[mminer237]

I think the problem is that Google Search doesn't have to pay Android $18 billion/year to make it the default option there.

[BugsJustFindMe]

I'm not sure why one would think that. Google absolutely does pay Android phone makers too. https://www.notebookcheck.net/Google-to-pay-Samsung-US-3-5-b...

[issafram]

Well it would be the phone manufacturers at that point

[babypuncher]

The phone manufacturers don't have much of a choice unless they are willing to ditch support for all the proprietary Google parts of Android. People probably won't buy android phones without play store access.

[Jensson]

I just bought an android, there was no default search on it and playstore works. As I booted it up it asked me what search engine I wanted, Google wasn't on top or preselected.

So yes, phone manufacturers have a choice here, they don't have to make Google the default.

[babypuncher]

I'm surprised, what brand is it?

[jsnell]

It's likely not about the brand, but about the location. As a result of the Android anti-trust lawsuit in EU, Google has shown a search engine choice screen at initial setup since (I think) 2018. They also unbundled Chrome and Search from the other proprietary apps.

See https://www.android.com/choicescreen/

[Jensson]

Was a Xiaomi Redmi.

I wouldn't recommend it for privacy, but them giving me the choice means manufacturers can do this if they want.

[beebeepka]

What android brand would you recommend "for privacy"?

I agree Xiaomi loves their data collection to the point of selling pole fan that require an app to operate - I saw that one in one of their stores.

So what else is there?