I’ve been using China/Xiaomi Phones for the longest time and hated the installed Android Version because all of the clutter, bloat and privacy concerns. Now I am about to buy a Google Pixel 7 Pro.

What do you guys think, is a Custom ROM needed or should I just stick to the Default with Adguard and Disable some Google Apps to get a similar Experience?

Just hoping to get some Opinions. :)

  • subtex@lemmy.ml
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    3 months ago

    Personally I stopped custom roms a while back. I’m not hardcore in the anti-google camp though.

    If you are, obviously custom roms will be all you should be looking at. Tons of good recommendations in this thread already.

    If you’re not in this camp though, the default pixel experience has been great for me and might be for you. I find it the least annoying of the oem experiences (not cluttered in features I’ll never use, simplified settings menu where I’ve never had to use the search on since it all made sense etc).

    I’d say use the stock rom for a few weeks. If you hate it, custom roms are always there for you.

  • Markmus@lemmy.ml
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    3 months ago

    LineageOS, LibeageOS+Microg and GrapheneOS would be good Custom roms.

    It really depends on your use case.

    • sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      3 months ago

      How safe is it to install grapheneos – can you brick the phone?

      I have a used pixel 3 but I’ve never tried such things

  • JackGreenEarth@lemm.ee
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    3 months ago

    I wouldn’t use any Android device with the stock ROM if you have the option. Custom ROMS will give you more control over your device, less bloat, and often longer software support.

  • Synapse@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    If you dislike bloatware, the GrapheneOS is for you. My favorite smartphone experience ever, really.

  • scoobford@lemmy.zip
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    3 months ago

    I’d say stock pixel Roms are a better experience than most custom Roms. That being said, if you have privacy concerns, grapheneOS is right there.

    Personal choice, IMO. I don’t miss any of the features I gave up except for AI call screening.

  • 𝕸𝖔𝖘𝖘@infosec.pub
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    3 months ago

    Depends on your security and privacy postures.

    From least private to most: stock, CalyxOS, GrapheneOS.

    Security from updates on all three should be mostly comparable, as long as they keep receiving security updates, and you install them. However, CalyxOS has custom code, and tends to be slower to implement the updates.

    I skimmed this comparison, and it seems pretty on point.

    Some features are proprietary and, therefore, only available on stock. Personally, I went CalyxOS. I don’t miss any of the stock features, but built-in ai is useless for me. My security and privacy postures are evolving, and I may go GrapheneOS next phone. Not sure yet.

  • TwinTusks@bitforged.space
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    3 months ago

    xiaomi phones has long been supported in android forums. Just unlock bl, flash recover and flash a different rom.

  • RubberElectrons@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    CalyxOS just works, is completely deGoogled and has better battery life because less shit is running by itself in the background. If you need any Google apps, you can install them voluntarily via the Aurora store (a version of the play store that strips serial numbers etc from communications with Google’s play store servers).

    All my banking apps and work apps function, though I couldn’t get Pokemon go to work.

      • RubberElectrons@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        Unknown, I don’t want to run Google apps more than I have to. I only run photos and keyboard, both with network access completely blocked by the built-in firewall.