Database Develop

How is the battery life on nougat

Hello
As the title says i didn't upgrade my t713 yet to nougat, so i was wondering how is the battery life after the update , I'm getting around 6 hours of sot on mm , does the nougat battery life is any better ?

I haven't done any formal testing, but subjectively seems slightly better with 7. Streaming Netflix seems to use about 8-10% per hour. That's with power saving on and brightness set around 25-30%

The answers you will receive to your question are highly subjectively. It all depends on the brightness of the screen and the tasks running.
That being said, I've a T713 too running 6.0.1 and I had +10 hours SOT.

Not very good IMO. There's some battery leak with Bluetooth. I got 5 hours SOT.

Niii4 said:
The answers you will receive to your question are highly subjectively. It all depends on the brightness of the screen and the tasks running.
That being said, I've a T713 too running 6.0.1 and I had +10 hours SOT.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes but sometimes the battery goes shorter or longer after applying an update due to the new structure of the new build so it's not only about how you use it.

My battery life on the T715 isn't as good as M. I'd say M is a good 30% better. Seems also to be the case on my OnePlus 3. :crying:

In general, OS updates are bad. They eat away storage and often come with more spyware.

Niii4 said:
In general, OS updates are bad. They eat away storage and often come with more spyware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I must agree, it's why i usually leave my devices not updated..

messi2050 said:
I must agree, it's why i usually leave my devices not updated..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Simply "not updating", without also taking other security measures, isn't a wise move. Android is a large enough target for malware writers now that you can't assume you are safe.
However, on the flip side, there comes a point when a new OS version requires more juice than your device can reliably offer. This is why I am always amused by Apple fans who brag about how long their devices are supported. Sure, they get updates, but there will come a day when an update will sandbag the crap out of your device (and unlike Android, there is a zero percent chance of reverting it unless you realize your mistake before Apple cuts off signing of the previous version) The reality is that Apple realistically supports devices for about 3 years, compared with the 1-2 years of Android manufacturers if you factor in the performance losses.
I'm keeping my tab on MM for now, because battery life is already somewhat of an issue as it is, but I have a firewall in place and I vet all apps that go onto it carefully. Sideloading is disabled.

' "not updating", without also taking other security measures..'
It is very simple, if you don't install anything from *dubious sources*, remember: all free things come with a price!, you should be quite secured.
I highly disdain the spoiled mentally of Android users that are not willing to pay for software but totally expect to be entitled to get all for nothing.
Android paid software is drop-dead cheap in comparison with other platforms. Therefore I must assume that mostly pampered uneducated kiddies complain about paid software.
Android is as good a target as Windows. Thus just stay away from the pirated software unless you genuinely seek trojans, viruses and randsomware.
And no, virus scanners CANNOT just find everything. Period.
Peace.

Niii4 said:
' "not updating", without also taking other security measures..'
It is very simple, if you don't install anything from *dubious sources*, remember: all free things come with a price!, you should be quite secured.
I highly disdain the spoiled mentally of Android users that are not willing to pay for software but totally expect to be entitled to get all for nothing.
Android paid software is drop-dead cheap in comparison with other platforms. Therefore I must assume that mostly pampered uneducated kiddies complain about paid software.
Android is as good a target as Windows. Thus just stay away from the pirated software unless you genuinely seek trojans, viruses and randsomware.
And no, virus scanners CANNOT just find everything. Period.
Peace.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A tad judgmental without the facts, are we?
I do pay for software on my devices. In fact, I have quite a bit of real money invested in Android apps. Other than NetGuard (which I did buy a full license for, but which offers additional features in the Github version), all of my apps came from the Play store.
However, not all apps have a premium version, as they prefer the ad income. Which would be fine, except that not all ad servers are safe anymore. Anyone with a valid credit card can buy ads these days. It's the same issue as on PCs, where a website will load uncontrolled code from an ad server outside its control.
Now, apps that do things other than what they purport are, by definition, dodgy and should be avoided, but there have been quite a few seemingly legit apps on the Play store lately that have later been found to behave like malware. Default denying them network access until you can determine what kind of app they are feels like common sense.
The days where you could operate safely by just avoiding pirated or dodgy apps are gone, while those are still good things to do. Thus, putting apps behind a firewall isn't necessarily about getting something for nothing. It just means that only apps that get their ads through Google's networks can deliver ads.

jshamlet, good to hear that you are NOT one of those freeloaders.
I use Netguard myself. Best firewall on the market. Only downside: it needs the VPN. Thus it's either Netguard and your gov spies on your every move or VPN and no firewall.
Ads have become epidemic on Android. I try to steer clear of apps with ads. I'd rather pay PC software prices than "free" + ads and spyware.

General ABOUT ALL THE PROBLEM YOU HAD/HAVE

Im so tired to read all the comment about bad things about this phone , i mean i personally doesnt habe the perfect phone , i came with some problems too but then i realize u will NEVER find this phone good enough when you only looking for it mistakes . Dude u should be happy own this phone , since the others can only dream for it . No phone is perfect ? You think iphone is better ? Or any other brand ? Well please use the others , and im sure you will do the same , you will found that all phones have their own problem , probably to make the phone perfect for you , you just have to accept what it is and be happy with it . Or buy a new phone that you consider better , and lets see did u complain too or no .
imo phone will get better in updates

As with everything else from phones to cars you'll only find people posting about the faults, you never get people posting about the good things. That's fine though.

Get better with updates?
You're in for some surprises.
Like a bad gf updates just keep giving

Well, tbh there's no such thing as perfect in this universe. Everything has flaws, flaws that make it unique.
Considering a phone, i believe, mobile companies tend to provide us with best of their hardware, however they do still lack behind when it comes to software. It may be appealing but it always lack certain features, tweaks, mods.
That is where custom roms comes in place.
We have Resurrection Remix - tweaking at it's extreme.
We have Lineage OS - stability at it's extreme.
For me, my perfect phone would be the flagship phone with a custom rom. What else you want huh? Consider Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G with Ressurection Remix, regardless of the fact that it has such a huge name XD.

I have bad delayed notification problems with my S21 Ultra.

felloffthetruck said:
I have bad delayed notification problems with my S21 Ultra.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try disabling -all- power management... destroyer of worlds
Developer options>standby apps, all buckets should show as active otherwise power management is active.
Be careful what apps you limit background data to and -don't- allow background battery usage as well.
It's most likely a settings misconfiguration... play with it.

I share the same feelings with this post. I think that moaning without really looking for any solution is useless.

eleven.co said:
Well, tbh there's no such thing as perfect in this universe. Everything has flaws, flaws that make it unique.
Considering a phone, i believe, mobile companies tend to provide us with best of their hardware, however they do still lack behind when it comes to software. It may be appealing but it always lack certain features, tweaks, mods.
That is where custom roms comes in place.
We have Resurrection Remix - tweaking at it's extreme.
We have Lineage OS - stability at it's extreme.
For me, my perfect phone would be the flagship phone with a custom rom. What else you want huh? Consider Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G with Ressurection Remix, regardless of the fact that it has such a huge name XD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did you find ressurection and lineage for the s21? :O

babyboy3265 said:
Where did you find ressurection and lineage for the s21? :O
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, there aren't any atm. But, but. They will be in near future. So, you know, it will be really fun.

eleven.co said:
Lol, there aren't any atm. But, but. They will be in near future. So, you know, it will be really fun.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea for sure... Only sadly the cameras wouldn't function at their max potential... Which kinda makes the mentioned roms unnecessary. :/

babyboy3265 said:
Yea for sure... Only sadly the cameras wouldn't function at their max potential... Which kinda makes the mentioned roms unnecessary. :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea. You are right. They should import the stock camera apps in those roms for that to work.

blackhawk said:
Try disabling -all- power management... destroyer of worlds
Developer options>standby apps, all buckets should show as active otherwise power management is active.
Be careful what apps you limit background data to and -don't- allow background battery usage as well.
It's most likely a settings misconfiguration... play with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I've already done of this with no positive results at all.

felloffthetruck said:
Thanks, I've already done of this with no positive results at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Keep playing with it. Took me close to a year to fully sort out my Note 10+.
It runs extremely well now.

I have the perfect smartphone!
Does it have an SD card slot?
Yes!
Is it micro-SD format?
Yes
Does it support up to 1TB of SD memory?
Yes!
Does it support UFS 3.1?
Yes!
Is the SD slot on the bottom of the phone?
Yes! ... ?
Can the SD card be inserted face down?
No...? Why?
Doesn't sound perfect to me. My last phone before my last phone allowed you to insert the SD card upside down!
It's not the phones or the manufacturers, it's us!

Hi guys! I'm a new user of s21 Ultra. My last Android phone was LG G2.
I am using the Snapdragon version. The stock camera, the image it produce has too much contrast and doesn't seem natural to me. I am a hobbyist photographer so I could say what is good or what. And it isn't for me.
My version is up to date. All software update installed. Am i missing something here or it is what it is?

marshygeek said:
Hi guys! I'm a new user of s21 Ultra. My last Android phone was LG G2.
I am using the Snapdragon version. The stock camera, the image it produce has too much contrast and doesn't seem natural to me. I am a hobbyist photographer so I could say what is good or what. And it isn't for me.
My version is up to date. All software update installed. Am i missing something here or it is what it is?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check your display settings>screen mode.
Not sure what your options are but the "natural" setting produces truer rendering.
The vivid mode looks way oversaturated.
You may have more options in Developer options but probably not.

blackhawk said:
Check your display settings>screen mode.
Not sure what your options are but the "natural" setting produces truer rendering.
The vivid mode looks way oversaturated.
You may have more options in Developer options but probably not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello, thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, i am only using the "Natural" option. There is just too much noise on the image even though there is enough light not to force the phone to use high ISO.

marshygeek said:
Hello, thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, i am only using the "Natural" option. There is just too much noise on the image even though there is enough light not to force the phone to use high ISO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try resetting camera data and clearing system cache.
Any case or cover that could be interfering?
Otherwise it may be a firmware or hardware issue.

SOLUTION TO DELAYED-NOTIFICATIONS:
Enable USB debugging on the phone.
You just unzip the file provided here in your PC: https://www.xda-developers.com/install-adb-windows-macos-linux/
Navigate to it via terminal.
Then, after you connect the phone to your PC, run:
./adb devices
./adb shell dumpsys deviceidle disable
That'll fix it for sure.
I simply cannot recommend Android to my normie friends and family.
Let me restate this: It is not our job to fix Google's bugs.
This is a US-centric view.
If you can't tell: I am a bit aggravated right now.
I could not get my GMail, GCal, and other notifications to come through properly on Pixel 5's Android 11 OR S21 Ultra's Android 11.
This has apparently been an issue that many an Android user suffers through silently -- and, some don't even know that this is happening to them. I guess they're embarrassed to publicly state that their mobile OS is subpar.
When you get an e-mail or if a calendar event reminder is coming up, and even if your phone's screen is OFF/locked: you should get an *instant* notification. No delay whatsoever.
Well, if my screen was off/locked, I wouldn't get these notifications or it would take 10+ minutes to show. But, once I unlocked my phone: boom, notifications. And, sometimes even if my screen wasn't locked, there would be a serious delay or no notification.
After spending loads of time trying to fix this problem, me and my friend finally stumbled upon a solution: ./adb shell dumpsys deviceidle disable
A reboot eliminates this setting modification, by the way.
Do not tell me that instant e-mail notifications are not necessary. Many of us work jobs that require them to be instant.
No end user should ever have to go through this. iPhone users certainly don't go through this.
If Google doesn't care about Android users, then, why should I, as an Android user, care about Android too? Just switch to iPhone, I guess.
Google pays Apple $10bn+ every year and makes better software for iOS than it does for Android.
Just look at the damn widgets that iOS users get.
So, $10bn/year plus the cost of the software developed to cater to iOS users.
This makes Google a simp cuck to Apple, nothing else.
Would Apple ever return this favor? No.
Therefore, Google management is a simp cucked by Apple, nothing more.
We are fools to be using this OS.
If Google is willing to subsidize my iOS software updates and experience to the tune of billions of dollars every single year -- then, why not just switch?
Clearly, my experience has shown me that Android can be cheaper -- if I don't value my time.
Statistic after statistic bears it out: iPhone users are wealthier.
I am tired of being an Android luser -- why should I take on such abuse and neglect by the main author of my mobile OS?
Before you start patronizing me: YES, I tried every other bloody trick in the book to fix this issue.
No end user should ever have to go through this! No end user should have to run adb commands to enable basic functionality.
There are some basic things that modern smartphones should just be able to do: instant notifications, 3rd party camera support, functioning RCS or some other form of E2EE messaging built-in, reliable local backups, a nationwide network of repair facilities, etc.
Android fails on all of these.
iPhone ordered. Glad to leave this Android ghetto behind.
Hey Google, if you have some self-respect: then, instead of paying Apple $10bn an year and doing iOS development, how about you actually work on some basic Android functionality instead?

nixnixnixnix4 said:
I simply cannot recommend Android to my normie friends and family.
No end user should ever have to go through this! No end user should have to run adb commands to enable basic functionality.
There are some basic things that modern smartphones should just be able to do: instant notifications, 3rd party camera support, functioning RCS or some other form of E2EE messaging built-in, reliable local backups, a nationwide network of repair facilities, etc.
Android fails on all of these.
iPhone ordered. Glad to leave this Android ghetto behind.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wish you all the best, and a happy life with your new iPhone. Life is short and there's no point putting up with what you hate.
I can see you're really upset about a lot of stuff on Android. You do make some very valid points about what's broken in Android. And I guess any of those can trigger a person ebough to make them switch to iOS. But I think it also has something to do with the user's requirement and not the OS alone. If there was just one "best" OS, nobody would spend more than a thousand dollars on an alternative. It's good to have a choice, and in your case, I'm glad you've exercised that in favor of what you think with add more value to your life.
I've had both iPhones and Android phones for years and both of them offer 90% of the same functions that you'd expect from a good smartphone. The remaining 10% is where you have to make a choice. There are many things to choose from: stability vs experimental features, customisation vs familiarity, update cycle, longevity, resale value, tinker-ability (I know that's not a word ), app support (there are some apps that only support one or the other OS), and the list goes on.
My childhood friend and me bought matching MacBook Pros when we jumped ship into the Apple ecosystem with an iPhone and an iPad. We were "sick" of android, and wanted a taste of the premium life that the fruit promised to offer. Five years on, he still uses all his Apple gadgets and has added a homepod, an apple watch and airpods to his growing apple inventory, whilst upgrading the the latest idevices every two years. Me on the other hand, went from MacOS to a bootcamped Windows installation after a year of purchase and don't even boot into MacOS unless I have to use Final Cut Pro. My workflow goes best with Windows, no matter how good MacOS may be. On the other hand, his doesn't - he's completely iin love with the Apple way, and that's fine.
Same with iOS. I kept the iPhone for 2 years before trading it in for a OnePlus because I hated being told that there was a "correct" way of doing something and only that way was allowed. I couldn't live with an OS that denied me access to my device's filesystem! That, in my opinion is a basic requirement - but this may not be the case for everyone. I like a robust notification system and I've found the Android implementation head and shoulders above what Apple offers. I like third party app stores and the ability to sideload apps on my phone. I can't get that on iOS. And the best part - if I don't like something on Android, it's possible I can fix it with some workaround (like the one you posted). I agree with you that no end user should have to do that, but regardless, it can be done if you want to. No such possibility exists on the other side of the fence. So I chose to live with the shortcomings of Android as opposed to the shortcomings of iOS - simply becasuse the former were more acceptable to me than the latter, not because Android is better or worse that iOS. It just offers me what "I" want in a mobile operating system.
It may be the opposite in the next person's case - someone who values the other side of the equation more, like yourself. That's why it's good to have a choice.
But i sincerely believe that it's not so bad on the Android side of things. It is a very versatile and stable operating system offering a lot of flexibility and customisability on par with a full fleged desktop class operating system. In the end, it boils down to a blend of the OS and the user, not either one in isolation.
I wish you the best with your new device. They are arguably beautiful pieces of technology. Have fun!
Hope to see you back on XDA in the future.

Question Things i will lose if i root my s21 ultra

Hello friends
as the title says what exactly i will lose if i root my device (S21Ultra exynos) ? All i know knox will be tripped. What exactly happens to it? Can i still get updates when im in stock version? I heard like some samsung apps stop working is there a way to bypass them?

Welcome to XDA
Well if you're in the US you lose warranty... that could get expensive. Given there's no track record for that phone yet and that all the variable refresh rate displays suffer a greater failure rate... you could be painting yourself into a corner. I keep it stock for at least a few months.
Personally my opinion is, I have two stock Note 10+'s that are optimized and run great. I don't update them. They are Snapdragon's which are notoriously hard to root.
It's simply not worth the risk of bricking them or the trouble. As they are they will last for years will minimal maintenance.

Many banks apps or payments apps won't work
No chance of trading your phone in and if you want to sell it privately its value is lower

blackhawk said:
Welcome to XDA
Well if you're in the US you lose warranty... that could get expensive. Given there's no track record for that phone yet and that all the variable refresh rate displays suffer a greater failure rate... you could be painting yourself into a corner. I keep it stock for at least a few months.
Personally my opinion is, I have two stock Note 10+'s that are optimized and run great. I don't update them. They are Snapdragon's which are notoriously hard to root.
It's simply not worth the risk of bricking them or the trouble. As they are they will last for years will minimal maintenance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thankss

alessandro_xda said:
Many banks apps or payments apps won't work
No chance of trading your phone in and if you want to sell it privately its value is lower
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What about samsung apps? If so, can i bypass it?

How about I root my phone...change csc and flash back the stock rom.
Still samsung apps won't work ?

In addition to Banking apps, Samsung Pass and Samsung Heath won't work. Secure Folder will also be gone.
Flashing stock rom will not repare it.
Some tricks (eg root masking) may allow certain apps to be used.
The question is more: what does one really gain by rooting the phone...

OnnoJ said:
In addition to Banking apps, Samsung Pass and Samsung Heath won't work. Secure Folder will also be gone.
Flashing stock rom will not repare it.
Some tricks (eg root masking) may allow certain apps to be used.
The question is more: what does one really gain by rooting the phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Having access for everything? System files, etc...i know you can have some of it with ADB. you will be able to customize apps for example with Xposed modules.

Great thread!
This is the first phone I've owned where I'm actually OK being without root. Using Adb Appcontrol, I was able to debloat the snot outta this phone and have exceptional performance & battery life on A11. It's tempting to root, but the tradeoffs seem a little high this go around. I'm staying unrooted.

burnxtc said:
Great thread!
This is the first phone I've owned where I'm actually OK being without root. Using Adb Appcontrol, I was able to debloat the snot outta this phone and have exceptional performance & battery life on A11. It's tempting to root, but the tradeoffs seem a little high this go around. I'm staying unrooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you could disable scoped storage by rooting it might be worth it, but not sure it's possible to do even in a rooted phone.
Prior to the Gookill scoped storage turd dropping you could get good functionality with a stock Samsung running on Android 9 and a bit less so with Android 10 by optimizing it.
Android 12 is very restrictive and authoritarian... no one likes a big sister.

blackhawk said:
If you could disable scoped storage by rooting it might be worth it, but not sure it's possible to do even in a rooted phone.
Prior to the Gookill scoped storage turd dropping you could get good functionality with a stock Samsung running on Android 9 and a bit less so with Android 10 by optimizing it.
Android 12 is very restrictive and authoritarian... no one likes a big sister.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Totally with you on this. And with you on your prior comments of not taking updates. For the last 20 years or so, I've always been on the cusp of firmware, driver, software etc. updates but lately? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. My current build (4AUJ7) is nearly flawless. Only things I miss are the stock camera updates & battery configuration abilities. I've learned to live without them.

burnxtc said:
Totally with you on this. And with you on your prior comments of not taking updates. For the last 20 years or so, I've always been on the cusp of firmware, driver, software etc. updates but lately? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. My current build (4AUJ7) is nearly flawless. Only things I miss are the stock camera updates & battery configuration abilities. I've learned to live without them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any more updates seem like more giving shiny trinkets to the native girls... than giving real tangible benefits for all the trouble they will bring.
Google hype of evolving vulnerabilities is sounding more like the covid bs hype every day.
In actual usage with care, Pie remains relatively secure. This N10+ in my hand OS load will be 2 yo in June with minimal maintenance, still fast, stable and fulfilling its mission. I keep wifi disabled (not needed), use Karma Firewall, Package Disabler, use only vetted apps, keep email in the cloud, and hawk all downloads which are kept in the download folder until vetted.
All thing users should be doing anyway; a currently updated Android doesn't mean you're impervious to malware at all. Most users install the malware themselves inadvertently by ineptitude. No WhatsApp, Tic-tok, FB or any trashware on my N10+'s!!!
I'm still slowly shaking down the new N10+ running on Android 10, it will never be upgraded more than likely. My impression so far is it's less capable than the Pie variant but usable.
Android 11 and certainly 12 would break it.
No trinkets are worth that... I'm prepared to do a factory reset at anytime if needed.
The fact that I am and have a hair trigger on the nuke option affords me a zero tolerance for any malware that can't be fully eradicated within an hour or two.
Any odd behavior is easy to spot because I'm not constantly changing the playing field with updates/upgrades; I know exactly how this load behaves. It's expendable but the critical data is not which is why that is redundantly backed up with multiple time staggered backups on multiple isolated drives.
I'm not one bit pleased with either Samsung's or Google Android's products in the last 2-3 years; they suck. This 3 yo N10+ is only marginally slower then the S22U and in some instances faster. It has better SOT/screen off battery life, expandable storage (data drive!), a better color rendering index/white point, and a proven track record of reliability. It has a better form factor, higher display bevel ratio and is a better looking phone. It's usability and functionality on Android 9/10 exceeds all the newer Samsung flagships.
WTF Samsung, Gookill? blah, keep your trinkets, no sale!
Feel the wuv...

lunatix01 said:
Hello friends
as the title says what exactly i will lose if i root my device (S21Ultra exynos) ? All i know knox will be tripped. What exactly happens to it? Can i still get updates when im in stock version? I heard like some samsung apps stop working is there a way to bypass them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perderai tutte le funzionalità di SamsungPass!!!
Mod translation via GT: You will lose all the features of Samsung Pass !!!

Double Noob

Hi to all and thanks to Contributor and Moderator Tom and Andrew for the welcome.
Not only am I a Noob to to XDA but also a Noob to Android, so I have a lot to learn and being older in years that should be interesting (not).
I was recently given a Motorola Moto G6 (ali xt1925-4, single SIM) to replace my older gas driven Lumia 610 Windows 7.5 Phone.
Much to my disgust I realised that Android devices typically have a rather short support life and with the device no longer being supported by OS or security updates, I decided to have a go at replacing its Android 9 (Pie) OS with something more recent.
After much trial and even more error I managed to install PixelExperience_Plus_ali-12.1 (Android 12) using TWRP 3.7 without bricking the phone, though I think I came close on a few occasions.
For the most part the install seems to have worked, however, there are a few glitches but I'll ask about these in the appropriate section(s) on the forum.

Welcome to XDA.
Lol, you made a Android rookie mistake... in my opinion. I run 2 N10+'s, one on Pie the other 10. Both are running on what they came loaded with new. The oldest one hasn't been updated for over 3 years, deliberately.
It's current load is over 2 5 yo, still fast, stable and fulfilling its mission. No malware is all that time; security is not an issue. I prefer Pie over Android 10; more functional and easier to troubleshoot. I value my N10+'s and neither will be upgraded beyond their current firmware for the rest of their service lives more than likely. They run like bats out of hell... what's not to like?
Now for the really bad news CPU cycle sucking scoped storage is fully active on Android 11 and 12. You can likely roll back from 12 to 11 but not back to 10. Many have rolled back from 12, feel the wuv.
Samsung updates and firmware upgrades can and do break devices especially true near the end of the devices support cycle. Samsung has been do this for many years. Anything from Android 9 and up are relatively secure for real time use; security isn't a reason to upgrade.
In the future look before you leap. Again my opinion from what Samsung has taught me... Rule #1 - if the firmware is fast, stable and fulfilling its mission, let it be! You have little to gain and a lot to lose especially in terms of time.
Androids are easy to learn; just play with it and read about it as needed. A steep learning curve but playing makes perfect.
Always redundantly backup critical data to at least 2 hdds that are physically and electronically isolated from each other and the PC or eventually you will lose data. Write down your Google account password. Learn how Google FRP works so you don't get locked out of your device.

blackhawk said:
Welcome to XDA.
Lol, you made a Android rookie mistake... in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
blackhawk said:
Now for the really bad news CPU cycle sucking scoped storage is fully active on Android 11 and 12.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Way over my head I'm afraid.
blackhawk said:
You can likely roll back from 12 to 11 but not back to 10.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Motorola provide a rescue app that reinstalls the last official upgrade. I've already used this when I thought I had bricked the phone so all may not be lost if Android 12 proves to problematic. If all else fails I can always frame it and put on the wall
blackhawk said:
Anything from Android 9 and up are relatively secure for real time use; security isn't a reason to upgrade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's interesting but is contrary to much of what I've read; however a lot of what I've read has likely been biased to encourage buying a new device not extending the life of an old one.
blackhawk said:
In the future look before you leap.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No fun in that especially when it's cold and raining outside.
blackhawk said:
You have little to gain and a lot to lose especially in terms of time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm retired
blackhawk said:
Androids are easy to learn; just play with it and read about it as needed. A steep learning curve but playing makes perfect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The main reason for the upgrade was to learn - rather than to use. Playing with it is the object of the exercise.

Whatever gives you kicks. Personally I use whatever works best to fulfill the mission.
I want minimal downtime and zero critical data loss. I'm retired as well but don't enjoy chasing my tail for Google. Same games as MS. No.
Lol, you should move to Texas. Warmer. In the 60's today and sunny.
No personal property tax after you reach 70, with a reduction once you reach 65. No personal state income tax.

blackhawk said:
Whatever gives you kicks. Personally I use whatever works best to fulfill the mission.
I want minimal downtime and zero critical data loss. I'm retired as well but don't enjoy chasing my tail for Google. Same games as MS. No.
Lol, you should move to Texas. Warmer. In the 60's today and sunny.
No personal property tax after you reach 70, with a reduction once you reach 65. No personal state income tax.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Warm, sunny and reduced taxes..........lovely

Question Pixel as a phone for privacy-concerned users?

Hello
A bit of a beginner question.
I am looking for an option to avoid personal data leaks to corporations (paranoid version ). It makes me uncomfortable that every single word I say or text I write is being sent to the servers, being analysed by the online algorithms, etc. I believe that a phone is a personal device, and this is not acceptable.
Which is why I am looking for a phone that would allow to clean up the bloatware and telemetry modules, by either removing them from the stock firmware, setting up restrictive firewall rules, or by installing something like LineageOS or similar.
My question is whether it is reasonable to get the new Pixel 7 (in my area it costs around $600) or would you recommend looking into other models, some chinese models, for a similar price?
I am considering Pixel, as it is known to be one of the best phones in its price range (but as I understand mostly because of the software part, which I would like to meddle with).
Thanks for your opinions!

Yes, the pixel is a great phone. Paranoid Android (privacy ROM) supports it. The pixel is very easy to work with.

thetraveller1 said:
Hello
A bit of a beginner question.
I am looking for an option to avoid personal data leaks to corporations (paranoid version ). It makes me uncomfortable that every single word I say or text I write is being sent to the servers, being analysed by the online algorithms, etc. I believe that a phone is a personal device, and this is not acceptable.
Which is why I am looking for a phone that would allow to clean up the bloatware and telemetry modules, by either removing them from the stock firmware, setting up restrictive firewall rules, or by installing something like LineageOS or similar.
My question is whether it is reasonable to get the new Pixel 7 (in my area it costs around $600) or would you recommend looking into other models, some chinese models, for a similar price?
I am considering Pixel, as it is known to be one of the best phones in its price range (but as I understand mostly because of the software part, which I would like to meddle with).
Thanks for your opinions!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Pixel is, at it's core, developed by Google (which is primarily an advertising company, which is why they have so many great "free" apps, which you pay for with your data), as is Android itself. When you buy a new Android phone, it will come preloaded with multiple proprietary Google apps, which you can not easily uninstall. If you really want a privacy oriented phone, the Pixel with a custom ROM might work. Personally, I use Lineage OS, also for the extra privacy, as it is open-source. Lineage OS does not have any Google apps installed by default, although you can install them if you wish. If you look at Lineage OS's website and click on "GET LINEAGEOS" you can see devices that are supported. Since creating a custom ROM takes time, most of the supported devices are over three years old (yes, the Pixel 7 is not officialy supported). However, certain newer devices are supported, as is my Samsung Galaxy A52 4G (2021), which I run Lineage OS on. You could get the Pixel 7 and run this unofficial build of Lineage OS on it, but if your only getting it because the camera software is good, don't, because your going to remove that software and replace it. Another thing to keep in mind is sometimes the camera support isn't really great with custom ROMs, so do you research to make sure the phone you get has good camera support with whatever ROM you choose. Lineage OS did just develop a much better camera app for it's 20th release, though. Hope this helps, and if you have any questions let me know!

Hi, =)
if privacy is a concern for you, using a Google Pixel device may not be the best option as Google is known to collect user data for targeted advertising and other purposes. You may want to consider other options that prioritize privacy such as phones running on the Android-based LineageOS, or the privacy-focused /e/OS, or a device from a vendor known to prioritize privacy, such as Fairphone or Purism. You may also want to consider alternative operating systems such as iOS or Ubuntu Touch. Ultimately, the best option for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences, so consider your budget and requirements before making a decision.

If you want a device that protects your privacy out of the box with no modification, the Pixel series is not for you. In fact I'm not aware of any OEM Android device that is privacy oriented - Google services by nature depend largely on telemetry and user data for targeted advertising.
That being said, if you want a platform that can easily support a privacy oriented OS, the Pixel is honestly one of the best choices, due to the ease of which you can unlock the bootloader and flash a new OS such as LineageOS, CalyxOS, or others. This means you'll need to familiarize yourself with the concepts of ADB, flashing, bootloaders, etc.

ChristianMorris said:
Hi, =)
if privacy is a concern for you, using a Google Pixel device may not be the best option as Google is known to collect user data for targeted advertising and other purposes. You may want to consider other options that prioritize privacy such as phones running on the Android-based LineageOS, or the privacy-focused /e/OS, or a device from a vendor known to prioritize privacy, such as Fairphone or Purism. You may also want to consider alternative operating systems such as iOS or Ubuntu Touch. Ultimately, the best option for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences, so consider your budget and requirements before making a decision.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I happen to have the Librem 5 phone, developed by Purism. Frankly, although it is extremely security and privacy oriented, it currently has many downfalls: high price (starts at $1,999), not many apps (Linux smartphones are pretty new), and the battery lasts less than 24 hours on a full charge (due to not having a good suspend mode, I assume)

V0latyle said:
If you want a device that protects your privacy out of the box with no modification, the Pixel series is not for you. In fact I'm not aware of any OEM Android device that is privacy oriented - Google services by nature depend largely on telemetry and user data for targeted advertising.
That being said, if you want a platform that can easily support a privacy oriented OS, the Pixel is honestly one of the best choices, due to the ease of which you can unlock the bootloader and flash a new OS such as LineageOS, CalyxOS, or others. This means you'll need to familiarize yourself with the concepts of ADB, flashing, bootloaders, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lmao remember “freedom phone” what a joke.

I wonder if even a rooted android phone will not give away all kinds of info. Some roms I presume will mitigate that somewhat, but I feel you are tracked everywhere you go in this world. How about a decent burner or 3? Use it for a week or so then destroy it. And then buy a pixel 7 for the features when you don't care who's looking. And don't forget your paid (forget free) VPN.

@thetraveller1 flash Graphene, relock the bootloader, and you'll basically have state of the art privacy and security on your Pixel 7.
GrapheneOS: the private and secure mobile OS
GrapheneOS is a security and privacy focused mobile OS with Android app compatibility.
grapheneos.org

Thanks everybody for the replies!
As I understand, Pixel remains the most widely supported device by various Custom ROMs, and getting a Chinese smartphone or Samsung would mean I would be limiting the choice of the available/pre-built ROMs as well as future support with security patches?
ethical_haquer said:
You could get the Pixel 7 and run this unofficial build of Lineage OS on it, but if your only getting it because the camera software is good, don't, because your going to remove that software and replace it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand that unofficial means it wasn't built by the LineageOS team, rather by a 3rd party. And it probably means that some functionality may be missing/not working and it's not promised to be getting regular updates as new versions of Android come out (including applying official google security updates) unless I learn to make firmware builds myself?

thetraveller1 said:
Thanks everybody for the replies!
As I understand, Pixel remains the most widely supported device by various Custom ROMs, and getting a Chinese smartphone or Samsung would mean I would be limiting the choice of the available/pre-built ROMs as well as future support with security patches?
I understand that unofficial means it wasn't built by the LineageOS team, rather by a 3rd party. And it probably means that some functionality may be missing/not working and it's not promised to be getting regular updates as new versions of Android come out (including applying official google security updates) unless I learn to make firmware builds myself?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One of the reasons people use custom ROMs is because they often support devices longer then the stock ROM. For example, a device that was only supported by the manufacture till Android 11 could be running a custom ROM on Android 13. Lineage OS official builds get weekly updates; unofficial builds typically still get updates, but not as often. In either case, it is up to the individual that developed the build to provide support, and the more popular a build is, the more likely it is that it will be supported for many years. To answer your questions: no, getting a non-google phone will not necessarily limit custom ROM options, or updates; and getting an unofficial build doesn't mean it wont get updates, but installing updates on unofficial builds requires flashing the new builds manually, which can be a hassle.

thetraveller1 said:
Thanks everybody for the replies!
As I understand, Pixel remains the most widely supported device by various Custom ROMs, and getting a Chinese smartphone or Samsung would mean I would be limiting the choice of the available/pre-built ROMs as well as future support with security patches?
I understand that unofficial means it wasn't built by the LineageOS team, rather by a 3rd party. And it probably means that some functionality may be missing/not working and it's not promised to be getting regular updates as new versions of Android come out (including applying official google security updates) unless I learn to make firmware builds myself?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take a look at Shizuku and the apps that use it like FreezeYou!. MySudo and Insular are another couple to check. You may find a solution without having to switch ROMs.