Alternative Phones to Google and Apple

My ordinary phone

Many times a day I pull out my mobile phone and double tap the power button to pull up the camera app and take a picture or video. I photo my cat and dog, my kids, my flowers, instructions to reference later, and things I need to magnify so I can read them. Nobody notices that my phone is different from theirs, even when I hand it to them to take a photo of me and my family. I don't have it as a hobby or experiment. I rely on my GrapheneOS An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. phone operating system The core software that manages a computer and lets applications run. This would be Windows or MacOS on computers, Android or iOS for phones, for example. every day, and I don't have time for it to malfunction.

My phone does very ordinary things all day. I play music. I watch YouTube and sometimes cast it to the TV. Unlike standard phones I've had, I haven't had major issues with updates, apps, connecting to my computer, printing, or anything like that. Now granted, I don't download a ton of apps or need many apps. Early mobile app experiences were so terrible that it turned me off of smartphones after my first one for a very long time.

Privacy vs "convenience"

One reason I migrated to Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. OS is that I'm uncomfortable with how much modern smartphones pressure me to trade privacy for convenience. I'm also uncomfortable with how much places expect you to do on your phone, for example, forcing you to use a small phone screen to fill out patient history in a waiting room, or forcing you to interact with an app or view a menu with a QR code.

Better user experience on Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones.

One reason that I've stayed is the experience with using Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. is so much better than regular Android the system running most smartphones (like Pixel, Samsung, LG, etc) or iOS the system running Apple iPhones and iPads . I can't imagine going back. I have more control over my phone with this operating system The core software that manages a computer and lets applications run. This would be Windows or MacOS on computers, Android or iOS for phones, for example. (vs stock Android the system running most smartphones (like Pixel, Samsung, LG, etc) or iOS the system running Apple iPhones and iPads ) and I like the peace of mind that I gain from that. My phone isn't locked in to a single company's vision of what Android the system running most smartphones (like Pixel, Samsung, LG, etc) should be.

Similar to how my old computer felt like new when I installed Linux An alternative to Windows or MacOS on computers. on it, I think installing Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. OS on a Pixel might make it feel like new too.

Video demo

I shared a video on YouTube about what my phone looks like. I'm a busy parent and I don't have the time or energy to fight with my phone. One of the things that surprised me was I didn't realize how much I was fighting with it before Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. . Now I actually like my phone.

Video demo of my Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. OS phone: Watch the video on YouTube

This video is hosted on YouTube. Clicking the link below will connect to Google's servers and may be subject to YouTube's privacy policies.

What works

I can tap NFC tags. If you like to use those for automations, reminders, or to set alarms around your house, you can still do that sort of thing.

The reality check! What works and what doesn't

There are limitations to using Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. . I can tap NFC tags (for connecting to bluetooth speakers, for automations, reminders, or setting alarms around your house) so that functionality still works. But Google Pay and Apple Pay don't work on Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. because Google blocks payment services on the device.

The closest thing to "tap to pay" is my grocery store sold me on their credit card + mobile pay, for extra points and stuff, and that works.

Some banking apps work fine, but I haven't tried them without Google Play Services installed. One bank forces me to use their app for a specific task, which I find frustrating.

For shopping apps, Starbucks won't run, and the Target app doesn't work either. However, I can access Target's Circle deals through my browser Lets you visit pages on the internet, examples are Safari, Edge, Firefox, or Brave. , which gets the job done.

Push notifications pop ups on your phone that alert you to messages from your friends or apps

Push notifications pop ups on your phone that alert you to messages from your friends or apps are another consideration. These are the pop-ups that appear when you receive a message or an app wants to alert you. A lot of apps depend on Google's push notification services (though Signal doesn't), which means you may need to install Google Play Services and the Google Play Store for those to function—even if you're downloading apps from alternative stores like Aurora Store. I'll write more about app stores in a future post.

RCS messages

My biggest concern early on was the stability of Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. with RCS messaging. It's been fine for a while, but I wanted to mention this.

SMS standard text messages sent over cellular networks (usually not encrypted) and MMS text messages that include photos or videos (usually not encrypted) are other messaging protocols. So you send a text to a friend and they get it. Stock text apps don't support RCS, just SMS standard text messages sent over cellular networks (usually not encrypted) and MMS text messages that include photos or videos (usually not encrypted) . Think of SMS standard text messages sent over cellular networks (usually not encrypted) like a post card, where anyone could read it if they see it, and RCS is like a sealed letter with extra features like you can add photos and gifs. RCS is a Google feature, though iMessages work with it too on iPhones. Because of this, I use the Google Messages app to stay connected to friends and family. Some of my friends and family have an option to 'fallback to SMS standard text messages sent over cellular networks (usually not encrypted) ' disabled. This means if I don't have RCS enabled, I literally cannot see their messages at all.

For about three months, my Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. setup struggled to maintain a stable connection with these servers. So RCS wasn't working. I missed out on messages in some group chats. I've seen others say they'll just move to Signal and tell everyone else to 'deal with it,' but that isn't an option for me. I only have a couple of people on Signal. For the rest, I need to keep the line open. Aside from that difficult period, things have been stable. I just let my friends know I might not see their texts.

Other alternatives: operating systems and Linux An alternative to Windows or MacOS on computers. phones

What I did ( GrapheneOS An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. on a Pixel) isn't the only way. Other people use e/OS, Lineage OS, and there are up and coming Linux An alternative to Windows or MacOS on computers. phones to consider. There's also an app called Waydroid that allows you to run Android the system running most smartphones (like Pixel, Samsung, LG, etc) apps in a special container on Linux An alternative to Windows or MacOS on computers. systems. In other words, you can download software to access Android the system running most smartphones (like Pixel, Samsung, LG, etc) apps on Linux An alternative to Windows or MacOS on computers. . I haven't tried it yet, but it could be a way to use necessary apps on a Linux An alternative to Windows or MacOS on computers. phone instead of relying solely on browser Lets you visit pages on the internet, examples are Safari, Edge, Firefox, or Brave. -based alternatives.

If you want to learn more about Linux, maybe start here.

Why this matters now

There's urgency in exploring these types of alternatives. I've been seeing headlines about Google's upcoming restrictions on how stock Android the system running most smartphones (like Pixel, Samsung, LG, etc) phones handle third-party apps. Android the system running most smartphones (like Pixel, Samsung, LG, etc) has traditionally allowed apps to be installed from anywhere, while Apple phones require jailbreaking removing software limits to install any software or apps and fully control your device to do the same.

Google is introducing new requirements for verifying developers people who write software and apps who distribute apps outside the Play Store. Supporters see this as a security improvement, but critics worry it will kill the open spirit of the platform. The new process involves multiple manual steps, waiting periods of like a day or so I think, and intimidating security warnings.

Don't let those warnings alarm you. The Google Play Store has its own risks. The real solution is trusting your judgment and educating yourself about what you put on your device, rather than blindly following a single gatekeeper.

These barriers matter because they affect everyone trying to gian more control with their digital life.

Conclusion

All of this depends on your comfort level. Some will never want to leave the big tech ecosystem, and that's okay. But I hope this shows you that alternatives to traditional phones aren't as strange or feel as foreign as you might think. The Crosswalk is here when you need it.

If you're curious, start by researching. Test one thing on a spare device. Read about someone else's journey. There are resources available, and people willing to help. You don't have to figure everything out all at once. And the thing with Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. is you can install Pixel OS back on the phone if it doesn't work for you.

Note of caution

If you have a Pixel already and think about putting something like Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. on it, you need to know that flashing a new OS on a device will wipe the hard drive. It will delete all the things you saved on it and start fresh. So make sure to back up your files and photos and things.