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Ask HN: What's the most open/hacker friendly Android phone for 2026?
I am a long time Apple user, but their software keeps getting buggier, worse and I just want to switch. I moved all my data to self hosting solutions, so I all I need now is an Android phone which… is fun? Like Framework Computer fun.
Are there still community based OSes out which I can flash onto a phone? Last time I had an Android phone was 2013.
- cryptoalex 9mo agoIf you need strong security, then any Google Pixel starting from Pixel 8 (The Pixel 8's chip includes ARMv9 architecture, which supports MTE and Branch Target Indicators (BTI) for enhanced memory safety that provides protection from entire class of exploits). Get one with unlocked bootloader (available starting from $250 on ebay). Flash the Graphene OS - not really "fun" but the most secure option if that is what you need. Otherwise, for purely "fun" option, I would get smth like Google Pixel 3a (about $150) and install Ubuntu Touch on it https://devices.ubuntu-touch.io/device/sargo/ https://devices.ubuntu-touch.io/device/sargo/ . The most practical option is probably to get Google Pixel 9/9A and use it as is with the latest Android, Google AI, etc. Also having an option to flash something else (like Graphene OS) if needed
- bl4kers 9mo agoGraphene OS has very spotty RCS support. It's effectively unusable
- mcsniff 9mo agoIt can be annoying to get it to work with your carrier, but I would hardly call it effectively unusable.
- bl4kers 9mo agoHere's the 3-year-old, 1k+ comment discussion that begs to differ: https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/1353-using-rcs-with-google-messages-on-grapheneos/1722 https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/1353-using-rcs-with-google-... It's gotten inoperable on AT&T recently, and the Graphene team doesn't seem to care because RCS isn't completely E2EE (due to Apple dragging their feet) and therefore not a priority
- Raed667 9mo agoPick something recent that supports GrapheneOS, or wait a bit as there are some rumors that they're working with a manufacturer https://grapheneos.org/faq#supported-devices https://grapheneos.org/faq#supported-devices
- mindcrash 9mo agoIf you are mainly looking for a phone with user replaceable parts: Fairphone: https://shop.fairphone.com/home https://shop.fairphone.com/home Widely available in the EU, in the US (and elsewhere) only through: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTZFFVYC?th=1 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTZFFVYC?th=1 Murena: https://murena.com/shop/smartphones/brand-new/murena-fairphone-6/ https://murena.com/shop/smartphones/brand-new/murena-fairpho... (Note: The Murena version also comes with /e/OS instead of vanilla Android) If you're mainly looking for deGoogled phones: Google Pixel w/ GrapheneOS (Pixel 10 support now in early beta) Any Android phone compatible with /e/OS; Any Android phone compatible with LineageOS; Previously any Android phone compatible with CalyxOS would also be advisable but not any longer due to the lack of maintenance
- I_am_tiberius 9mo agoI'd have expected Fairphone to support GrapheneOS:(.
- SongDeYu 9mo ago[dead]