Moi? I use currently a NOTE 20 ultra 5g. Probably my second best phone, I only hate the fact it’s so massive (I miss being able to use just one hand for my phone) and the mediocre battery life for someone like me that watches a lot of videos. But the S pen is so handy those few times you need it.
Pixel 6a. Changed the OS to GrapheneOS. This is the best phone I’ve owned.
My good condition used 7 pro is arriving tomorrow and I plan on doing the same.
Fantastic. I went with GOS over 2 years ago. It’s been great.
Would this be an overly complex process for those with only some tinkering experience (e.g., I’ve got Linux on my laptop and have a general sense of how terminal/tilix works)? I’ve read the docs but can’t get a sense of the complexity
It’s very easy to install GrapheneOS. All the instructions are laid out on their site. There are two options CLI or a web installer.
Thank you! 😊
GrapheneOS is by far the simplest experience I have ever had with flashing a custom ROM over the years. The web installer is very straightforward.
Awesome, thanks so much! I’ll bump this into the projects list 😁
Web installer wont work with a sandboxed browser without some tinkering if you are installing off linux.
Okay time to show my ignorance lol. Can you offer a resource on what a sandboxed browser is and what kind of tinkering is required??
If you use flathub linux store, many apps will come “sanboxed” ie they will have restricted permissions on your system. This whole another lesson on how linux works.
Either way, in order to use the web installer, you need browser installed on “system” which i think means your normal user permissions which would allow you to use the web installer.
If you are having issues with web installer, command line still works.
I think easiest way is to install chromium as system to this job.
This is what I have going, and I too wish it had wireless charging. But overall, just a fine phone and not ridiculously huge.
I’m going to switch it out at some point. Any gotchas?
The phone or the OS? Hardware wise, my only gripe is the lack of wireless charging. I use an aftermarket plug to add it, but it doesn’t put the charge pad quite in the right place, so I sometimes have to put it upside down. It also means the USB-C port is always occupied. That isn’t a huge deal for me as I like to use plugs to keep dust out anyway
Software wise, I’m still running regular Android. I don’t like that there’s no Gallery app. You have to use Google Photos. That coupled with the fact that .nomedia files don’t seem to work mean that the app shows ALL photos on your phone, including some you might want to keep private.
Other than that though, I’m pretty happy with it. Just upgraded mine to 15.
Thanks. Yeah I didn’t specify, I have the phone. I really wish the pixel line had replaceable batteries. And like you said wireless charging is a game changer. I like it so that the USB C will last longer. At least in theory.
I took just run android but I plan on experimenting after I get another phone. I’m looking for a phone that will last more than a couple of years…
It’s more than theory in my experience. I had a OnePlus 5 and lint completely ruined the USB-C port. I could spend 10 minutes trying to dig stuff out and get the cable right for it to establish a charge before I finally gave up and upgraded. It’s why I’m not AS annoyed that the wireless charging add-on takes up the port. As long as it’s also keeping debris out of the port (and the rest of the phone continues to run well) I’ll live with it.
I tried to install using a Chromebook which failed. Next, I tried my tablet, nope. I had to buy a Windows laptop to get it done. If you have a real computer, you should be fine.
Had this phone, Google pushed an OS update that caused the bootloader to get corrupted on a factory reset. Tried to tell me I had to pay them to get the motherboard replaced even though their faulty ass update broke the phone. Three months out of warranty. Never buying a pixel again.
That sucks but as long as Google allows the Pixel line to install GrapheneOS - I’ll always buy a Pixel.