My current phone is starting to annoy me after 7 years of usage (Xiaomi Note 8 Pro) and I’m thinking of finally getting a new one. With that in mind, I’m considering setting up a De-Googled OS as well, but there are a few things that I cannot compromise on:
- Google Maps (I need the live traffic data when in a hurry, otherwise CoMaps is very nice)
- Banking Apps (I’ve checked them in the GrapheneOS list and they do seem to work)
- Instagram (it sucks I know, but I like not being a hermit)
- Company Portal & Teams (absolute garbage, but I need it for work)
If any one of these aren’t guaranteed to work, then it’s not an option for me right now.
If they do work, which De-Googled OS should I go for? GrapheneOS does seem like the most private one and maybe the most likely to remain worked on and supported for a long time, but it means that I’m going to have to buy a Pixel, probably a refurbished one.
Lastly, if I install another OS and regret it, is it possible to install the stock OS again?
Edit: Also, what happens after Google’s “Unverified App” decision has passed, will this affect these alternative OS?
Yes the unverified apps thing will affect you no matter what. It’s not getting better any time soon. There are a lot of reasons for that.
You can’t “de-google” if you are 100% married to googles navigation service. It’s gonna become much harder to avoid play services (the google play store and all its telemetry) if you need a banking app and teams even if they seem to work now because the “reasons” above.
Other people have said that “privacy is a spectrum” in response to the following unconventional advice, and that’s true! Your conception of privacy may simply be getting away from the default apps and keeping the play store! Just keep that in mind:
If you’re actually gonna do any of the things we consider phone stuff on your phone, in terms of privacy and security it goes graphene > appropriately configured ios > a big gap > everything else.
Maybe consider switching. There isn’t a big cost difference anymore.
Speaking from experience with both android and ios platfoms including many custom roms and the alternative repos/app stores, it’s much, much easier to stay as private and secure as possible on ios.