I have given thought recently to getting a Pixel 5 in a few months and putting Graphene OS on it. I have a Pinephone CE that I am waiting for things to mature and use a Teracube 2E that has /E/ OS on it. I already only use open source, non Google, apps. Would it be a waste of resources to go for the Pixel 5 being that it has no removable battery unlike my other phones and would instantly be on a limited life span ? I’m already off Android so my privacy and security are already in a pretty good state although it can always be better but it seems I have to succumb to buying a new device every few years to get that which I detest being forced to do. Just looking for opinions to supplement my own.
You shouldn’t worry too much about battery health these days. Using GrapheneOS as far as I’m aware, might not have battery health features such as limiting charge between 20-80, etc. Batteries coming out in 2021 aren’t anywhere near as bad as they used to be and are quite good when compared to the Pinephone for instance. I would recommend you go ahead with your plan and to not worry so much about batteries.
If anyone is interested in power management and detailed explanation, check out https://gist.githubusercontent.com/Peter-Easton/4982f66e93387e02dd2c1d677d71f4f2/raw/4edf9a41ca3a4d053c8ad7bf365f97c923f01c61/battery-management.txt
Makes me look like a bum for mentioning the 80% charge dealio. Good to know though.
i thought he was concerned about the removable battery because by removing it, you aren’t traceable - that geolocation thing, pinging from cell towers even when phone if off. just guessing.
oops, i was wrong
Firmware maintenance is usually abandoned way before the battery dies so for me they are all on a limited lifespan :/
Would it be a waste of resources to go for the Pixel 5
If you already got a phone then yes?!
As long as it plays music and porn, its fucking NASA to me.
(Pixel 5 battery is replaceable via a technician’s help, right ?)
“Pixel 5 battery is replaceable via a technician’s help, right ?”
I don’t count that. If I can’t take the back off and pop the battery out then it’s not removable to me. Makes for much cheaper and easier replacements. Take the Pinephone for instance: I can get a replacement battery for it off Amazon for $25-30 and install it in 30 seconds. What would a tech charge me for the Pixel 5 ?
My partner has a phone without a removable battery. I don’t understand why she’s okay with that and she doesn’t understand why I wouldn’t be okay with that.
Pixels are the only phones which have 3 years of support guaranteed. Next gen should add another year if I recall correctly. 4 years for a phone it’s quite good, not best though.
They’re putting GrapheneOS on it so this doesn’t matter.
What do you mean? GrapheneOS can’t updates closed source components like the firmware, the bootloader etc. That’s why OEM’s support it’s so important.
So what you’re suggesting is OP buy the phone, put GrapheneOS on it (like they plan to), and periodically wipe/reinstall Android 12 to do firmware upgrades? Just want to make sure I’m understanding this right.
From my experience with platform-tools you can’t flash firmware without doing an Android 12 install.
It’s not what I meant. Smartphones have proprietary components like the firmware, the modem firmware, the bootleader and other vendor code which need to be updated. GrapheneOS can’t get security updates for proprietary services, that’s up to vendors. That’s why vendor’s support it’s important. Also, these security updates come with security bulletins. Therefore, you don’t have to wipe your phone or something like that.
I am in the same boat as you. I going to buy a 5a when its out. The big battery on the 5a is hopefully going to last a couple years.
Why do you want a Pixel 5 with Graphen, if you already have two phones? The full disk encryption and the protected boot? The security? If you would really need it or if you would like to contribute and have the time & money to deal with it, go for it.
I actually have four phones if i’m counting although two of them don’t get a ton of use these days. The full disk encryption and the hardening work done to the OS are my main draws. I don’t really care about the Titan M chip as it isn’t open source so I don’t trust it much. PostmarketOS and Mobian both have full disk encryption but aren’t daily driver ready. /e/ OS on my Teracube 2E has been losing my trust of late as the last two updates both caused issues including forcing a wipe/reinstall and my wifi not working.
