Hey people! I was wondering if anyone here has heard of/ used Morena’s /e/OS and would be willing to share some opinions?
I was looking to get a FairPhone 5 sometime soon anyways and randomly came across the option to get it “without Google”
Which took me a bit off guard because I never really considered that something like that could be an option (without the hassle of rooting a phone and slapping a custom OS on it). So - is it any good? It says that you can still install most regular Android Apps. I don’t think I would miss any specific Google features, and getting a fresh start with a phone does sound nice.
I have a fairphone 5 running /e/os, and my previous phone was a galaxy S9+ running IodéOS.
Unfortunately i don’t have time to write a whole review for you, but if anyone have any specific questions about either i’d be happy to answer them when i get time.I have a Fairphone 4 with preinstalled /e/OS and I can say I really like it. I really don’t miss the Google Apps, but if you would need any you could install most of them. Lastly they had a major server fuckup (many Murena services were unavailable, like Update and Drive) but that’s solved mostly now.
I use /e/OS on my OP7.
- Their tracker/ad blocker is great.
- Their app store has a rating about privacy/tracker for each apps.
- They implemented tor in the OS, and you can choose if you want to activate it and for which application.
- They have a mock location feature.
- I get monthly update, and it works smoothly.
- You do not need to use murena account to use the OS
For the drawbacks :
- They have an app store that can install both applications from the play store and from Fdroid, but it isn’t very convenient as you can’t add Fdroid repos, nor uninstall applications with it. (and I’m unable to use it to install applications from the play store for more than a month, I’ve installed the aurora store )
- Most of their system applications are open sources applications available from Fdroid but with a different icon and name.
- Their navigation application named “Maps” is a rebrand of magic earth.
It’s all I have in mind at this moment.
When I’ll change for a fairphone, before turning to /e/OS, I’ll probably try iodé OS. It seems they have similar privacy /anti-ad features but the OS might be less bloated and the system app are not rebranded, they keep their original name and icons.
/e/os is LineageOS + microG with an easy installer available or pre-installed purchase. The interface design is based on how iOS works, for example to move an icon on your phone long press one of the icons and wait till they all go wiggling and then drag the icon to where you want to have it.
I think /e/os is okay for folks who want a deGoogled phone that comes pre-installed.
In case anyone wants to try the /e/os easy installer on an old and supported phone, the /e/os easy install is really much more easy compared to plain LineageOS install.
I’ve used it for four years on my Fairphone 3 with no serious issues. I don’t use their cloud storage solution so the recent outage didn’t affect me at all. My battery often lasts up to 40 hours. I am very careful with what I install on the phone, but it works and is private/secure enough for my threat model. I recommend it wholeheartedly
What’s the appeal of eOS over LineageOS?
I’m not very tech savvy when it comes to phones, so having privacy focused software pre installed is a huge selling point for me
Easy install, OTA updates, you can buy a Fairphone preinstalled with it.
So mainly easier access I would say, while not having a downside.
If it isn’t divestos or grapheneos the privacy gains over stock are going to be minimal compared to the comparability issues you will face.
Simply not having google play services installed is a massive privacy win. Any custom rom (without google) will offer that. Divest and Graphene offer some extra security features.
The compatibility can be usable if you don’t rely much on closed source apps or their notifications. If you do, you’ll need either microg or full google play services.
This is just not true for a multitude of reasons.
The obvious being that most other custom ROMs are not actually degoogled (ie proprietary blobs, still communicating with google) and/or they try to do it in ways that provide no privacy benefit such as replacing google with MicroG which has the exact same issues (ie privelged access to your phone).
The majority of these custom ROMs break any semblence of their security model (rooting, not locking the bootloader etc) to bring these privacy measures, which makes them almost moot in and of itself.
Also purely focusing on removing yourself from Google (especially while ignoring all of AOSP, and to an extent Android in general, is Google centric) when there are tons of other large data gatherers (many of them with far less recognizable brands) that your probably ignoring is useless.
not actually degoogled
Aside from vendor firmware, LineageOS is mostly deblobbed by default afaik. The remaining bits that connect to google (by default) like AGPS or captive portal are significantly less information than full google play services.
try to do it in ways that provide no privacy benefit
Replacing google play services with microg might have the same security downsides as regular google play services (privileged access), however, MicroG is open source. It still connects to Google, but sends significantly less data, and you can see exactly what it sends.
Break any semblance of security model
Rooting is one example, but access to it is often left up to the user. Keeping the bootloader unlocked has some major security downsides, but they’re entirely for when an attacker has physical access. The privacy downsides of an unlocked bootloader do exist, but they’re hard to exploit even with physical access.
ingnoring all of AOSP is Google
Yes, this is something you are forced to ignore with any custom Android ROM. Graphene, Divest, Calyx, etc all suffer from the same issue. Sending data to Google and privacy is not the same as being independant from Google developed software.
purely focussing on Google
On an AOSP or LineageOS based rom without preinstalled bloat, this is almost entirely up to user choice. You can choose to only install FOSS apps without trackers, or use Aurora store and install proprietary apps. You can choose to block network access for apps with trackers, or isolate them to a work profile and kill them in the background. It isn’t good to focus only on Google, but it’s a good starting point to use a rom without standard google play services.
While I agree that a hardened and privacy focused rom is better for privacy than regular LineageOS, privacy is not black and white. MicroG sending significantly less data is better than full access google play services sending all data. Not sending data is better than MicroG. That doesn’t mean every user is able to use an entirely degoogled rom. Each person should decide for themselves what they’re okay with and what they absolutely require on their own device. When someone is trying to get some privacy back, MicroG is a great option “in the middle” where as little functionality as possible is lost while sending as little data as possible. Discouraging that someone takes steps to improve their privacy just because it isn’t perfect is not good, as that often results in someone not taking any steps towards privacy.
On the compatibility, while MicroG has some issues with specific apps, it does generally work (from what I hear from others). Not having google play services (or MicroG) can work, but it requires missing out on some google services like notifications for proprietary apps. For me personally, that’s not a big issue, as I only use FOSS apps.
Tldr after realizing your a lineage os stan
its always lineageos users that can’t handle the fact their OS isnt very private.
Here is some fun reading for you
I run e/OS on a FP5. I ran e/OS on a Essential PH-1 before and going back to a phone with Google installed just didn’t sit right with me. I did not feel like I could trust the device even after trying to toggle as much of the creepy spying off. As if there’s still someone probably looking over your shoulder because you configured something wrong.
It is not perfect, but it is easy to use and full-featured. All regular apps feel great and battery life is good. I still use specific Google services (such as the calendar for work) but no specific Google apps. I guess Maps is the biggest challenge now but alternatives are good enough to get around with.
You can run Android apps. Not sure about payed Android apps. I try to install FOSS apps through the integrated f-droid store if they’re available there. Installing app store apps sometimes fails because Google blocked the installer. I could install everything so far when needed (including banking apps and specific apps for the vacuum cleaner and such). Sometimes the Android app store apps don’t update for a while and I don’t notice.
I don’t use Murena’s services but self-host Nextcloud. Based on the information they send I think they’re doing a great job for their size.
I flashed the FP5 myself with a beta of e/OS when it was just out because the other phone was broken and (again) I did not feel right with the spying demon in my pocket with native Android. You could flash your device too.
It’s comfortable on this side. If you have further specific questions, shoot.
That’s interesting, thank you for the input! The mention of bank apps is really helpful, I didn’t realize before that not having my bank app would be a complete deal breaker for me.
