[GeekyBear]

> the Google Play store doesn't work but that's no big loss

It's the loss of an entire ecosystem worth of apps.

If you want an inexpensive phone that will get five or six years of first party support with security updates after that, go with an iPhone SE.

The original $399 version got six years of OS updates and just got another security update last month. That's $67 per year that got both an OS update and security update.

[jqpabc123]

It's the loss of an entire ecosystem worth of apps.

No, it's not. With very few exceptions, the Aurora store pulls apps from Google Play. About the only thing I have seen missing from Aurora store is a few super strict banking apps but you can usually just use their web site.

[Tijdreiziger]

No paid apps though, right? That would be somewhat painful for me.

[jqpabc123]

You can do paid apps. You just have to login to Aurora using a Google account instead of anonymously.

This isn't so bad if you use a privacy focused ROM and create a special, single purpose Google login that is only used for app purchases. I also suggest keeping a Google gift card for the occasional purchase.

Privacy invasion doesn't really kick in until you start re-using your Google login and your phone/apps are reporting back to Google on a regular basis with your location, device IMEI, advertising ID, hardware fingerprint, email address, browsing/search history, banking/purchase details (aka Google Pay), etc..

[Tijdreiziger]

Ah, with paid apps I also mean in-app purchases. I guess it might be possible by running sandboxed Play Services on GrapheneOS?

[danjoredd]

>It's the loss of an entire ecosystem worth of apps.

He literally just said that he used the Aurora store as an alternative. If you don't know what that is, it is basically an anonymous version of the Play Store. Highly recommended

[piva00]

Can you buy apps on the Aurora store?

[jqpabc123]

Yes, see my post above.