alt Hacker NewsThe default OS is not de-googled Android though, but regular Android. You have to buy the /e/OS variant, which is slightly more expensive (or flash it yourself).
But with the long-term support and access to spare parts (the university can stock them), this seems like a good move. Also happy for FairPhone that they are getting more traction.
Replies
palata • yesterday at 9:12 PM
> The default OS is not de-googled Android though, but regular Android. You have to buy the /e/OS variant
For some definition of de-google, though. /e/OS is based on LineageOS which is based on AOSP which is developed by Google. And microg contacts the Google servers, doesn't it? My understanding is that it's just an open source implementation of the Play Services.
You really don't want /e/ on Fairphone. That's frankly worst of both worlds.
Insecure hardware with limited patches and updates, running insecure software with much patches skipped or delayed.
Most recent fairphone is based on Android 15, while 16 is available from mid-2025. Yes, that matters, releases is not only eyecandy, but also some security patches (ie: not many patches are back ported from 16).
https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/244637136412...
Features: https://eylenburg.github.io/android_comparison.htm
Historic security updates : https://web.archive.org/web/20241231003546/https://divestos....
So, I'd rather have second hand debloated midrange Motorola thank /e/, even less so on Fairphone.