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Smartphone that isn't filled with AI slop or general enshittification? (slrpnk.net)

submitted 7 months ago by Murse@slrpnk.net to c/fuck_ai@lemmy.world

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Shopping around, seems like every option is doubling down on anti-user garbage... I don't trust myself to do a root or anything like that - my tech skills are juuust good enough to be painfully aware of my own dumbassery, but I'm doubting an out-of-the-box smartphone that isn't loaded with shit even exists.

Previously I've used Pixel and Galaxy, but those are both chief offenders.

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[-] Transcendant@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago

If you do have something like a Pixel / Galaxy already, consider installing DuckDuckGo browser. It's not just a browser... it also runs an onboard vpn, which has the side effect of blocking ad tracking requests. I was kinda horrified and surprised to see what kind of info most of the apps were taking, and how often they were making the requests. GPS (both coarse & fine), IMEI, post code, email address, all kinds of other identifiers.

You'll have to manually let a few apps through (stuff like the wallet, maybe banking apps) but everything else is blocked on my phone.

If I was going to buy a new smartphone right now, I'd prob get a Fairphone:

Fairphone is a Dutch electronics manufacturer that designs and produces smartphones and headphones. It aims to minimise the ethical and environmental impact of its devices by using recycled, fairtrade and conflict-free materials, maintaining fair labour conditions throughout its workforce and suppliers, and enabling users to easily repair their devices through modular design and by providing replacement parts

[-] Murse@slrpnk.net 6 points 7 months ago

Current phone is near FUBAR. Had an incident involving the sidewalk, and, uh... the sidewalk won the fight.

Repair is an option, but shelling out more money for a brand I've come to detest is not super appealing.

Fairphone! I forgot about them. In light of recent events, the modular nature of their design is pretty appealing.

[-] illi@piefed.social 3 points 7 months ago

Bonus points for Fairphone: you can purchase it with /e/OS, which is a degoogled Android

[-] Yaky@slrpnk.net 4 points 7 months ago

it also runs an onboard vpn, which has the side effect of blocking ad tracking requests.

I like the adblock VPN and the browser UI, however, in the browser itself, I was surprised to see what third-party requests are "loaded to prevent site breakage", Google and Facebook usually amongst them.

this post was submitted on 06 Apr 2026

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