You don’t need to get a non-Android phone in order to get a non-Google phone.
Android is open source, and if you are willing to forgo the Google Play Store and Google Play Services there are non-Google options. GrapheneOS and /e/OS are de-Googled versions of Android, for example.
Fairphone comes with an option with /e/OS installed by default, if you don’t want to bother installing it yourself.
Android may be technically ‘open source’ but it is not a collaborative project. It is completely controlled by Google, who are reducing the frequency of their source code releases and gradually making it more difficult for third-party Android forks to survive by convincing app vendors to make their apps refuse work on non-‘certified’ Google Android installations.
Alternative phone operating systems are the way to go if you really want to de-Google. Lots of them can run Android apps as well as the Android forks for now, and their own app libraries are growing rapidly as developers get tired of Google’s shenanigans.
If you specifically want /e/OS, you need to watch out where you buy the Fairphone.
There is two versions, with the regular Android (with Google services) version being the more common one.
If you buy this one from their website you are guaranteed to get the /e/OS version
Edit: Also worth noting that you could also unlock the bootloader, and install /e/OS on the regular Android version as well. You might be able to save € 150-200 that way.
To my knowledge you can relock the bootloader after you are done? You’d have to look into that yourself though.
You don’t need to get a non-Android phone in order to get a non-Google phone.
Android is open source, and if you are willing to forgo the Google Play Store and Google Play Services there are non-Google options. GrapheneOS and /e/OS are de-Googled versions of Android, for example.
Fairphone comes with an option with /e/OS installed by default, if you don’t want to bother installing it yourself.
Android may be technically ‘open source’ but it is not a collaborative project. It is completely controlled by Google, who are reducing the frequency of their source code releases and gradually making it more difficult for third-party Android forks to survive by convincing app vendors to make their apps refuse work on non-‘certified’ Google Android installations.
Alternative phone operating systems are the way to go if you really want to de-Google. Lots of them can run Android apps as well as the Android forks for now, and their own app libraries are growing rapidly as developers get tired of Google’s shenanigans.
I need to look into this. Fairphone seems a good option.
If you specifically want /e/OS, you need to watch out where you buy the Fairphone.
There is two versions, with the regular Android (with Google services) version being the more common one.
https://www.fairphone.com/nl/the-fairphone-gen-6-e-operating-system
If you buy this one from their website you are guaranteed to get the /e/OS version
Edit: Also worth noting that you could also unlock the bootloader, and install /e/OS on the regular Android version as well. You might be able to save € 150-200 that way.
To my knowledge you can relock the bootloader after you are done? You’d have to look into that yourself though.
You’re only saving €50 and you lose your warranty…
Not sure if you can buy unlocked phones from 3rd parties where you live, but over here in the NL I can get a green one for €511,-
https://www.galaxus.nl/nl/s1/product/fairphone-gen-6-256-gb-bosgroen-631-sim-esim-5g-smartphone-57937990?offertype=retail&offerid=2705624
(They used to be under €500 for all models, but the RAM shortage makes a fool of us all)
Buying the /e/OS version from Fairphone directly is €649. So the difference is still €138, which I wouldn’t say is insignificant.
I’m on the Fairphone 6 and love it. You lose RCS chat though. Just a heads up.
Do you know if Fairphone supports passkeys? I’m using KeePassDX but couldn’t find it in their compatibility list :/