this post was submitted on 28 Jun 2024
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Hi,

A friend wants to degoogle his phone, so I suggested the OS I'm currently using. The one we can't talk about... He wants a small/compact phone, so I suggested pixel 4a (not buying second hand though), but I'm afraid that planned obsolescence may kill the phone rather soon. What's your opinion?

Cheers and thank you for your help,

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[–] Ilandar@aussie.zone 48 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (3 children)

Yes, that is too old for a new phone considering it's already past its end-of-life for both official support and your OS. I'm not sure why you'd recommend them to buy new either - a phone like that is only going to be good value if you pick up a used one for cheap. A new model will be massively overpriced for what it is (and may not even be new, just refurbished and repackaged).

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[–] Tywele@lemmy.dbzer0.com 24 points 4 months ago (4 children)

What's the OS we can't talk about?

[–] rickyrigatoni@lemm.ee 36 points 4 months ago (1 children)
[–] delirious_owl@discuss.online 14 points 4 months ago (1 children)

We don't talk about Hannah Montana Android.

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[–] Grippler@feddit.dk 25 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

To be more helpful than the joke comments you've received so far, it's graphene OS that's causing a lot of controversy.

[–] just_another_person@lemmy.world 23 points 4 months ago (2 children)
[–] lemmyvore@feddit.nl 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

They claim their security measures are better then other custom ROMs.

[–] just_another_person@lemmy.world 7 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Don't they all make that claim?

[–] FutileRecipe@lemmy.world 5 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Do they all really? I know GrapheneOS does, and I think DivestOS even says "use my OS to stay as up to date as possible, but if you have a current/supported Pixel, use GrapheneOS instead for superior security." But I don't recall other OSes really going "we're more secure than GrapheneOS and here's why."

[–] lemmyvore@feddit.nl 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Hence the controversy! 🙂

Also, Graphene tend to act superior about it and it pisses people off.

[–] TwinTusks@bitforged.space 9 points 4 months ago (2 children)

That doesnt sound like a controversy, its bascially "btw, I use arch"

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[–] Grippler@feddit.dk 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I'm honestly not quite sure, I just know people are getting riled up when it's mentioned.

[–] fossphi@lemm.ee 4 points 4 months ago (2 children)

It gets people going, (Daniel) 'Mkay?

I stole this from another lemmy comment, please don't come after me

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[–] Certainly_No_Brit@discuss.tchncs.de 21 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

The Google Pixel 4a is officially end-of-life and doesn't get any software and security updates anymore (https://endoflife.date/pixel).

[–] scrooge101@lemmy.ml 4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

CalyxOS still provides extended support for Pixel 4a until August 2024.

[–] mnmalst@lemmy.zip 9 points 4 months ago

FYI: "Extended support" from a custom rom means the OS level software gets updated, not the device firmware. So you still end up with a not fully up to date phone.

Written from my Pxiel 4a. :)

[–] Titou@sh.itjust.works 16 points 4 months ago (3 children)

The one we can't talk about...

I don't get it ? Why can't we say it's name ?

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[–] foremanguy92_@lemmy.ml 13 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I think it's a bit too old, if you want to stay in the pixel ecosystem maybe try to grab a 6, 6a or 6 pro. They are around $250, and they are great!

[–] qaz@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I recently got a 6a to replace my iPhone SE for €160 and it's been working great.

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[–] cradac@feddit.de 11 points 4 months ago

I'm using a 4a right now which I bought last year, refurbished. It's a great phone and has a headphone jack. If you're concerend about updates, install an alternative OS. If you want to degoogle that should be the path anyway.

[–] ben_dover@lemmy.ml 10 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (3 children)

4a is end of life already, so no firmware updates from Google. GrapheneOS has legacy builds available for it but doesn't recommend using them, and they might go away anytime soon

get a used device which is still properly supported, don't buy brand new e-waste

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 4 points 4 months ago

You could just jot use Graphene OS. They create ewaste just as much as Android. Lineage OS will run on 8 year old phones.

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[–] eugenia@lemmy.ml 8 points 4 months ago

You can install LineageOS or e/OS on it (instead of Graphene, if that's too controversial), and then the 4a is a good phone to use.

[–] s38b35M5@lemmy.world 8 points 4 months ago

I bought a used Pixel 5 in Feb for my daily driver. Replaced my Pixel 3 only because the power button was flaky. They both still run great. By my standards, getting two years out of a phone I paid $150 for is better than getting three years out of a $700 phone.

[–] jet@hackertalks.com 5 points 4 months ago (26 children)

Depends on your friends threat model, lineage will work on it.

No security updates makes the Pixel 4a a bold choice for your main phone. I don't recommend it

I would follow the graphene OS recommended phone guide, that gives you maximum flexibility to put any operating system you want on the phone.

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[–] delirious_owl@discuss.online 5 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

I have a Pixel 3a, and I love it. I also have a Pixel 4a and love that one too

I bought a Pixel 5a, and hated it. I think the 4a is the best phone on the market right now. Great price, great support in Lineage, and its not too big and heavy.

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[–] haui_lemmy@lemmy.giftedmc.com 5 points 4 months ago

tangential: I‘m using a oneplus 6 with postmarketOS but depending on your friend‘s it skills, it might not be ready for him yet.

So far its very usable but I suggest someone must want to swim against the current and do things differently. One could say a „pioneer“ type would be ideal for this.

[–] pH3ra@lemmy.ml 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Writing from a 3 years old 4a running CalyxOs: the phone is a perfect choice if you want a small sized phone with a 3.5mm jack and that gets constant updates. The camera might be a little better but I don't take many pictures so I don't mind.

[–] ben_dover@lemmy.ml 3 points 4 months ago

the camera is amazing, but you need to use the Google Camera app for it to take advantage of all the Pixel magic. 3rd party camera apps will yield lousy shots comparatively.

[–] GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml 5 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (8 children)

It goes for like $80-120 in my country. For the price it's an interesting deal but it's extremely old so GrapheneOS won't support it. I think you can still find something like LineageOS or crDroid but tbh it's too old for a new daily driver. Lack of firmware updates will kill custom ROMs due to incompatibility with new Android versions eventually (and most likely very soon).

Compact phones are dead now and the last ones don't even seem to support degoogled custom ROMs. You're out of lack with that.

[–] Corgana@startrek.website 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

extremely old

Dude it's less than four years old lol I get what you are saying but Q3 2020 is not that long ago.

[–] GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml 3 points 4 months ago (6 children)

It's extremely old for a new daily driver phone you want to buy and for Android updates.

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[–] tmpod@lemmy.pt 5 points 4 months ago (6 children)

After my 6 year old Redmi 4X's screen touch decided to die, I got an opened-not-used Pixel 4a (in perfect condition) at the end of 2022, because it was one of the few small-ish phones that had good modding support (Pixel phones are ofc known to be very good to degoogle). I love it. Feels good, works well, has a great camera (got a GCam mod too), etc. Only downside is the smaller battery (3100 vs 4100 mAh), but honestly it isn't that big of a deal, I can just carry a powerbank on my backpack or, you know, use my phone less.

Back then, it was the perfect choice for me. Now, I don't know, haven't been keeping up with current models.

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[–] AnxiousDuck@feddit.it 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Can someone explain to me under what circumstances would using an old phone be risky (under a common reasonable threat model)?

[–] tty5@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago (3 children)

No security fixes once the device reaches end of life. For pixel 4a end of security updates was 10 months ago. That mostly is a problem with malicious apps - there were some privilege escalation bugs in those 10 months - but sometimes you get a banger that can get exploited by simply loading a page or opening an image.

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[–] floofloof@lemmy.ca 4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Used Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 7 and 7 Pro can be found for reasonable prices these days. One of those in good condition would be a better buy because you'll still get security patches for a while. Last time I looked, the third party OSs for Pixel phones only supported them for as long as Google did.

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[–] zod000@lemmy.ml 4 points 4 months ago

I am far from unbiased as I just switched back to my pixel 4a from my new Sony Xperia. I think the Pixel 4a is a flat out GREAT phone, full stop. It is perfectly sized IMO, has been very reliable, good battery life (though at this point I should look into replacing the battery), and it has a headphone jack. That being said, picking it as a new phone now essentially means going with a custom rom and hoping it stays supported. That's fine and all, but it's not something most people want. Just to be clear, the xperia isn't a bad option per se, I only switched back because the phone came carrier locked when it was supposed to be unlocked and the carrier it was locked to was uncooperative so I refunded it.

[–] LodeMike 4 points 4 months ago

It is currently not being updated

[–] Undertaker@feddit.org 3 points 4 months ago

Yes, it is. You should not recommend such a phone. And this only in terms oft update.

The arguments against the company behind this phone would Film books, but that's another point

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