I've used all 4 of the best deGoogled Android operating systems.
In this review, I'll give you my opinion of what I thought of each operating system so you can make a more informed decision as which one would work best for you.
If you're new to deGoogled phones, be sure to read this article.
It will teach you the basics about how they work and why you might want to use one.
Start with the Phone in Mind
I've found that it's best to figure out what's important to you in a phone before you pick the operating system.
This is because your choice of phone will somewhat determine which operating system you should use.
I picked the operating system first, then found out that I didn't like the phone.
Don't make the same mistake.
Also remember that you need to have a phone that allows you to unlock the bootloader.
Double check before you buy. Some phones are locked by the carrier.
After that, consider what's most important to you:
- Camera quality
- Battery life
- Screen size
- Apps that you absolutely need to have
- Security
- Other features
To me, there are only 2 phone manufacturers worth looking at.
You can totally try out others, but here's why I put these companies at the top of my list.
Ironically, the Google Pixel is the most secure phone you can buy at the moment.
It's the only phone that I'm aware of at the moment where you can relock the bootloader after installing deGoogled Android.
That means it's harder to break into if someone steals your phone.
So if security is your first priority, then there's only one choice…get a Pixel.
I wanted to see how an older phone would perform, so I installed different operating systems on a Pixel 3.
It's fast and I never had any performance problems.
However, I find the Pixel lacking in other areas.
The build quality is poor and the camera isn't great.
I'm also not a fan of the battery life. I got about a day and a half of battery life with normal use.
Another downside is the design of the phones.
I'm not super picky on design, but it is nice to have something that looks decent.
All of the Pixels are uuuuugly.
They have weird colors and the body panels look like they have been randomly glued together from parts of other phones.
I'm sure that the camera has probably been upgraded in the newest Pixel, but the other issues look like they are still there.
So if you want the best in security, go with a Pixel.
If you want something that's a little more usable as an every day carry, then here's what I like…
OnePlus
OnePlus phones are the iPhones of Android.
They are well built, have fantastic cameras and excellent performance.
But the best part is the battery life.
The OnePlus 6T that I used for my testing would last 2-3 days before needing to be charged.
So you can get roughly double the battery life, compared to a comparable Pixel.
That's one of the most important things to me.
I don't like worrying about my battery all the time.
On top of that, the photos from the 6T came out better than on my iPhone XR.
Video is better on the iPhone though.
The only real downside to OnePlus phones is that they are not as secure as the Pixel phones.
Alright now that you know about the best phone options, let's get into the operating systems.
GrapheneOS
This is the most private of all the operating systems on this list.
Therefore, you can only install it on a Pixel phone.
If you don't like Pixels, then that might rule out GrapheneOS for you.
In the past, GrapheneOS totally blocked Google Play Services (GPS), which is what allows most apps to work by accessing the Google servers.
Therefore, you could not use most apps on GrapheneOS.
In later versions, they changed their tune and decided to allow GPS on a limited basis. Presumably, people complained and they had to adjust.
So now you can use most apps on GrapheneOS because they have implemented a “sandboxed” version of GPS.
But I'm skeptical of this solution.
There may be elements of GPS that aren't accounted for in GrapheneOS that might allow your personal data to leak out without your knowledge.
Since updates to counteract updates in GPS will always be reactive, there might be periods after a Google update and before a GrapheneOS update where your privacy is unnecessarily compromised.
I could be wrong about that, but that's my primary concern.
To me, the better solution is to create a GPS substitute.
But if you turn off GPS in GrapheneOS altogether, this is the most secure deGoogled Android solution.
GrapheneOS installation is very easy and almost anyone with some basic technical skills can do it.
However, if you want an operating system that's more user friendly, look into these options…
CalyxOS
I really like CalyxOS.
In my opinion, it's probably the best deGoogled Android OS for most people.
This solution uses MicroG, a substitute for GPS. So you can download and use most apps, but it still has a high level of privacy.
It's also super fast and it gives you the option to install very useful privacy apps in the initial setup. I've noticed that the battery life is better than when running GrapheneOS.
Installation is simple and you can get it running in just a few clicks.
The OS is updated frequently.
Another benefit worth mentioning is that they have ways for people to support the project.
You can join the Calyx Institute, which allows you to pay for Calyx VPN services and even buy a phone with CalyxOS already installed.
This is huge because they have a way to self-fund the project.
Other projects that have to rely on donations and volunteer developers have a lower probability of surviving.
I've been using it on my backup Pixel 3 phone and I've never had any issues with it.
Like with GrapheneOS, the biggest downside is that you can only use it on Pixel phones.
So if you don't want to use a Pixel phone, then this next solution might be for you…
/e/ OS
This is my favorite operating system on this list.
It's not the most secure and it's not as easy to install as the 2 previous options.
However, it does have a few distinct advantages.
First, it works on a wide variety of phones.
At the time of this writing, you can get /e/ OS on 269 phone models.
That means I can get deGoogled Android on a superior phone like a OnePlus.
I don't have to settle for a Pixel.
Second, they have their own app store called App Lounge.
It works like the Aurora Store in that they allow you download apps without having be logged into the Google Play Store.
App Lounge is a great alternative if you cannot get into the Aurora Store.
There have been a few times where I couldn't access Aurora, but App Lounge worked fine.
Finally, the interface of /e/ OS is really a cut above everything else on this list.
That's not a huge thing, but it's nice to have.
When you have to look at a screen every day, I prefer to look at something that is thoughtfully designed.
The stock Android screen is really cramped and the names of the apps get cut off.
/e/ OS is more like iOS in the way that it behaves and looks.
Say what you want about Apple, but the truth is that they are the best at creating products that look amazing.
Like CalyxOS, the /e/ Foundation has also created ways for supporters to fund the project.
They sell phones with /e/ OS preinstalled, which can be a huge shortcut if you don't have the technical skills to install it yourself.
So that's my pick for the best deGoogled Android OS.
However, there is one more option, so let's take a look at it before I end…
LineageOS
I used LineageOS for a few days and it's solid.
It also works on a wide variety of phones, like /e/ OS.
So if you don't want to use a Pixel, then this is a great option.
My only issue with LineageOS is that it feels clunky.
It's not as refined as the other options on this list.
Therefore, it's the last option that I would recommend.
But it's still a very viable option.
Final Thoughts
So what is it like to use deGoogled Android versus Googled Android?
I've found that it's very similar.
I don't feel like I'm giving up much by using deGoogled Android.
The primary difference is that you shouldn't log into any Google services on deGoogled Android, especially the Google Play Store.
This creates 2 major limitations:
- You cannot use paid apps
- You cannot use Google Maps
Luckily, both of these limitations are easily solved…
In the case of paid apps, the solution is to get another phone.
You can just buy a cheap one on eBay.
I use an iPhone for paid apps and anything connected to my Apple ID.
All of my important apps like banking, 2FA and email are on my iPhone and it stays at home.
So if I ever lose my deGoogled Android phone or it gets stolen while I'm out, I don't have worry about other people getting access to my personal information.
It has the bare essentials and almost no personal information outside of my phone number and contacts.
If I need to use the apps on my iPhone while I'm on the road, I take it with me and use my deGoogled phone as a hotspot and connect my iPhone via WiFi.
Navigation is a little trickier.
The best solution I've found for maps is Magic Earth. It's a free navigation app that does not track your location.
You download all of the maps to your phone, so you can navigate without data coverage.
On the downside, it's not as precise as Apple Maps or Google Maps, so there are times where the directions aren't super clear (especially on the freeway) or it might lead you to the back of a building, instead of the front.
It's also harder search by business name because not all of that information is available to the app.
To solve that, I use the Yelp app to get the address of a business, then use Magic Earth to get directions.
But I've never gotten lost with Magic Earth. It will always get me to the right place.
It's just that sometimes I have to drive around the block to find the front entrance.
Alright, that's everything I know about picking the right deGoogled Android operating system and phone for your needs.
Have fun!
