Where to buy a non-Apple, non-Google smartphone

#1

Post by fsflover » Mon, May 04, 2026, 2:26 PM UTC

Where to buy a non-Apple, non-Google smartphone
theregister.com

Re: Where to buy a non-Apple, non-Google smartphone

#2

Post by gamander » Mon, May 04, 2026, 2:43 PM UTC

Just buy a Chinese phone in China. They don't have GMS so they will not be affected by the upcoming change. Of course Play integrity checks will fail like on any other alternative OS.

Re: Where to buy a non-Apple, non-Google smartphone

#3

Post by smt88 » Mon, May 04, 2026, 2:50 PM UTC

gamander wrote: post #2

Just buy a Chinese phone in China. They don't have GMS so they will not be affected by the upcoming change. Of course Play integrity checks will fail like on any other alternative OS.

Sounds like a good way to guarantee a phone with a backdoor

Re: Where to buy a non-Apple, non-Google smartphone

#4

Post by fsflover » Mon, May 04, 2026, 2:53 PM UTC

gamander wrote: post #2

Just buy a Chinese phone in China. They don't have GMS so they will not be affected by the upcoming change. Of course Play integrity checks will fail like on any other alternative OS.

Do they run AOSP? Then, they must obey the Google's long-term development strategy. This is why I use a phone with GNU/Linux.

Re: Where to buy a non-Apple, non-Google smartphone

#5

Post by downbad_ » Mon, May 04, 2026, 3:06 PM UTC

smt88 wrote: post #3

gamander wrote: post #2

Just buy a Chinese phone in China. They don't have GMS so they will not be affected by the upcoming change. Of course Play integrity checks will fail like on any other alternative OS.

Sounds like a good way to guarantee a phone with a backdoor

Lol. It's about choosing the devil you're most comfortable with. I bet Apple and Google have theirs too.

Re: Where to buy a non-Apple, non-Google smartphone

#6

Post by dickeeT » Mon, May 04, 2026, 3:43 PM UTC

gamander wrote: post #2

Just buy a Chinese phone in China. They don't have GMS so they will not be affected by the upcoming change. Of course Play integrity checks will fail like on any other alternative OS.

yeah, some big name like huawei also already have flagship

Re: Where to buy a non-Apple, non-Google smartphone

#7

Post by fsflover » Mon, May 04, 2026, 4:21 PM UTC

downbad_ wrote: post #5

smt88 wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds like a good way to guarantee a phone with a backdoor

Lol. It's about choosing the devil you're most comfortable with. I bet Apple and Google have theirs too.

This post is about avoiding Apple and Google, so you've got some false dichotomy here. I bet my phone has no backdoor from them or China.

Re: Where to buy a non-Apple, non-Google smartphone

#8

Post by downbad_ » Mon, May 04, 2026, 4:31 PM UTC

fsflover wrote: post #7

downbad_ wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lol. It's about choosing the devil you're most comfortable with. I bet Apple and Google have theirs too.

This post is about avoiding Apple and Google, so you've got some false dichotomy here. I bet my phone has no backdoor from them or China.

Alright, if you say so.

Re: Where to buy a non-Apple, non-Google smartphone

#9

Post by dlcarrier » Mon, May 04, 2026, 10:43 PM UTC

I have a Pinephone Pro. I really like the prospect of the keyboard case making it as usable as a laptop, (https://pine64.org/2021/12/31/happy-new-year-the-keyboard-an...) but after trying it out, the keys bind almost as often than they work, so it's entirely unusable. I need to find a lubricant that can make plastic (probably ABS) slide against the same type of plastic without binding.