I highly recommend lineageOS, or better yet lineageOS with microg.
Running a completely degoogled android phone right now, and it feels smooth as butter.
Microg has gotten so good, the vast majority of playstore apps work completely fine even without Google services, including things like my banking apps.
Feels liberating as fuck, not gonna lie.
Only apps that don’t work for me are ones that require IaP’s. About 30% of those I can crack with LuckyPatcher. I can also crack other paid apps with license protection.
Mostly I havent needed to do any of that though, because I’ve found that there are so many great open source apps that do the things I need.
I also run LineageOS, but some apps installed using Aurora will not work since the phone can not prove to be part of the Google bootnet. I think it’s called SafetyNet. How do I get around that problem?
There is an option in the microg settings to enable SafetyNet. I can’t confirm whether it works, since I don’t have any apps that require it. I’ve heard it’s a bit of a cat and mouse game.
I don’t know much about this, since I haven’t needed it myself. But personally, if safetynet uses Google servers or code for authentication, then I’d rather just leave it turned off. Even if it breaks a few apps.
Not being beholden to Google in any way just feels too damn good.
LOS heavily hinders feature set, though. I wouldn’t recommend to anyone that’s not a techie, especially with MicroG.
Samsung features that’ll get removed are:
• Camera. It’ll work in LOS but quality will be much lower without Samsung’s processing.
• Standby time. It’ll last a lot less as LOS doesn’t kill background apps like OneUI does.
• Any sort of audio video enhancement. Dolby Atmos will be completely gone. HDR enchantments won’t be there either.
• Samsung DeX.
• HBM won’t work automatically. On OneUI, if system detects you’re under direct sunlight and auto brightness on; it’ll boost the brightness above regular maximum. You can have this on LOS via LiveDisplay but it isn’t automatic afaik.
• Phone will get hotter when it’s used while charging. OneUI both lowers charging speed and lowers performance (unless you’re in a game) while charging. LOS doesn’t. It might get uncomfortably hot compared to OneUI.
• Noise reduction in voice calls barely work under LOS. This is especially true when calling on speaker, LOS is borderline unusable when there’s even a little bit background noise.
Switching to LOS for a techie is fine, but recommending it to someone who you don’t know how they use their device isn’t great. If OP watches a ton of movies, OneUI will have much better experience. If all OP does is social media, LOS is completely fine.
Paid apps are harder to get working, but I’ve had some success patching them with luckypatcher.
Honestly though, the biggest surprise to me was how little I needed those proprietary apps.
Usually with a bit of digging I was able to find great open source alternatives.
Same here. Running F-Droid and Aurora Store on CalyxOS. Every app like banking, authenticators and all the others work like a charm. True freedom. You can do everything with your phone what you want. Can even imagine to go back to Google restrictions and horrible bloatware.
This is incorrect. You do not need to log into an account and MicroG works perfectly fine without one. MicroG doesn’t use Google Play Services, it replaces it.
I highly recommend lineageOS, or better yet lineageOS with microg.
Running a completely degoogled android phone right now, and it feels smooth as butter. Microg has gotten so good, the vast majority of playstore apps work completely fine even without Google services, including things like my banking apps.
Feels liberating as fuck, not gonna lie.
Only apps that don’t work for me are ones that require IaP’s. About 30% of those I can crack with LuckyPatcher. I can also crack other paid apps with license protection.
Mostly I havent needed to do any of that though, because I’ve found that there are so many great open source apps that do the things I need.
I also run LineageOS, but some apps installed using Aurora will not work since the phone can not prove to be part of the Google bootnet. I think it’s called SafetyNet. How do I get around that problem?
There is an option in the microg settings to enable SafetyNet. I can’t confirm whether it works, since I don’t have any apps that require it. I’ve heard it’s a bit of a cat and mouse game.
I don’t know much about this, since I haven’t needed it myself. But personally, if safetynet uses Google servers or code for authentication, then I’d rather just leave it turned off. Even if it breaks a few apps.
Not being beholden to Google in any way just feels too damn good.
LOS heavily hinders feature set, though. I wouldn’t recommend to anyone that’s not a techie, especially with MicroG.
Samsung features that’ll get removed are:
• Camera. It’ll work in LOS but quality will be much lower without Samsung’s processing.
• Standby time. It’ll last a lot less as LOS doesn’t kill background apps like OneUI does.
• Any sort of audio video enhancement. Dolby Atmos will be completely gone. HDR enchantments won’t be there either.
• Samsung DeX.
• HBM won’t work automatically. On OneUI, if system detects you’re under direct sunlight and auto brightness on; it’ll boost the brightness above regular maximum. You can have this on LOS via LiveDisplay but it isn’t automatic afaik.
• Phone will get hotter when it’s used while charging. OneUI both lowers charging speed and lowers performance (unless you’re in a game) while charging. LOS doesn’t. It might get uncomfortably hot compared to OneUI.
• Noise reduction in voice calls barely work under LOS. This is especially true when calling on speaker, LOS is borderline unusable when there’s even a little bit background noise.
Switching to LOS for a techie is fine, but recommending it to someone who you don’t know how they use their device isn’t great. If OP watches a ton of movies, OneUI will have much better experience. If all OP does is social media, LOS is completely fine.
Where do you get the apk for banking apps if not the play store?
Aurora Store https://f-droid.org/packages/com.aurora.store/
You’re mistaken. The vast majority of Android apps do not work without Play Services installed.
I don’t know what to tell you mate. Have you tried microG recently?
I’m running my banking app, social media apps, a bunch of games, mail app etc, all without play services.
https://community.e.foundation/t/list-apps-that-work-or-do-not-work-with-microg/21151
Paid apps are harder to get working, but I’ve had some success patching them with luckypatcher.
Honestly though, the biggest surprise to me was how little I needed those proprietary apps. Usually with a bit of digging I was able to find great open source alternatives.
Same here. Running F-Droid and Aurora Store on CalyxOS. Every app like banking, authenticators and all the others work like a charm. True freedom. You can do everything with your phone what you want. Can even imagine to go back to Google restrictions and horrible bloatware.
MicroG uses Play Services. That’s why you have to log into an account.
This is incorrect. You do not need to log into an account and MicroG works perfectly fine without one. MicroG doesn’t use Google Play Services, it replaces it.