Here are some great open-source alternatives to IOS and Android.
European:
- Ubuntu Touch Germany 🇩🇪
- Postmarket OS Europe 🇪🇺
- Sailfish OS Finland 🇫🇮
- Manjaro Arm Germany 🇩🇪
- /e/ OS France 🇫🇷
Non-european:
- Graphene OS Canada 🇨🇦
- WebOS South Korea 🇰🇷
Come join us at !linuxphones@lemmy.ca to discuss building up the alternatives.
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Ubuntu Touch and postmarketOS, like many other Linux-based phone operating systems, have significant security issues.
https://madaidans-insecurities.github.io/linux-phones.html
This article highlights only a small fraction of the critical security issues present in Linux-based mobile systems, with a focus on the Librem 5 (a literal scam) and PureOS. These systems lack essential security features found in modern mobile operating systems like iOS and Android, such as app sandboxing, verified boot, hardware keystores (secure elements), and secure image-based OTA updates.I don’t fundamentally oppose the idea of Linux on smartphones and tablets, but the current implementations are severely lacking in terms of privacy, security, and user experience. While there are developments in the desktop and mobile Linux space, such as immutable/image-based systems and sandboxing technologies like bubblewrap (used in Flatpak), it will take many years before we see modern, private, secure, and user-friendly Linux phones. In the meantime, hardened, degoogled Android-based systems like GrapheneOS are the best option available.
Sailfish is the most secure Linux mobile distro as the cops couldn’t even break into it.
A police department can’t break into anything. They either use 3rd-party tools made by companies like Cellebrite or MSAB, or they send a device to e.g. the FBI (who might sometimes have custom tools, but most of the time they also just use some tool made by some forensics company like Cellebrite). The only reason why forensics companies don’t offer SailfishOS exploits, is because it’s way too obscure, and developing an exploit wouldn’t be profitable by any means. That doesn’t mean that SailfishOS is exploit-proof though. Defending against brute-force attacks requires a hardware secure element, like the Titan M2 or Apple Secure Enclave. Jolla phones simply don’t have secure elements.
SailfishOS is also paid and mostly proprietary. There’s no reason to trust it more than proprietary Android or iOS. In fact, I’d prefer a modern iPhone (12 or later) with the Apple Secure Enclave over a equally proprietary, but less secure device that lacks a secure element. The UX is also a million times better. And yes, I have tried SailfishOS in the past, back when it only ran on Sony Xperia phones. It even was my daily driver for a couple of months.
I’m sorry, but choosing an OS solely on the nationality of its developers is just careless and should not be encouraged. You should primarily aim for functionality, privacy and security.
The only OS on your list that meets these requirements is Graphene which remains the only true alternative for Android and IOS on mobile devices. The main drawback is that it only works on Google devices due to their superior hardware. The rest of Android Roms lack severely in terms of security features and in some cases are even worse than simple Android. /e/ OS is one of them. The unlocked bootloader and the delay in security updates substantially reduce the security of your device. Mobile based Linux OS are underdeveloped and do not have access to most apps available on the market. They can be considered an alternative only if you use your phone for its basic features and for emailing.
If you can, get a Pixel and install Graphene on it. If not, degoogle your device as best as you can, use a vpn, a password manager and a private email provider.
EDIT: Here is a useful chart comparing all the Android Roms - https://eylenburg.github.io/android_comparison.htm
If you really want to ditch Android, but you can’t get Graphene then your second best choice would be Calyx.
divestOS my beloved 😞
also how’s harmonyOS? I wanted to look into that
Harmony is closed source which is a massive red flag as even Android is open source. Definetly not a good alternative.
The majority of people don’t need so much security, for example I don’t use SELinux even on desktop.
If you can, get a Pixel and install Graphene on it. If not, degoogle your device as best as you can, use a vpn, a password manager and a private email provider.
I’m sorry but I won’t give Google more money, I think they have enough billions of dollars already.
I prefer to support business projects and developers who are for open source and the independence from the Big Tech
Buy second-hand then. You get a cheaper phone and you don’t give google a single cent. Win-Win.
Why ? If I can give the same money to Murena, Iodé or Fairphone ?
My answer was more oriented towards not giving google any money but I agree with you on supporting the “good guys” instead of just not supporting the bad guys.
Fairphone is great until you realize that the implementation is just bad, especially as far as security is concerned. They don’t even use a current SoC and promise updates beyond Qualcomm’s end of life date which is a major red flag.
As someone from the U.S., I was so hesitant to switch to another OS, but damn. With everything that’s going on, I kind of feel that I have to switch over to Graphene OS.
This is insane.
That’s a great idea as Graphene OS is considered to be very secure.
I’ve been using Graphene for four years now and am really happy with it for what it’s worth :)
That’s a great choice, thank you for exploring the alternatives!
I want to see a european-made repairable flagship phone with pmos pre-installed with Wero wallet support.
Check out Fairphone! Its really promising on the hardware side of things. I ordered mine with /e/os a couple days ago
Fairphones aren’t European-made. Manufactured by Arima in Suzhou, China.
EDIT: I wonder if the people downvoting my comment did so after the parent was edited to remove the statement that Fairphones are “European-made”. Or if they just don’t like the fact I mentioned, which can be confirmed on Fairphone’s own website:
As far as im aware (and please correct me if im wrong) that is true but the company is European based in the Netherlands, and given their dedication to paying and treating workers fairly I still think its a viable option for a non-US brand phone that is still competitive.
The company Fairphone is indeed based in Europe. My previous comment was to correct the statement (since removed) that Fairphones are “European-made”, which they are not.
But we shouldn’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good; buying a Fairphone with /e/ os is definitely a huge step in the right direction. Congratulations, and I hope it all goes well for you.
(I’d wouldn’t mind getting one myself eventually, but I’ve read contradictory comments about reliability with the cellular bands used where I live, especially as I use an MVNO that switches between different cell service providers with varying tech.)
Thanks, and yea that was my bad, shouldnt have phrased it like that in the context of this thread. I only just noticed after reading your comment. Hopefully its good for me, im excited for it :))
