DeGoogle Yourself @lemmy.ml /home/pineapplelover @lemm.ee 9 mo. ago

Recommendation for deGoogled OS's

My pixel 5 is currently running on grapheneOS and will be unsupported soon so I'm looking to switch over to CalyxOS for an extended support. Are there any other deGoogled OS's you guys recommend?

19 comments

CalyxOS and LineageOS are the best options
CalyxOS helped prolonging the life of my Pixel 3 for almost two years
eould recommend
https://divestos.org/index.html
I'd definitely try CalyxOS first, as it'll be the closer experience to what you've had in GOS. There's also DivestOS as well, but you're gonna be more limited there since it won't have MicroG (be default, not sure if it can be added in?) So it won't have any real access to play store apps. You'll probably get another 2-3 years out of CalyxOS on your pixel 5 if I had to guess. All depends on how long they can keep the security updates going for it.

LineageOS is a fantastic option, and eventually even when CalyxOS stops getting updates, LOS is absolutely a good choice to continue in using your device for long after the official support window. Just make sure you go with the version with MicroG so Play store apps mostly work as they should.
Calyx offers fully automated install scripts. If you've never installed an Android ROM before and don't know anything about it, they really make installing CalyxOS a breeze.

LineageOS is less obvious, but no more difficult to install than any other ROM if you know how it's done.
I would recommend DivestOS. If you need MicroG, there is also iodeOS. I would recommend this over /e/OS because system apps can also be selected or uninstalled.
Your options in aftermarket OS fall in to 3 categories imao

those that support relocking the bootloader (grapheme,calyx,divest, other smaller projects maybe)

vanilla roms with signature spoofing permission so that you can have microg on them. Some even come with microg preinstalled (/e/,lode,Los4mg) And some are gmscomat compatible (voltage,awaken,spark). There are plenty but they don't care about signed images and relocking.

some unofficial build from any of the above from a maintainer that cares to sign his own images so that you can relock your BL as your device supports it.
- Honestly, with FBE, I wouldn't bother with bootloader relocking
  
  You get all the disadvantages of a locked bootloader with none of the advantages(strong integrity or widevine L1 certification)
  
  Instead, FBE allows you to wipe data but not access it without pin, or whatever
  
  If your recovery doesn't have support for decryption, it just doesn't access data!
Calyx and LOS are almost the same, but Calyx is slightly better in terms of community and automated upgrades.
Permanently Deleted
- Didn't realize lineageos doesn't relock bootloader. That's a big no no for me then. I might stick with calyx or divest
  
  Permanently Deleted
  
  Why is relocking bootloader important?
Graphene OS
My handwavy rec is:

CalyxOS

LineageOS - microG (the one releaswd by the microg people)

LineageOS stock

It's a shame GrapheneOS doesn't offer longer support. The best option is probably to get a newer pixel like the 7a but that costs money of course.
- The reason that Graphene doesn't do this is because the device is no longer receiving upstream security patches for firmware, bootloader, etc. If all you care about is privacy and simply having a deGoogled device, then by all means. But, security-wise, you are potentially running a vulnerable device. ROMs like Lineage and Calyx continue to roll the security patch counter, but aren't actually able to apply patches to those components. Security-wise, microG is also not an implementation I would recommend. Thus, Graphene is probably the only one I would recommend.
  
  Yeah this is why getting a new pixel is probably best from a security perspective. Planned obsolescence is frustrating and expensive, though, so not everyone can reasonably buy a new phone every 3 years.
  
  Understandably so. But I don't really like the design choices of the newer pixels. I hope there's a phone in development that still has a fingerprint sensor at least. Audio jack and sd card seems less and less likely.
manually de googling the stock rom

You've viewed 19 comments.