Smartphones

Placeholder for a guide about choosing the right smartphone and setting it up correctly.

Recommendation is any of the relatively new Google Pixel smartphones supported by GrapheneOS, such as the Pixel 9.

Pixel 9a support is expected to come a couple weeks after the device is released. Replace stock system with GrapheneOS to get the privacy and freedom benefits.

Alternative recommendation for highly technical and curious, seasoned Linux users only is the Furi FLX1.

Any system controlled by Apple - meaning all iPhones - or Google - meaning basically all Android phones with the default OS is discouraged. Most aftermarket Android derivatives don’t follow good security practices. From what I’ve seen GrapheneOS is the best and CalyxOS is decent. The reason that GrapheneOS is only available on Pixel devices is that most other Android devices have atrocious hardware security or driver support.

To get open-source apps use Droid-ify. If you need proprietary apps, you should download it from the Google Play Store, which GrapheneOS let’s you install in a contained environment where it doesn’t have access to all your data. This is a decent compromise, which lets you use almost every app that you normally use, but doesn’t give anyone control over your device.

More explanation coming later.