recommend? I've heard some conflicting things about Graphene, and Graphite is run by our very own Louis Rossman-hating paranoiac.
General Smartphone Discussion Thread - What phones to recommend and which ones to avoid?
- Thread starter Betonhaus
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- Joined
- May 3, 2023
Anything as long as it's not Play Certified. Android is about to ban open sideloading where you can install whatever you want. By 2027, apps will now need to be code signed by a verified developer to be sideloaded, and each app needs to be registered with Google, after proving your identity.
This puts Android in a worse position than iOS in some ways. Yes, with iOS you can only give yourself 3 apps and you have to reload the apps once a week, but you're not required to submit ID to do it if it's for just your own personal use. Google wants to know who you are to be able to sideload things for your own device, for your own personal use. As of next year, your Android phone isn't yours to deploy things at will to if it's Google Play Certified, which is any Android device with the Google Play Store which is also capable of running banking apps and/or DRM-laden consumer slop.
In the US, you'll need to supply at least one of the following:
Remember that devices which are not Play Protect Certified are locked out of some mainstream software via DRM. So it'll be a case of many people needing two phones if you want freedom with Android soon, and I can guarantee the majority will just shut up and take it, just like they did with the cloud.
At the rate we're going, we might soon see the death of open computing in our lifetime, where source code is technically available but we're not free to use it in production without the nod of big technology companies.
This puts Android in a worse position than iOS in some ways. Yes, with iOS you can only give yourself 3 apps and you have to reload the apps once a week, but you're not required to submit ID to do it if it's for just your own personal use. Google wants to know who you are to be able to sideload things for your own device, for your own personal use. As of next year, your Android phone isn't yours to deploy things at will to if it's Google Play Certified, which is any Android device with the Google Play Store which is also capable of running banking apps and/or DRM-laden consumer slop.
In the US, you'll need to supply at least one of the following:
Remember that devices which are not Play Protect Certified are locked out of some mainstream software via DRM. So it'll be a case of many people needing two phones if you want freedom with Android soon, and I can guarantee the majority will just shut up and take it, just like they did with the cloud.
At the rate we're going, we might soon see the death of open computing in our lifetime, where source code is technically available but we're not free to use it in production without the nod of big technology companies.
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2024
Blackpill. I don't think we will reach this level of control, where anything non big tech approved is banned worldwide (maybe in 1st world countries/dictatorships)
Indeed, the normies will comply with this, but most legal battles/changes are fought by people invested in Computer Science/Technology.
Nobody stops you from using an old PC to have a freedom, or use RISC V based devices. If RISC V is banned, we will go back to primitive computing.
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2025
CalyxOS updated their A letter to the CalyxOS community:
Therefore, rather than a typical monthly update, this OTA update alerts people through a system notification that their current version of CalyxOS will no longer receive updates from our team and a link to our community letter. Once the project comes out of the hiatus, you will be alerted with an additional notification, and reinstalling CalyxOS will be required to receive updates going forward.
In addition, Moto and Fairphone devices will receive a patch to fix the issue related to the anti-rollback protection (ARB) feature we discovered earlier. We hope this can provide a temporary solution to people who are seeking to run CalyxOS on these devices before they can establish a long-term plan. Note that since there will be no more updates to the existing version of CalyxOS installed on your device, future releases from the manufacturer to increment the ARB index are likely to cause the same issue mentioned above.
We understand that some people will continue running CalyxOS until our next release, so alongside this notification, we have included the latest open source security updates for Android 15 (although this is not a full CalyxOS security update). This OTA update, however, is not related to our Android 16 port or the AOSP QPR1 update. We are closely monitoring the AOSP QPR1 release and working hard on bringing up Android 16 with all feature updates and security patches along with our current need to overhaul the project.
[th]Release channel[/th][th]Date[/th][th]Notes[/th]
This links to the following:
Last OTA update before the new CalyxOS release
- This is the last over-the-air (OTA) update to all current and supported CalyxOS devices, before CalyxOS resumes development from its current hiatus.
- The OTA update warns people of the risk of running the current, unmaintained version of CalyxOS.
- It also includes a patch to enable Moto and Fairphone users to install CalyxOS while the project is on pause in response to emerging public requests.
What’s included
As mentioned in our letter to the CalyxOS community, this project has been on a hiatus for the last two months. However, we are concerned with the many existing CalyxOS users who may have not been made aware of this important change. To reach as many active CalyxOS users as we can, our team decided collectively to push one last OTA update to inform all people currently running CalyxOS about the hiatus and its impact.Therefore, rather than a typical monthly update, this OTA update alerts people through a system notification that their current version of CalyxOS will no longer receive updates from our team and a link to our community letter. Once the project comes out of the hiatus, you will be alerted with an additional notification, and reinstalling CalyxOS will be required to receive updates going forward.
In addition, Moto and Fairphone devices will receive a patch to fix the issue related to the anti-rollback protection (ARB) feature we discovered earlier. We hope this can provide a temporary solution to people who are seeking to run CalyxOS on these devices before they can establish a long-term plan. Note that since there will be no more updates to the existing version of CalyxOS installed on your device, future releases from the manufacturer to increment the ARB index are likely to cause the same issue mentioned above.
We understand that some people will continue running CalyxOS until our next release, so alongside this notification, we have included the latest open source security updates for Android 15 (although this is not a full CalyxOS security update). This OTA update, however, is not related to our Android 16 port or the AOSP QPR1 update. We are closely monitoring the AOSP QPR1 release and working hard on bringing up Android 16 with all feature updates and security patches along with our current need to overhaul the project.
Rollout
| Security express | 2 September, Tuesday | |
| Beta | 2 September, Tuesday | |
| Stable | 3 September, Wednesday |
Changelog
- CalyxOS 6.10.10 / 6.10.20
- Android 15
- August 2025 Security update (2025-08-01) with platform patches only.
- Critical notice that maintenance of all current installations have been paused.
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2019
No shit, Sherlock. If you update an old post (without changing the date btw), some users may have missed it.CalyxOS said:
CalyxOS has lost a lot of my trust with this stunt. Well, that and the weird corpo-speak that doesn't really address anything.
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2019
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Performance Cores Frequency Rumored To Be 4.61GHz, New AnTuTu Score 50 Percent Higher Than Snapdragon 8 Elite
None of this matters but it's fun to see smartphone CPU cores creeping towards 5 GHz (for seconds at a time, or maybe when plugged in).
Wasabi Wahhābī
kiwifarms.net
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2023
Can I ask about dump phones / feature phones in this thread? I’ve come to the realization that I don’t need my smart phone and it’s distracting me from parenting. Any recommendations for non app slop phones? I’d still like something with 4 or 5 G but really all I need is something and I can talk/text/set reminders.
wtfNeedSignUp
kiwifarms.net
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2019
Any recommendations on a new phone with a good battery life and camera for traveling? I had recommendations of either Pixel 9 Pro or Xiaomi 14T pro. Don't care too much on Chinaman stealing my information.
triggersliver
kiwifarms.net
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2021
Normally i'd say yes, this new ios26 update has been really detrimental to battery life and background apps for me on my 13. Are you switching from android?
I've looked into these kind of phones a lot and it's really hard to commit to the prices they ask for such few features. Light Phone iii is probably the best balance of a smart dumbphone. Minimal Phone could be a cheaper option.
In my opinion buying some new device isn't really going to fix the root problem you're feeling, you could try limiting the apps on your phone and try to be more mindful of your time. Delete the apps you spend too much time on etc. Just my 2 cents. I just really hate having a phone and would rather just carry around some umpc.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2023
Cheap work phone? Android up to date and small?
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2023
I'm curious about it. I've noticed that Apple seems to have the best streaming services for tv and music and such and so it makes me more intrigued about checking out their phones. I've never owned an iPhone before, I went from Blackberry to Android with a brief Windows Phone intermission
triggersliver
kiwifarms.net
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2021
Are you talking about Apple TV and Apple Music? If they have certain shows you're wanting to see then yeah they will bundle it with apple music and icloud storage in a subscription together. I do miss just downloading the entire x-files series to a micro-sd card and popping it in my android phone. If there's an apple store near you i'd recommend going in and playing with some of the floor models to get a feel for iOS.
My biggest issue with the iphone and apple is the awful experience of trying to go and do anything outside their walled garden. Trying to put your own music on your phone is such a painful, slow, annoying experience. They really do a good job to funnel you into paying for their services. iOS also has a lot of little annoyances and quirks that I personally notice and that bother me. Spell correct sucks, editing text sucks, the keyboard feels really off sometimes. For reference I have owned a lot of different phones over the years. iphone 3g, samsung s4, iphone 4, sony xperia play, windows nokia lumia 920, LG g2, samsung s6, google pixels, xiaomi slop, and this iphone 13 for the past 4 years. iPhone's retain their value well, build quality is excellent, and battery health/life is long. Used iPhone 14 Pro Max on swappa are like $500+, a new base 17 runs you about $799/829(unlocked) and you will easily get 4-5 years or more out of it, plus Apple store has a 14 day return policy if you end up hating the phone.
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2020
Anybody tried the Chink's high end folding phones besides Motorola? Interested in what Huawei or oneplus sell but don't know about durability. Been satisfied so far with a Razr model, other than battery life. Screen has shown no real signs of wear, beside the screen protector which can be replaced.
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2023
my Razr lasted 23.9 months working perfectly, but once I got a job where I have metal shards finding their way into my pocket it didn't last long. Shame as i really like the folding phones and would get them again if I thought they would last
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2023
For my personal cell I've been using razrs since the first 2020 one. Tried the Samsung Flip (V3) for a bit and hated the OS skin or whatever and outside screen was useless. I'd love for there to be more choice in this realm.
You can replace the internal screen protector?! It has tons of warnings not to remove it. I'd love to replace mine as it's got some wear marks.
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2023
it's possible but you have to be pretty careful. It might be safer to go to a phone repair shop that is familiar with folding phones.
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2020
Yeah, if you're not already familiar with dealing with regular screen protectors, don't risk it. They are able to be removed but they don't expect the consumer to be capable without damaging the device.
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2023
Huawei ones are notorious for their folding phones. Dunno about other chink shit