I’m using a Pixel 6 Pro right now, and I’m looking around to see if there are any good phones. However, I have heard that there are ads in the newer flagship phones (Samsung, Xiaomi). I am willing to spend around USD$750 on a new phone, but I just don’t want any crazy ads or preinstalled apps like Facebook. Are there phones that don’t suck nowadays? I can buy a phone that is sold in the US, Canada, or EU.

(I don’t want to go through menus to disable ads (Xiaomi), and I’m currently looking at phones other than the Pixel lineup to see if there’s a better option for me)
(I also don’t want to mess around with custom bootloaders/systems, I rely on Google services way too much)

EDIT: If it wasn’t clear enough, I am not looking for things like GrapheneOS or LineageOS or others, I am looking for a phone and judging based on the stock system on it.

  • Pantherina@feddit.deEnglish
    133·
    9 months ago

    Google Pixel with GrapheneOS.

    If you are actually, really, honestly low on money, you may get something with DivestOS or LineageOS.

    GrapheneOS is the gold standard, every Google certified Android is full of tracking and will show ads in places

    • DarkThoughts@fedia.io
      71·
      9 months ago

      Is this a US thing? I’ve never seen any ads within Android itself, or any Google app.

      • Pantherina@feddit.deEnglish
        4·
        9 months ago

        No me neither. But if you use ISP DNS, Google Chrome, Youtube, Google blablabla you might see ads.

        This is not the biggest problem though, as all apps will gather data in you to improve those ads, no matter if you block them or not.

    • scoobford@lemmy.zipEnglish
      3·
      9 months ago

      This. The only google service which doesn’t work is google pay, and you can literally just put an NFC card in your phone case if it’s that important to you

      Even android auto is supported.

    • tester1121 (moved)@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      22·
      9 months ago

      I have already said that I don’t want to deal with custom bootloaders/systems. I know that stock phone systems are full of tracking, but I just want to know which ones have the least tracking that are not from Google.

      • ForgotAboutDre@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        9 months ago

        Get an iPhone or a dumb phone.

        Androids purpose is to generate ad revenue for Google. Everything else is there to server that goal. To get away from that you have to degoogle the phone. Phones using android without Google services are likely even worse for ads like fire os.

      • Pantherina@feddit.deEnglish
        21·
        9 months ago

        GrapheneOS really isnt comparable to LineageOS. The install literally is

        1. In the phone unlock the bootloader (just requires internet access if not already available) and enable usb debugging
        2. Plug in device using a reliable usb 3.0 cable
        3. Windows: install drivers, Linux: setup adb group stuff
        4. Open chromium, go to grapheneos.org/install/web
        5. Click a few buttons, on the phone press a few buttons to accept things
        6. Click another button
        7. Start your phone, set some preferences, install apps

        Have a look at Veronica Explains’ video, i recommend to use F-Droid Basic though. Thats it, it just works.

        And you can revert back to stock Android without a problem too, why not give it a try? This “I am looking for stock android without ads” is pretty half baked, stock android is a tracking platform, everywhere. No fairphone (or Murena with their insecure “private” OS) or ANY other brand will give you a reasonably private phone, all are basically a tracking instrument.

        We really need a googerteller Android App. Stock Android sends everything to Google