Both have their respective security risks, Android vulnerabilities are reported more frequently because the code is open source. iPhone vulnerabilities are fixed quickly because Apple control updates. Whereas with Android, you often have to wait for the carrier to pick up the fix and deploy with their own updates. If you get a handset from Google, you will usually get Android fixes sooner

 

I didn't realize the open source thing.

 

In the meantime I bought Samsung Galaxy A72 and very pleased with it, except the camera is not so great for taking pictures in dark places. Also... there's so much sht I had to remove. Both Google and Samsung apps on your phone spying on your data. WTF is going on with the world? They sell you a phone, not cheap, with the battery glued in so you can throw it into the bin when it becomes weak, and then they monetise your data, too. Greed beyond belief. I use F-Droid (with izzyondroid repository added) for downloading and installing apps.

 

I genuinely don't understand how Xiaomi flies under the radar for most people.

I owned a Mi Note 10 Lite and it was absolutely fantastic for 400 USD. 108 MP camera, 4k video, great Snapdragon processor, and it had absolutely no hardware issue while I owned it.

I still look back on the photos it took and im amazed compared to my new phone.

One thing to mention is the 4G/5G band support for these Chinese smartphones is weird in America. T Mobile decided to drop support for all 4G bands except for 1 (which my Xiaomi phone didn't support) and it rendered my phone useless for phone calls and data here in the US.

Now I have a Samsung Galaxy A35 and its hot garbage. I should have bought a new 5G Xiaomi/Poco phone as the OS, user experience, and hardware are better than what Samsung offers at the $200-350 price point.

 

The " Gigaset GX6 PRO " has the option to replace the batteries and Android 14. www.gigaset.com/hq_en/gigaset-gx6-pro

 

my provider switched to 5g which my a70 doesnt support. so i thought i would get a s10 used but the guy said s21 was so much better, so
transferring my apps and data went ok but required more than 10 fingerprints, this phone really did want to get to know me. should have gone with a s10 with an older android version.
also doesnt let me enter my emailpassword which is perfectly fine on a win7 pc. and i wont change it.

 

i shouldnt complain. i want all the plugins they want all the fingerprints

 

For advanced users: If you truly want to become independent, we recommend deleting your Google account completely. While this will prevent you from using the Google Play Store, there are alternatives (see F-Droid below).

Farewell to the Google Play Store

Good apps aren't only available in the Play Store, which only works with a Google Account. The alternative app store F-Droid offers exclusively free software. It has apps for the most important functions and even a few gimmicks. You can find all the advantages, installation guides, and recommended apps in a separate article. There you'll also find alternative apps for non-free services that aren't as convenient or privacy-friendly to use using conventional methods and are sometimes unwanted in the Play Store. One example is NewPipe, a simple, efficient way to access YouTube that doesn't load ads before or during videos. Another advantage: You can subscribe to channels, create playlists, and download videos or their audio tracks without a Google Account.

A Different Operating System

If you want even more control over your smartphone, it's best to install a different operating system. An alternative operating system for smartphones is also called a custom ROM. Tools are now available for many custom ROMs that automate most of the installation steps. Here are some custom ROMs we recommend:

LineageOS supports many devices. Many other custom ROMs are based on LineageOS.
/e/OS is an operating system based on LineageOS. It is developed by the French e Foundation and is supposedly completely Google-free. The foundation sells smartphones under the name "Murena" with /e/OS pre-installed and a selection of apps that replace Google services with free alternatives. This is intended to make the switch as easy as possible.

DivestOS combines many of the features of LineageOS, GrapheneOS, and CalyxOS. It can be installed on many phones, even some particularly old ones.

CalyxOS bridges the gap between usability and data economy. It's primarily designed for Google's Pixel series, but also supports other devices, including the Fairphone.

GrapheneOS is the gold standard for privacy-friendly and secure Android systems. Due to its high technical requirements, it only runs on Google's Pixel devices.

Source: https://digitalcourage.de/digitale-selbstverteidigung/befreien-sie-ihr-smartphone#fdroid

 

Meanwhile, modern phones (Android and Apple) rely heavily on AI which sucks up data and information like a rapid Pacman. It's used for "training" they say, but you have to agree to that or you can't use it. Then there's all the third party apps that sell your data if you agree to have them installed.

Whatever phone you use, whatever application you use that masquerades as a social platform takes your data and does whatever it wants with it. You and your data are a commodity

 

@PulseWave or anyone who uses their mobile phone for paying in grocery stores etc. Are there any other apps like FOSS Payment app DashPay you can use instead of Google and Samsung pay apps? It seems that it's best to rely on one or the other because stores might support them best bcs everyone has those, however I don't trust Google nor Samsung. What do you use, if you pay with your phone?

You see, in the EU it looks like they're going to ban paying with cash soon (next year perhaps?). I hate that with passion. Even your money will be online. That's so no good. I'm going to protest that with everything I've got.

also... how is the second hand market supposed to work without cash? Direct personal digital transaction of some kind? questions...

 

Last edited: Aug 20, 2025

Probably a boomer answer: I use my debit-card. Why should I rely with everything on my phone? If I loose my debit-card, at least I can call my bank to block my account. If I loose my phone I can't do anything. But who am I? I am from the past. We traded horses and wood for bread and milk. For me an album is an LP. I am still trying to figure out how to play the B-side of a CD....

 

Hi @SineWave, I only pay with cash at the checkout. The ECB's digital euro has been in preparation since the end of 2023. The preparation phase will end in October 2025. After that, the ECB Governing Council will decide how to proceed with the project.

 

I'm still figuring out how to rewind my DVD collection

 

Get an ET phone if you just need it to call home.

 

Last edited: Aug 21, 2025

Xiaomi flies under the radar in the US mainly because of network compatibility, low marketing presence, and brand perception, not because the phones are bad. Your experience is exactly why people rave about them: for $400, the Mi Note 10 Lite had flagship-level features, great camera, solid processor, no hardware issues, something Samsung can’t match in that price range.

 

Absolutely. The network compatibility was a bit iffy with my phone admittedly, but my new Galaxy S35 is straight up bad compared to that Mi Note 10. I miss it haha.