[mrbn100ful]

Not everything have to be perfect.

For some user, /e/ is more approachable (Friendly and colorful UI)

I could not get my mother to use GrapheneOS, /e/ is a lot simpler.

Still miles better than to use a Default ROM from most OEM.

[ploum]

Exactly!

If you can use GrapheneOS, good for you but what /e/OS offers is:

- Usable Android with your usual Android app (banking, etc) - No data sent to Google by default - Easier interface with nearly no bloatware - Available easily on many smartphones, including older ones - Extending the life of some smartphones

The price to pay is:

- Some Murena cloud bloatware - Android security patches are sometimes delayed - Security is not on par with GrapheneOS

If your main concern is protecting your privacy from Google and extending the life of your smartphone without breaking a sweat, /e/OS is probably the best option.

If your main concern is protecting against state actors attacks or very specific threats, then GrapheneOS might be better.

/e/OS works really great for non-techie users. I’ve done it in my family.

[microtonal]

I have phones with both, but I don't necessarily agree that /e/OS is easier. E.g. things like doing or restoring in-app purchases often do not work, even when logging in through microG. Want that nice backup option that Signal is now offering? Well, good luck, you cannot purchase it on /e/OS (at least I couldn't). In general when it comes to compatibility, my experience is that GrapheneOS is better because it can use real Google Play Services, albeit sandboxed. I think you can use the Play Store on /e/OS as well, but it's going to have higher privileges.

No data sent to Google by default

Not true. /e/OS does send data to Google by default: https://www.kuketz-blog.de/e-datenschutzfreundlich-bedeutet-...

They also use Google for assisted GPS when you use it, eSIM provisioning, widevine provisioning. Last time I checked, microG on /e/OS also downloads a Google binary blob for SafetyNet.

Besides analytics, if you install Google Apps (e.g. for Android Auto), many of them get higher privileges on /e/OS.

The price to pay is:

I would also add installing F-Droid apps (if you use App Lounge) through 'CleanAPK', without wanting to reveal why this is necessary or who owns/maintains CleanAPK.

They do quite a lot of fishy stuff. It may be incompetence, but yeah...

If your main concern is protecting against state actors attacks or very specific threats

This always sounds like systems like GrapheneOS are for paranoid people. But this is basically you if you ever go to a demonstration (e.g. in the US) or cross borders of certain countries (e.g. of the US), sadly things like Cellebrite have become very common. Then suddenly layered protection, not running years behind in security patches, a duress pin, or rebooting after not unlocking for a few minutes to get back to BFU aren't so bad. (IANAL, figure out yourself which of these are legal and not destruction of evidence.)

[margalabargala]

"If you can use GrapheneOS"

GrapheneOS is just another OS. It's no less usable than /e/ and it is no more difficult to get a phone with it than /e/. You can purchase both preinstalled.

[abustamam]

I find it interesting that there are so many comments that are saying "Don't use this one use this one it's better!"

But what I think a lot of people are missing is what you exactly just touched on. We have options! That's a good thing. Yeah, some options are not as good as others if you wanna optimize for X. Then don't use that option! Use the option that works for you.

To me, the fact that alternatives exist on varying spectra of "degoogle-fication" is a win in my book. The fact that we're able to talk about and recommend so many alternatives is a good thing.

[a_victorp]

I think it's not a bad thing that people make the "Don't use this one use this one it's better!" comment, at least from my perspective. That is one way I end up learning about the options I have!

[abustamam]

I agree, but it's more the attitude that's like "we don't need option X because we have option Y that works for me"

But it's great that we have both X and Y to begin with!

[soufron]

Same story. Also with my mother :D