I don't get people claiming stock iPhone is private. We literally have very little idea. It's a closed system. It's private if you take Apple's word but all the other manufacturers also have similar claims. Why trust Apple and not them?

On top of that you end up locked into their ecosystem, unable to use most FOSS applications or have cut down versions of them because daddy Apple didn't like some features.

casts protect

iPhone

For me it has to be Fairphone. They are more expensive than the others to buy new but they are more aligned with openness and free software. They receive updates for a long time, are well supported by CalyxOS, /e/os, Linux mobile OSs etc, are repairable, you can carry extra batteries, usually have an SD card slot and two SIM slots and are more environmentally-friendly than others.

OnePlus.

I'd never buy Samsung again, they are full of bloat and make it excessively hard to unlock the bootloader and get root access or install an alternative OS.

Don't exclude Pixel phones so quickly. They are one of the most versatile for custom ROMs, and they check all of your checkboxes. I love my CalxyOS Pixel 6.

What phone brand do you like the best?

(I have excluded Graphene as they are only compatible with Pixel phones).

You're asking this on the privacy mag and intentionally/explicitly exclude the best privacy option with no explanation.

Wtf.

If privacy is important, a custom ROM is highly recommended or rather mandatory. Most brands have locked boot loader which can't be unlocked immediately without voiding warranty. Some let you to using some bs proprietary software but only after few months. That was the only reason I had to resort to getting a pixel. So look into all the brands available to you and check their policy on custom rooms before looking into the mobile themselves.

Sony. They still have a headphone jack.

@clark
Google Pixel with GrapheneOS
@privacy

xiaomi has awesome hardware, audio jack, sd slot, even ir blaster.

their privacy policy is bad, but a lot of them have official lineageos (and microg-patched lineage) and it works really really well.

pine64 because freedom.

Why exclude GrapheneOS? It's a really good mobile OS, and the creator has given his reasons for only supporting Pixels.

For Privacy?

Oneplus with lineage os is pretty good but they sorta make it a pain to unlock the bootloader if the phone was not originally factory unlocked.

second hand Xiaomi + flash Lineage, good hardware for the price, community support

The mod on this post is on such a humongous power trip lmao. Someone needs a reality check and a few slaps.

Not under your specs but the Sony Xperia line offers a headphone jack + microSD, can be unlocked, & has flagship specs (1 & 5). The 5 & 10 models are also smaller devices that actually fit in one hand too. This characteristic combo does not come in the other models folks are suggesting. Older models have LineageOS for microG support if you want an ungoogled phone (but beware the stock camera app is trash).

i daily a Fairphone 4, has neither the best camera nor the best battery life. but it's the most repairable and durable phone i've owned.

i've had extremely good experieces with oneplus phones, dunno about custom ROM support though.

i've also heard good things about modern motorola phones, if the ROM support is there it's worth a shot imo.

Xiaomi and Oneplus have some battery beasts of phones.

I like fairphone the best out of all the ones that are currently available, however, my next phone will be a Pixel 8A because grapheneos doesn't support fairphone

I just got a OnePlus 12 and this phone is fantastic. Bootloader is unlocked and you can do whatever you want. Battery is amazing. Charger is insane. Camera is more than decent. Price is very reasonable for what it offers.

I focus on the OS. However, I like the moto phones. I've had mine for 5 or 6 years and I don't have any reason to change.

As I usually unlock bootloader, I just buy cheap Chinese phones from around 100 bucks, right now I'm using a FreeYond M5 5G. Debloated and rooted. Working like a charm.

Edit: I prefer Motorola over Nokia.