I’m about to do the same … question is without the google services is it worth a pro over even an a ?

To me it wasn't. I don't think The non-a Pixels can really justify their price based on the hardware itself.

I got a pro because it was heavily discounted at the time. The one thing I sort of appreciated is the display LTPO thing, which enables it to gear all the way down to 1hz to save power.

thing is kinda moot since the 9a and 10a achieve significantly better battery life than the 10 pro (10a uses the prior gen SoC which seems to have better idle power characteristics).

I got an 'a' model and its been totally sufficient at a much lower price. But I guess it depends on how you plan to use it.

Certainly not a Pixel 10 Pro.

If I could write my own code for the NPU that might be interesting, but they've got it locked up like a straight boy's toilet paper.

Lmao this is perfect

If you want a Pro, go with the 8, 9 if you have to. 8 still has the 2k screen, 10 is a bastardized 1080p screen

It's why I made sure to get my newest phone used, but that comes with the risk of getting a Verizon model (in the US) which can't be bootloader unlocked. Had to return the first one I got off eBay for that reason, and the second one I made sure to ask the seller where they initially got it from.

I tend to just buy a used model, I've got the 8 with graphene and no complaints, that said I do very little with my phone these days

Not really, but I got one anyway because I need the storage. I wish I would have gone all the way and got a TB but I couldn't buy that one in cash in store so I didn't.

Not much longer im sure. I have no reason to believe that they will continue making it possible to un/relock the bootloader considering their push for google certified only android.

Considering waiting to see if Motorola releases a GrapheneOs built in Razr I’d consider that. But can’t help but wonder how much they would mess up the core important pieces of Graphene for their overlords who wants AI down our throat

This is what I'm afraid of too. I could see apps like fdroid and the ability to install custom roms being taken away within the next year or two. I hope I'm wrong but I don't have a good feeling. I need Linux phones to be a thing now more than ever.

I need Linux phones to be a thing now more than ever.

This doesn't happen in a vacuum. If you're not already, find a project and contribute towards it some way.

I didn't want to give google any money, so I am using a Pixel 6 I got for free at this time. Actually moved from an iPhone 15 and it does not feel slower at all with Graphene OS. I'll have to upgrade in October when support runs out though, so I'll be eying used Pixel 9a's in the summer.

I'm running grapheme on a Pixel 9 Pro Fold I got used ~ quite happy with it so far :)

I've always wanted a fold, but couldn't justify the price. I definitely don't need one, but I want one. Even used on swappa they're still a bit spendy.

This is exactly what i just did. No regrets. Foss everything, no mainstream social media. I love it

They announced the big RAZR Fold and that future devices would have it at MWC, so mayhaps

But can’t help but wonder how much they would mess up the core important pieces of Graphene for their overlords who wants AI down our throat

also this. Wasn't moto the one helping with then-illegal wiretaps in like the 90s? I can hardly keep track anymore

I've got an 8a which I got on sale when the 9a came out. I tend to keep my phones for 4-5 years, so this should be good for a long while, though I hope the Motorola collab produces something good. I also do little on my phone these days by design. If I could get by without owning one, I'd be thrilled.

GrapheneOS seems to feel the same way about Google: https://grapheneos.social/@GrapheneOS/116159602850585685

It's wild to me that that's legal here. Devices should have to be carrier agnostic.

Google? Motorola https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47214645

The only advantage of the non-a models is they use a potentially more durable battery that is less prone to pillowing.

Yeah I'm on a 2025 moto, done the best I can with shizuku but it's trash. I'd leave it at home.

Soon, but not yet! I needed to upgrade, can't wait until 2027 or whenever. But hoping it'll be one of their flagships, the new Razr is pretty dope specs wise.

The Fediverse is not perfect, but it actually blew my mind a bit how much it lowered my blood pressure to not see the constant ragebait, and the calm of not being exposed and monitored at all times. I still have Snapchat just for one person, and WhatsApp which is Meta but still E2EE. Other than that, I'm all in on FOSS privacy approved apps and man does it feel great.

Flagship hardware has been sufficient long term for a while now. I'd still be using my 6 year old phone if it had security updates and I wasn't getting into privacy and security

I never know what to expect from Google. They respect open source efforts to an extent, but play Calvinball with where they draw the line. In any case, Motorola will be an option soon, maybe more. And there are other custom ROMs, albeit not as thorough as Graphene. And for me? They can't take it away now that I already did it, so I'm good for up to 7 years unless my phone breaks.

I made the switch to Linux and Lemmy right around the same time. Once I was free of it all it was like relaxing a muscle I didn't know had been tense for decades. Android is next... Just as soon as I figure out jellyfin....

WhatsApp which is Meta but still E2EE

As far as you are told. There is no verification that is true.

I also just switched to Linux! Well dual booting Windows for now but only for gaming really, and until I figure out if Ardour is good enough for me for music production. But still: Microsoft has nothing except my game saves now, no tax documents or web history, etc.

What distro did you go with?

I'm also looking into making a home server to ditch streaming services and so I dont need 250 GB of music on my. phone. Got to be able to afford the RAM though...

Wdym by "you could see" as if its not whats already announced to be happening. Fdroid will not cooperate with googles app verification process which means Fdroid will stop working on all google certified devices, meaning everything other than devices with custom ROMs. NewPipe also announced they wont get google verified meaning it will stop working too.

Jellyfin is the shit. Lemme know if you have questions.

They have had some third party audits. It is not totally convincing to me as being trustworthy, but I see it as more of an acceptable necessary evil. Better than Discord, Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, probably even SMS. My wife's whole family uses just WhatsApp, and so do some businesses even in her country. Believe me though, anyone I can get on Signal, Matrix, Session, etc, I do.

The a series have been great to me so far. The specs are usually more than enough for most use cases you're gonna have for your phone, and the 9a and 10a both have better battery life than the rest of the 9 and 10 series' respectively.

The a series is substantially cheaper for what is, in my opinion, a totally justifiable Android experience that isn't gonna be much different than the other models for most people.

HOWEVER, I will say that if you plan on running a lot of apps that need to operate in the background or be constantly on, especially if you play games at the same time on your phone sometimes, the RAM could be too low for your liking and might occasionally lead to an app's background process freezing for a bit. (e.g. a timer might freeze if the app isn't actively open)

Here it's us, real people rage-baiting you on employer time!

Is the "Nothing" phone product a custom ROM? Sorry if dumb question I'm a bit out of my element.

Yeah I used to be the guy who did everything on his phone and now I just mostly use it for photos, maps and messaging and I try to be on a laptop when I can

capitalism babyyyyy

There have been third party audits, but the conclusions have been that you can't know if it's implemented correctly or at all. Nature of closed source. Because you can't know where the keys are.

I get the doing business in their country. That is so difficult to overcome. I will not do it. Foot down hard on that one, and it does make it hard. My wife's family does the same as you mentioned. I just tell them they are literally paying for fascism. They don't care. Or you can pick from many of the ills of Meta products (energy use, AI, misinformation, or even simply making someone a billionaire by contributing nothing to society).

Makes it hard.

I just did this too, except I bought a refurbished Pixel, so I paid someone else $100 for Google to fuck off lol.

Why use WhatsApp instead of Signal? I don't go near WhatsApp because of Meta, so I genuinely know very little about it.

8 still has the 2k screen, 10 is a bastardized 1080p screen

Is there really any need for a screen that small having that high of a resolution anyway?

I don't, I use Signal whenever I can. WhatsApp is for businesses that use it, and the people who refuse to go to Signal, or can't figure it out. Like my mother in law tried but got confused and so far have been unsuccessful troubleshooting why long distance. But I still need to talk to her.

I'm working on it and avoid it when I can as I mentioned. The only reason I mentioned it is that it's one of the last vestiges of apps I don't fully trust. I treat it like SMS or email, I don't send anything I don't expect could be audited by the government with the right subpoenas.

But sometimes I'm in a weird position. If I need to order food in my wife's country, I am not going to be able to contact the restaurant without WhatsApp. Then I, as a white American who doesn't know them, am going to explain to the delivery guy the reasons why they shouldn't support American fascism, in their native language that I am not 100% fluent in?

ROM basically is just another word for operating system so its about the software not the hardware. So only devices (phones) that allow you to install your own custom operating system (like a modified version of the original android that comes with it or even a proper linux OS) will allow you to install apps not certified by google.

Most of the time people talk about custom roms they mean open source software that replaces the pre installed closed source software. Nothing phones are closed source so they are probably not on the "good" side here.

e/OS/

Lineage

It isn't American fascism of course. It's everywhere.

But I get it, I find myself in the same boat traveling and visiting family. It really is pervasive. So in your scenario you can't just go pick it up yourself?

I know there are other ones though: Everything in some places works like this where they want to do a call back - deliveries, doctors appointments, services. WhatsApp has almost, if not completely, replaced the phone, so even getting a local sim doesnt help.

I simply refuse to play along. I wont do it. Somehow we seem to work it out.