zlacker

Very much my exact feelings. I had the first Android phone ever and even wrote my own APKs and enjoyed the freedom of the mobile platform that let me install my own software. But it's been close to 20 years and maybe it's time to check out the other side, as much as I despise Apple's locked down ecosystem.

>>rpdill+(OP)
Maybe it is time to try Jolla as next phone:

https://jolla.com/

>>nicce+77
Yes, I was checking this out! Sailfish with Android compat seems very compelling. The videos I saw on youtube showed a bit less polish than I'd prefer, but I'd be OK with that. But then I read up on the manufacturer they partnered with. Reeder, I believe? I ended up looking up some other devices they made and there seems to be build quality problems...I haven't seen reports like this for the Jolla C2, though, so I still might be tempted to purchase one just to see how it drives. Thanks for the recommendation!

>>rpdill+(OP)
I'd sooner get a Chinese phone that isn't "Google-certified" than reward this behaviour by giving $1000+ to the DRM OGs at Cupertino. Neither Apple nor Google are protecting users against the alleged data-stealing evils of Tiktok, so how exactly are they providing any kind of "user safety" by throwing up fees and red tape for small independent developers?

>>nicce+77
Just a note for readers that the Jolla C2 cellular modem only supports European bands, so if you're in the US you're out of luck on that front until they release a new model.

>>rchaud+ah
I'm also completely open to this. Google just made being not Google-certified a feature.

>>chrono+sk
Oh... I somehow missed this reading for 15 minutes through the site. Thank you!

>>nicce+77
I used it as my first phone some 10 years. I type this message on one. I like their perseverance, but the truth is it's declining in practical usability.

Edit: In EU, so (lack of) bands are not an issue for me.

>>chrono+sk
Jolla is trying to release a new model in 2026: https://forum.sailfishos.org/t/next-gen-jolla-phone/23882

If there's enough interest in US, then they may release it there, too.

>>rpdill+wm
Is there a list or other easy way to find out which phones are not Google-certified going forward? Is it purely a country specific thing or are there (and will there continue to be) mainstream manufacturers with non-certified phones?

I'm also fine with sticking to older models. Never seen the point of having the latest and greatest (aka: pointless) feature anyway. Does certification only apply to new hardware or do manufacturers back-port it?

>>rpdill+5e
Sailfish supports a few Sony Xperia phones, https://docs.sailfishos.org/Support/Supported_Devices/

>>rpdill+5e
Name the price and the Chinese factory will make it for that price and turn profit. Want a phone for 10 USD? No problem dear!

>>jbstac+8R
I'm pretty sure "Google-certified" is just the latest term for "has signed a contract to ship the proprietary Google parts of Android". (Google's blog post about this change links to a page which calls it "Play Protect certified", and this page says that all devices that ship Google apps are Play Protect Certified: https://support.google.com/android/answer/7165974?hl=en )

Amazon's "Kindle" tablets and TV devices famously do not ship Google apps, and sometimes you see restricted devices like the Rabbit R1 that just use the open-source parts of Android. But outside of China I don't think you can easily walk into a store and find a non-Google Android phone.

I don't think phones ever officially lapse out of Play Protect certified status -- the Nexus One, a phone from 2010, is still listed -- but presumably it'd be possible to find a phone old enough that it won't be able to download whatever Play Services OTA update they'll use to push this change.