Small Mobile Operating System Alternatives by Country
Here are some great open-source alternatives to IOS and Android.
European:
Non-european:
Come join us at !linuxphones@lemmy.ca to discuss building up the alternatives.
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.
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.
The majority of people don't need so much security, for example I don't use SELinux even on desktop.
Privacy goes hand in hand with security. If you don't have strong security then you can't say that you have privacy. Governments and hackers will exploit your oversight to breach your device, rendering your distancing from Big Tech pointless.
I'm sorry but I won't give Google more money, I think they have enough billions of dollars already.
I understand and I feel the same way. It's ironic that in order to obtain the highest level of security and privacy you have to first degoogle and then go back to Google, but life is funny that way. If you are adamant about it, then I suggest you buy a refurbished Pixel.
I prefer to support business projects and developers who are for open source and the independence from the Big Tech
And I encourage you to do so! More than 90% of my apps on my mobile devices now come from either European devs or FOSS projects. Similar situation on my laptop as well that now runs Linux instead of ChromeOS.
However, I strongly urge you not to compromise your online security and privacy. Choosing a weak Android ROM as your OS is one way you can do that and it can have more negative effects on your life than just staying with your default Android. If you really feel the need to ditch Android immediately, then go for Calyx if you can, but try to switch to Graphene when you can. I also can't immediately switch, but I will probably choose Graphene when I'll be able to.
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:
Wero is only supported in very few countries atm, which is sad cause it does have the potential
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!
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.