I’ve been using the Murena fairphone for about 8 months now. Has its ups and downs, it uses microG to simulate play services. Most things work except for my Samsung watch and the wallet. Feel free to send questions my way

Cool, any issues with annoying apps like banks requiring play protect or something? Is there an Android auto equivalent or an emulation to allow use in a car?

No issues with banking apps in the Netherlands, Android Auto works!

So far so good with banks, haven’t had any bank apps not work (and do use some large and small ones). Honestly haven’t tried Auto yet though

I’ve been using /e/OS for 1.5 years. It’s okay.

• Open-source software made by a small French company, Murena, headed by Mandrake Linux creator Gaël Duval.
• Easy way to escape surveillance capitalism while keeping most of Android app selection. Based on LineageOS based on AOSP (Android Open Source Project).
• Most apps work. For comparison, GrapheneOS (also AOSP-based) supports more apps because of sandboxed Google Play. MicroG, the substitute for Google Play Services used by /e/OS can’t pay through Google (yet), so you can’t buy some apps. Most banking apps work: https://community.e.foundation/t/list-banking-apps-on-e-os/33091
• Runs faster and for longer per charge than Android (because surveillance load was removed).
• Imitates Apple phones. Easily re-Androided by installing Lawnchair launcher.
• Text dictation with local AI (new and buggy).
• Easy to install: has a web installer (like GrapheneOS). (There’s also the seemingly easy https://openandroidinstaller.org/ for many OSs. I don’t know anything about it.)
• Easy to activate Nextcloud sync/backup; defaults to Murena server. In GrapheneOS you set it up manually.
• Can relock some phone models’ bootloader (like GrapheneOS, iodéOS and CalyxOS do), improving security over LineageOS but staying below the most secure GrapheneOS. More about bootloader relocking:
  https://piefed.social/post/1741494#comment_9999461

Murena seems to be a bit overwhelmed with the project. Slow security updates. Slow bug fixes, even with privacy bugs. Slow customer support. A cloud outage. Community support forum and chat work fine (unfortunately the chat is on proprietary Telegram).

We can help Murena hire more developers by buying devices and Nextcloud service from them.

AOSP-derivatives depend on Google’s development of Android and can be sabotaged by Google. The sustainable solution is something else, maybe a real Linux such as Jolla Sailfish OS, PostmarketOS, etc.

oh that bank list is great, thanks for the analysis!

I have FP6 /e/OS since last November. In begining I noticed issues with battery usage but the issues are resolved now. Banking works for me. And that is pretty much it. I like not having spyware in my pocket, nice feeling :)