Android uses the Linux kernel so, all android hardware has Linux kernel drivers.

Also android is kinda open source. The hardware layer source mostly isn’t released by the vendors. Its mostly illegal, but they get away with it anyway.

After a long research to replace my old phone, I landed a Nothing Phone 3a. Last July bought for some 200€ and been happy ever since.

Plain android, not bloated, able to uninstall all crap and bootloader is not blocked and can be unlocked without phoning home.

Not related to the company at all, just an happy customer.

Main defects, lacks 3.5mm jack and not small at all.

Use adguard as private DNS, or use something like dns66 that creates a fake vpn and applies dns blocklists.

No need for root to block ads in 2025

Missing SD slot is not nice, but since moving away from it I can honestly say i dont miss it.

Discovered Nothing Phones and love my 3a.

Unbloated android, slim and fast UI experience, no fuss brand. Crappy call tones tough.

And soon you will need a second device with locked down bootloader and play integrity to use mainstream apps.

What when meta will require attestation to run WhatsApp? Not if, when…

Fully agree

Disclaimer: I have been a maintainer for LineageOS and a long time user.

Whoever advocates for LineageOS don’t get it. Using LineageOS will not fix any issue like this.

Already today using LineageOS means give up on banking apps, ID apps, and even McDonald’s and some games like Pokemon.

Yeah because Google with play intergrity now demands valid keys that gets invalidated as soon Google detect they are used for such usage. The cat and mouse game suddenly got much harder to beat.

So no, using LineageOS will soon be possible only with secondary devices and not your primary that you will need for your actual stuff to work.

I keep writing about Nothing Phones because I got one two months ago (3a) and I am very happy on how lightweight the stock OS is, very similar to the AOSP experience, and the bootloader is unlockable without even asking for permission.

Lineage usually is also supported, but currently not yet on the 3a.

It’s a bit bulky.

I find this unbeliable.

But, maybe, this will finally make some viable mobile Linux alternatives exist?

Samsung software got so much annoying and overblotaed that I despise it.

Also many stupid design choices…

Honestly nowdays Samsung flavour of android feels a lot like Xiaomi MIUI without the ads.

Go for pixel.

Or checkout Nothing phones… London based company, very lightweight software, and fully unlockable bootloader.

I got a 3A for a very reasonable price and loving it.

Mostly carddav caldav and WebDAV. Plus using apps that connect to self hosted services like audiobookshelf or navidrome

Nothing phone seems to be the best choice today. A few models, so notmuch choice, but solid hardware unbloated android and unlockable bootloader.

I own a 3a and am pretty happy. Bulky and heavy tough.

I used to use neo backup. Works nice.

Bit stopped, nowadays all apps are online synched (to my self hosted server mostly) and so I don’t need backups.

Thanks you, i didn’t know… Interesting!

I read that since they rebased with oppo future unlockability is at stakes.

Motorola seems hit and miss.

While pixels would be a choice, I would prefer something with a microSD

Only for devices with MIUI. Any device (all new ones) that comes with their new android rebrand Hyperion or whatever its called, cannot be unlocked.

Xiaomi doesn’t allow unlocking anymore, it seems.

That’s very bleak, I hope there is more to that.

Lineageos is enough for me, no requirement for graphene

Well, it could be an option, never checked but I guess my country is supported.

But I would prefer not google tbh

Thanks, absolutely love this post.

So they can add the always trust (until next full moon) on A16…

Kena Mobile, a low cost operator of TIM. Its a “welcome back” offer after I had switched to a different operator, they offered back this which was cheaper and better coverage in my area.

I pay 5.99€/month for unlimited voice and SMS, plus 200gb/month. 4G only, no 5G, but who cares.

For a little bit more (9.99€ without shopping for offers) you get unlimited* data on 5G too.

But in my mind that way too expensive.

• = only on 5G coverage, some limits apply on 4G, and its actually like 750Gb/month before they cap you anyway.

Does Sony still support unlock of bootloader at all?

You should browse XDA and telegram groups to find out one that has at least an unofficial port, then hope it will became official at some point…

Most unofficial ports works just fine. Heck I still use unofficial build for my phone even if official is available.