Hello! My smartphone is dying, so I’ll soon have to buy a new one. I’d like my new phone to have pure Android, without all the apps that manufactures install. Ideally I’d like to remove the majority of Google services too, but there are some that I can’t replace yet, so I’m still dependent on, like google maps. What smartphone do you suggest me? In your opinion, would it be better to buy a smartphone with already stock android or to buy any smartphone, and then replace the OS?
If you want pure android, then a Pixel phone, but if you want to degoogle, no…
Else you can find very interesting powerful phone like PoCo F4 for instance and replace the ROM with the dozen ones available, check XDA.
Know that when you unlock bootloader/replace ROM, you will most likely lose the ability to pay with your phone, or play a cat and mouse game with magisk and addon and google Wallet.
Pixels are the best phones for loading custom ROMs which can get you closer to the pure Android experience, and not the bloatware Android with all the Google play services attached
why? other than “your’e giving money to google just before removing google”
I didn’t know about this, custom ROMs cannot run these kind of services?
Nope, Google Wallet does not run with unlocked bootloader or with root. There’s a lot of programs made to avoid this but setup can be broken anytime with a Google update. If you absolutely want to pay with your phone, it can be nightmarish to install all kind of add-ons to bypass failing CTS.
thanks for the info!
Not always; I have a rooted+unlocked LG v60 with Universal Safetynet Fix 2.2.1 (2 y.o. version) and MagiskHide Props Config 6.1.2.137 from just as long ago and my Google Wallet works perfectly fine.
I know, until next update that breaks it. I did it with my old Nokia and it was cat and mouse, it worked, but sometime not…