I’m new to Android and was gifted a Razr Ultra. Apart from deleting Google apps and using alternate app stores, are these other things I can do to make the phone more privacy respecting? I’m coming from iPhone and I know Apple isn’t the best, but being on Android/Google makes me concerned about privacy.

As I understand it, GrapheneOS is not an option, and I didn’t see the phone on LineageOS device list.

Any ideas? What would you do (besides selling it for a Pixel to install Graphene lol)?

  • Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone
    4·
    19 hours ago

    You mentioned the phone is a gift - generally phones bought for full retail price rather than on a service contract are “unlocked” from the start (since you aren’t on a payment plan from a vendor who wants to make sure you can’t exit unilaterally).

    Granted, if that’s not the case, usually the phone is unlocked at the end of the carrier contract. Since you said it’s carrier unlocked, that implies it’s good to go :)

    As for options, I haven’t used a Motorola device in a very long time. I heard they’re decent phones in terms of customization, though.

    Edit: referring to this thread involving another motorola user (https://sh.itjust.works/post/49881870), you may be hosed if it’s using a mediatek chip.

    • collar@lemmy.worldOP
      2·
      8 hours ago

      Thanks for the information - I’ll take a look at the thread. It is a snapdragon chip, so no mediatek thankfully

      I’ll definitely check this out from the thread:

      Everyone has their own use case, needs and preferences My thought is that you have the following options - not in any order as you will have your preferences Buy a Pixel and install Graphene See if you can install Linage OS, or buy another phone that can Universal android debloater / ADB (not as tricky as it seems) https://github.com/0x192/universal-android-debloater Search and disable apps you don’t want (limited at best) Install RethinkDNS & Firewall. What did I do? On my Samsung tablet, I used Universal Android Debloater AND run RethinkDNS & Firewall. Not as good as Graphene, but cheap / free and 90% of the same.
      • Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone
        1·
        4 hours ago

        Yeah, I’m currently using a pixel 9 with GrapheneOS after I sold my old phone. I can highly recommend it, although it’s pricey if you aren’t buying used.