alt Hacker NewsSlight tangent, but I find it mind boggling that so few phones offer bootloader unlocking - which is essential if you truly want to own your phone.
I was recently in the market for a new phone, and (correct me if I'm wrong) the only companies that offer bootloader unlocking is Google Pixels, Motorola, Nothing, and OnePlus. Samsung and Xiaomi I think both technically support it but it's a pain in the butt practically.
That's... a shockingly small list!? .
In my case, after adding "I want a CPU that isn't crap while being expensive" (eliminating Tensor) and "I don't want to pay full flagship prices for sub flagship performance" (eliminating Nothing), OnePlus and Motorola were pretty much the only two options!
Is it that hard to get a phone you can truly own? I don't know, I honestly hope I'm missing something.
Replies
Sony used to be surprisingly good on this - but I'm uncertain what the current status actually is:
https://developer.sony.com/open-source/aosp-on-xperia-open-d...
> Note: New devices XQ-CT62 (1Ⅳ US variant) and XQ-CQ62 (5Ⅳ US variant) do not support bootloader unlock.
https://xdaforums.com/t/unlock-bootloader-and-root-guide-xpe...
Fairphone does it properly -- unlockable bootloader, repairability-first design, 10-year software support commitment, and they actually ship security updates on time. the catch is it's Europe-only and the hardware specs are mid-range. if you're in Europe and don't need flagship performance, it's genuinely the right answer to 'can I own my phone'. also LineageOS official device support (lineageos.org/devices) is broader than most people realize -- lots of Motorola and some Xiaomi devices are on there, and the unlock process for those is usually just a fastboot command.
This is a regional thing - a lot of manufacturers offer bootloader unlocking in EU when they don't in US for example. US especially is a nasty carrier monopoly where carriers are allowed (and actively defended) when they do henous lockin.
I just want Google to remove that SafetyNet crap.
Banks don't need to know if I unlocked my bootloader.
I can't even use the Waymo app either.
Does the OnePlus process work for people? They've got a form that allows you to beg them to let you unlock your phone, but it's never worked for me. Motorola works similarly but it does work, which is why I stick with them.
FxTec Pro1 comes with an unlocked bootloader, and a slide-out keyboard for the true 2010 experience!
> (correct me if I'm wrong) the only companies that offer bootloader unlocking is Google Pixels, Motorola, Nothing, and OnePlus
Pinephone and Librem 5 (my daily driver) do not have a locked bootloader in the first place. They are just little (GNU/)Linux computers.
Motorola? Is there an up-to-date list of devices where they're "so kind" as to allow bootloader unlocking? Because it's a lottery to me..
To take this a step further. I want a phone that is small (doesn't have to be tiny, just iPhone SE 2020 or smaller, please), has a replaceable battery, has an unlocked bootloader, has a headphone jack, and costs $400 or less.
It doesn't need to have a cutting-edge processor or tons of RAM and storage space or a 120hz screen or razor-thin bezels or a studio-worthy camera, yet somehow all these things are prioritized on the market over a basic, reliable phone.