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Ask HN: Where can I find smartphones with FOSS OS

8 pointsdmichulke10 comments

I have to buy a new phone and I want to have full control (or at least full transparency) over it, ruling out basically all phones with a MS / Apple / Google OS.

However, it seems incredibly difficult to find such phones. Typically, sites refer you to low end phones (with Firefox OS) or the Oneplus phones (with OxygenOS).

Still, you cannot find any reasonable comparison between these from a security or usability perspective and the mid-tier phones are completely missing.

So what phones do you use or where do you look for this type of phones?

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You might also look into https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jolla

Jolla has quit doing mobile devices. Market was too fast evolving for a small company. They are purely in OS business now. Supported hardware coverage is not too wide yet though.

Flash a Cynaogenmod or other open android variant on a mid-tier phone you like?

As far as I understand, it's getting harder each time. Besides, I thought there might be flashed phones to buy already because I don't want to invest a few hours until it works.

But you're right, I suppose that's my fallback strategy.

Don't the cyanogenmod installer supposed to offer an easy install experience ?

Yes. When I tried it about a year ago, it took me about three clicks in a Windows installer program. Without any research into Cyanogen and its installation whatsoever.

Only downside: Cyanogen had a different ring tone as default, and later that day I was in a restaurant. It took me about fifteen seconds to relize this was indeed my mobile phone ringing.

OK, I checked a few sites and cross checked it with the cyanogenmod supported devices but I can't determine whether the one on the "vendor site" is the same as on the cyanogenmod site.

Ubuntu Phone?

http://www.ubuntu.com/phone

Oneplus is a low end phone? You might want to do some more research.

Look for openmoko GTA04

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