I own 2 bloated proprietary devices and don’t use them for anything important, like banking or dealing with authorities. I also don’t trust the manufactures not selling my data.

Id like to have a working device with no bloatware and completely degoogled. Ironically I’d have to buy something made by google to run GrapheneOS on it. Intended use would be to use as a camera, to run CoMaps on it, pkpass files with foss-wallet, reading epubs, making phone calls and running one aurora app.

I don’t need the device to play games, watch movies, show off or to play loud music, but I’d like a jack port for my headphones (I assume google headphones would cease to work if I degoogle the device, nor would I want to spend more than necessary enriching that data grabber even more.

Is there a pixel device with a jack port?

Are batteries inside pixel devices glued to the frame or can they be easy to change?

My main OS is debian. How easy is to transfer data from GrapheneOS to debian and the other way round?

Overall if you run GrapheneOS on a pixel, how many years running it and what do you think about it?

  • monovergent 🛠️@lemmy.ml
    2·
    1 day ago
    • Buy second-hand or discounted old stock from a reseller to minimize your contribution to Google.
    • Unless one of the apps you are forced to use requires Google Play Integrity, GrapheneOS will be compatible with any Android app, even providing sandboxed Google Play services if needed.
    • For apps so invasive as to require Play Integrity, you might be better off leaving them on a secondary phone with stock Android and powered off when not in use.
    • The Pixel 5a is the last Pixel device with a headphone jack, but no longer receives GrapheneOS updates. You may want to consider USB-C headsets, which are usually also compatible with computers, and require no extra dongles.
    • If the Google headphones work over Bluetooth, they will also work with GrapheneOS. No experience with Google headphones, but I only missed out on customizable shortcuts and device renaming when I opted not to install the companion app for my earbuds.
    • Everybody warns against using out-of-date GrapheneOS devices, but that’s not very satisfying. Yes, they will have open vulnerabilities. But as long as you install apps from reputable sources, the chance of being attacked via outdated Android is very low, provided you are not being targeted by an agency.
    • That said, grab a more recent Pixel if you can for security updates into the 2030s.
    • All Pixel devices have enclosed batteries, most are quite frustrating to remove, particularly the 9a. There’s a decent chance of breaking the screen if it has to be removed in the battery replacement process. Won’t recommend it, but I have considered buying one with a bloated battery just so the adhesives are already removed for me.
    • Transferring files to and from any Linux distro works just fine, as with any Android device, bearing quirks of the mtp protocol in mind. LocalSend can be used for wireless file transfer. rsync requires a workaround.
    • I’ve used GrapheneOS for the past 4-ish years. I’ll admit I had a head start since my workflow wasn’t too smartphone-dependent in the first place and I had already begun pulling myself out from Apple and Google services back then. Everything just works and I would never look back.
  • CosmicSurgeon@lemmy.ml
    3·
    2 days ago

    I have been running GOS for 5 years now on my pixel 4a. Planning to snag a new 9a during black friday sales. Hardware is fine, but I want security updates.

    I run my banking through vanadium browser with non-foss 2fa app in a separate profile.

    Facebook messenger works, but whatsapp nevers works properly for me. Trying to migrate friends and family to signal.

    I mostly use LocalSend to transfer files between my computer and phone. Photos and folders are synced with my synology nas.

    Summary: I’m happy with GOS, great battery life and no distracting ad-bloated apps. Can run most apps with google play in separated profiles.

  • Scrath@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    2·
    2 days ago

    Works great for me on my pixel 7 but you have to be aware that you loose some stuff too unfortunately.

    Not all banking apps work and payment using your phone is completely out.

    If you care about it, the health stuff also isn’t available

  • Dr. Wesker@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
    8·
    3 days ago

    Pixel 5a 5G was the last Pixel that had an audio jack. I held onto mine forever, until Graphene stopped support for the model.

    I upgraded to the 7a, and then bit the bullet and bought a separate DAP for music.

    The biggest adjustment to using Graphene is often just having to finding open-source app solutions that don’t require Google Play, assuming you don’t want to run the sandbox. I found the process cathartic, personally.

  • communism@lemmy.ml
    4·
    3 days ago

    (you may want to post this to !privacy@lemmy.ml or a similar community… I suppose GOS uses the Linux kernel technically but I think this community is for desktop Linux lol)

    GOS is really nice. It’s very seamless and user-friendly, whilst still being very unbloated and minimal. You still have everything you’d expect to have on a phone but the environment is nicely minimal and lets you only install the software you want.

    I’ve been using GOS as my exclusive mobile OS for many years, never had any technical problems with it.

    You can use bluetooth headphones or usb-c headphones. Including the bluetooth headphones google sells. Afaik they are still just bluetooth headphones.

    How easy is to transfer data from GrapheneOS to debian and the other way round?

    Easy: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Media_Transfer_Protocol

  • nfreak@lemmy.mlEnglish
    3·
    3 days ago

    I switched to it this past winter, same time I moved from Windows to CachyOS on my desktop, and I haven’t looked back on either device since.

    Debloats the hell out of the thing, and personally I love how deeply documented everything is. Reasons and justifications are given for every design decision, but it’s also not an extremely opinionated ecosystem - if you need a google app or w/e for any reason, the option is there. there are some limitations like the integrity API dogshit, but for the most part, it’s a near flawless experience.

  • hankthetankie [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
    1·
    3 days ago

    I have done a lot of pixel repairs and GOS installations . Pixels are glued shut. It is repairable but it is quite sure to say that the screen will break if removed , it’s kind of like removing two eggshells glued together. Requires a lot of patience and luck to do it without breaking it. Once in it’s not harder than any other phone. That said my own has a a 40 euro case to avoid the issues of repairs, I recommend that. Screens are 100 + euros nowadays. So repairs is rarely worth it. Depends on the price you can get the parts for it.

    Batteries can be replaced but takes some work and hot air gun to remove glue.

    For GOS yeah that’s what you want it’s the best. And I do everything from debian distros.

    Don’t use aurora. Instead install GOS implementation of google play on a separate user profile if needed. The user profiles are a lot better sandboxed than regular user profiles and the gapp implementation better than aurora. And most things work without it also.

    GOS gets more support than regular pixels but are recommended to not trust after pixel official updates end. For the new ones it’s 7 years. Usually GOS gets a year extra of minor updates. Check the FAQ and device support on https://grapheneos.org/faq

    I use mine for nearly everything. And there are either FOSS apps from FDroid (and additional repos) or just use the mobile website for non Foss stuff like banking. There are a few exceptions , like Whatsapp that I need but it have fewer permissions and no access to contacts ( there’s a Foss app as helper for that as well) . Your headphones will work fine.