But it's okay, because people can choose whether or not to add features they don't agree with, right? Updates are objective changes and optional, right?? They'd never force updates so the product people bought becomes less like what they chose and more like a curated, restricted, leased item...
this post was submitted on 30 Jul 2025
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Linux Phones
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My new phone (Galaxy A16) keeps nagging me to update, despite having the notifications for them turned off. Samsung just forces it on you any ways, at least 1-2 times a day.
And guess why I was avoiding updating? Because of shit just like this... and there being no solid root method for the 2025 model (last I checked). So I definitely made the right call there.
I mean, I always thought it was locked and Samsung was always a no-go...
Ya my old snapdragon S10 was locked years ago 🤷♂️
Part of why I switched to a pixel with grapheneOS
Another company that's essentially dead to me. Their products are so full of proprietary bloat, they are beyond usable at this point.
Theyre basically spyware phones. I removed all crap on my s23 and after Every update new shit just pops up.
Needless to say this is my last Samsung. I'm waiting for august 20th to drop so I can buy either the new pixel or a heavily discounted old one and throw GrapheneOS on it.
Before you go with a new pixel, how do you feel about this?
Android Development Is Going Private As Google Confirms Big Strategy Shift
So far from what I've read on the grapheneOS forums it won't affect them that much. And sadly I don't think there is any alternative. Fairphone isn't that great, they lack hardware based security compared to pixels.
I'm still holding on to the OnePlus 10 Pro myself, and deliberately keep it on Android 12, IMHO the last version of the OS that gives users sufficient freedom to do what they please. The newer Google APIs are quite restrictive.
Unfortunately my banking app and e-wallet (that is a must have where I live) are both not compatible with Graphene, so I'd have to have a second phone for those, and especially for the e-wallet, I'd need to carry it around at all times, which is a bit of a no-go.
Currently looking at the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra as a replacement when mine fails eventually, or maybe the Edge 60 Ultra when it comes out towards the end of the year. The 50 Pro is a huge step backwards, so no deal.
And OnePlus unfortunately takes quantum leaps backwards and has become yet another China brand.
Even in the EU? Isn't there something that prevent that here?
HELL WORLD
Locked bootloaders are a good thing. Especially after you have flashed your custom rom on there already. You dont want someone coming in after the fact modifying your bootloader.
If there is a command line option to disable this bootloader temporarily AFTER you have unlocked your phone, then relock it again AFTER you have unlocked your phone, then this is a non-issue for me.
No matter what though, GrapheneOS doesn't run on Samsung phones, so they're useless phones to me.
The Samsung bootloader is locked by default. They're talking about it being unable to unlock it.
So basically its impossible to install any custom firmware on it meaning you are stuck with Samsung's own crappy rom.
There aren't any good custom roms for Samsung phones anyway, so i guess samsung might as well lock down at least their version of android.