Android without Google is now 100% usable

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00:00 Intro
01:07 Sponsor: Secure and monitor your internet connection
02:02 What is /e/ OS?
04:17 What's new in /e/ OS 1.0?
06:28 App Support
08:32 Default apps and cohesiveness
10:01 FairPhone 4 Quick Look
13:36 Install /e/ OS on your smartphone
15:03 Will I move back to /e/ OS?
16:30 Sponsor: Get a 100% Linux compatible device from Tuxedo
17:32 If I was a rich man, lalalalala

They replace the default apps with their own, all based on open source applications, and the launcher with their own iOS like version, but they also remove the connectivity check that calls home to Google, as well as the time servers, they let you change the DNS servers, they remove the Google Play Services and replaced them with Micro G.

They offer users what they call Murena cloud, Murena being the global brand that regroups the OS, the services, and the smartphones they sell.

The Murena team was nice enough to send me a FairPhone 4 as a review unit, running /e/ OS 1.0.

The launcher is still a grid of apps, very iOS like, without an app drawer. Advanced privacy is a feature that lets you hide your IP address, provide a fake location, and denies all trackers. It will show you a graph of all blocked trackers, and you can manage these per app.

Instead of the Google Play Store, you get the App Lounge. It allows you to login anonymously, or using a Google Account, to let you buy paid apps.

I downloaded a bunch of apps, including my banking app, Twitter, Firefox, Youtube, Game Pass, Freeletics, or Youtube music, and they all worked flawlessly, as you'd expect.

The App Lounge still retains its privacy ratings, giving a score out of 10 for each app, powered by Exodus Privacy.

In terms of internals, /e/ OS is still based on Lineage 18.1, so it's on Android 11, but it does have all the latest security patches, and gets updated regularly.

I'm less excited about the FairPhone 4. While is absolutely love the mission behind this phone, it doesn't feel like a device that suits my needs.

First, it's pretty heavy, at 228 grams. But it doesn't have high refresh rate, and after using a phone and a tablet, and a PC screen that run at least at 100hz, the return to 60hz is brutal

It uses a snapdragon 750G with 5G support, it has 6 to 8GB of RAM depending on the storage, either 128GB or 256GB. The battery is 3900 mAh, and definitely lasts the whole day without any problems.

The cameras are pretty good, with dual 48MP on the back at F1.6 and F2.2 aperture, so you get a wide angle, and the selfie camera is 25MP at F2.2, with a small notch.

The phone itself comes in grey, green, or speckled green, I got the gray variant, and you can add a charger and cable optionally, if you don't already have them.

The price is pretty high too for these specs, at 579€, but that's the price you pay for a sustainable phone with a huge warranty and repairability. You also get a fingerprint reader

What if you don't want a fairphone but you like /e/ OS? Well, you can do that as well, after all I used it on a galaxy S8+ before.

They have 3 ways to get /e/ OS. First, you have their online store, where they offer a variety of devices, including the Fairphone 3 and 4, Galaxy S nines and S nines +.

Second, you can use their Easy Installer. Third, if your device isn't supported by the easy installer, you can just flash /e/ OS on a LOT of phones.

[doublinx]

Very happy for the rise of non-big tech, privacy focused services. If Proton was a bit more robust I could probably get away with only needing Google for YouTube...!

[sergeymelkumov]

I have Fairphone 4 and it was the Fair Trade certification and ability to buy parts online to make repairs that sold it for me. I consider myself a tech nerd too, I run my own cloud open source infrastructure and do other cool stuff that would be considered nerdy. I think changing your phone regularly is not about being a tech nerd, most people i know who does that - don´t even know what is an operating system.

[nogoogle]

With the exception of using Youtube, I literally have NO need for Google, Apple, Microsoft, Facebook/Meta or any other crap. I use a degoogled phone to text, email, call, IT managing and occasionally web browse. I have a total of 7 apps on my phone and not a single one came from GooglePlayStore.

[stephen]

I've got the Moto g pure running Android 11.
I love the idea of de Googleing my phone. This video was supper informative. Thank you for posting it.

[ArthurReming]

As a huawei user, i see this as an absolute win

[enkiimuto]

all props aside, I find it hilarious that like you said, the developers of something as complex as an OS for phones didn't realize their naming makes it so hard to find on the internet.

Maybe that is the point, even the OS project can't be tracked online, but on the other hand... it is kinda shooting its own foot to be able to grow

[SecretFoxtail]

I just ordered a murena teracube 2e! I can't wait until it arrives 😊

[jan_harald]

DON'T FORGET THE GSI
you can use it even if your phone is NOT listed as supported, by using the GSI!
GSI (generic system image) works on all phones (with unlocked bootloaders of course), that shipped with android 8.0 or later, utilizing the a/b partitioning and stuff, since all the drivers are in the "system" image, independent of the OS, with a common API, the only problem is updating those drivers...but the OS itself can update anytime!
it's incredible step to allow more OSs, since even if you have a not-popular-with-modders phone, you can get a custom OS, without having to manually figure out where the drivers are and how to port them over, etc...

[maxxiong]

TBh I don't actually care much about this whole Google stuff. I switched to Linux because of practical reasons. That being said, there is a need right now for ROMs that remove restrictions that are being put on Android (eg. an Android 12 where Android/data is not protected).
There has been a different issue recently though, where some apps would require safetynet attestation to install without good reason (piracy is not a reason because doing so only encourages piracy).

[JeffreyJohnsonC]

Pretty good review, but you left out a couple important things. What would you use for navigation and maps? Does Android Auto work, or is there a replacement for that? Might not be important to a few people, but pretty much everyone i know uses Google Maps or Waze.

[cyclesingsleep]

Excellent Review!!! The only thing that I am now trying to figure out is, "How do I backup my sms/text messages on my android phone, then load the /e/OS, then reload my sms/text messages?". So far, I have not been able to find this anywhere. I work in rugged, outdoor environments and therefore need a phone with a rugged, water/dust/shock-proof case and I do not see anyone making a case for the /e/OS phone. So, until such a case is made, I think that my only option is to keep my Samsung Note 9 with it's case, and load /e/OS onto it.

[I_was_a_Bullfrog]

I've been tempted to degoogle my phones in the past, but there are too many things I'd lose out on, not to mention the books and movies I've bought through them.

Hopefully one day we'll get a true competitor that highlights freedom and privacy.

[ahmetac]

i wish we were able to install linux on any android based phone. gnome mobile looks amazing

[skug]

Not long ago, I dropped my LineageOS primary phone on the floor, and the screen stopped working. The specific model I own is the LG G5 which is easy to take apart, with a removable battery. I bought a new replacement screen on Ebay, and that was cheap. I replaced the screen myself (unscrewing all the parts) with ease because the phone is not glued together. It is running LineageOS 18 = Android 11 without the spying Google proprietary bits. I really like the idea of the Fairphone 4, but I managed to achieve a similar result by my careful hardware choice. I'd advise any tech purchasers to consider repairability as well as protecting their privacy when choosing devices.

[therealwolfspidertoo]

Thank you for all this great information

[johnsonnguyen]

Tyvm for the vid, I am still waiting for my model to work OP9

[alessandromauri]

"make smaller phones, you cowards!"
That's the best point ever!🤠
I wanted to try it, but due to my job I needed a rugged phone, maybe I will give it a try next time I will change

[schemage]

Interestiing, if I can find a phone lying around that is semi-modern and compatible, might give this a shot. Am eager to ditch the google andriod shackles.

[thecuriosityshowman]

Wow this is absolutely perfect once I change to a new phone. Heard only good things about the battery life and privacy.

[worldhello]

@2:27 If you really want an alternative, you have to build upon existing custom rom source code. There is no place for specialized hardware if you want mass appeal. No need to put up with inferior hardware to be on the save side.
@14:05 A new old stock Realme X2 Pro cost about the same as this joke of a phone and is superior in any way, SD 855+, 90 Hz Super Amoled display to name a few specs.
@15:37 Just like me. I like budget flagships that are a couple of years old. :)