[LetThereBeLight]

My question after reading this article is, what can I do as a current iPhone user? Is there a reasonable alternative phone out there that can run the same apps but that isn't effectively controlled by Apple or Google?

[askafriend]

Simple: don't store your photos on Apple's property (iCloud). That's the only time this fingerprinting will affect you. If you store photos locally, then no type of fingerprinting will happen.

While you're at it, don't store them on anyone's servers, because they all fingerprint for the same exact reasons. There's no service out there that doesn't do this at some level.

[LetThereBeLight]

Sorry, I should have been more clear in my post. I meant to say that, if I no longer want to support Apple (or Google) because of their behavior, are there any reasonable smartphone options available? It seems to me that this is the only way I can protest against what Apple is doing.

[askafriend]

The problem here isn't the hardware. The problem is the location you're choosing to store your photos.

If you want to protest what they're doing, then stop storing photos on iCloud which means you need to spend less on iCloud storage. That's the most realistic option.