De-googling inherently causes functionality loss on Android because Google provides a lot of basic services via things like the Google Services Framework. It might be best for you to buy something cheap (secondhand Pixel?), install LineageOS, and then see how you like that before committing to something costly like an Xperia, especially since you're coming from iOS.
this post was submitted on 10 Jun 2024
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The only functionality I've lost after migrating to a Pixel with GrapheneOS is the Android Device Policy (aka Work Profiles, the spyware your employer requires to use certain work apps)
Good riddance if you ask me lol
Quite a lot of apps cease to provide real-time notifications/messages, if they work at all, when Google Play components are not installed under GOS. At the very least, Google Services Framework is required for many mainstream apps.
That's what the Google Play Sandbox is for.
Other ROMs don't have Sandbox.
Isn’t there maybe a way to keep the factory os and selectively disable google services. Sort of no-script style? Not too familiar with the android ecosystem tbh, other than google is on top of the food chain, haha.
In principle, one could probably do this to a rooted phone by removing all the Google apps, and all the Google services, and giving up the other apps and services that depend on them. It would be a nontrivial task, and the steps would likely be different for each phone model (and possibly each OS version). I don't know of a project that does this successfully. You might try searching xdaforums.com for someone who has done it.
However, I wouldn't depend on Google services staying disabled when Google still controls the OS.
IMHO, it's safer and easier to replace the entire OS.
I have an Xperia 5 III.
All the Sony Xperia phones consistently & eventually make it to LineageOS mainline (so LineageOS for microG support too), but these ROMs don’t tend to come until near then end of a device’s 2 year warranty. I would assume that this is when they get cheap/used enough that developers can get their hands on them. Sony provides all the tools to unlock so it isn’t difficult or locked behind some centralized server for unlock keys. However, the nice cameras the come with… well you need their proprietary app unfortunately or the camera becomes a plenty bad device with the default LineageOS software.
On the plus side you get to support the only brand still shipping flagships with microSD, a headphone jack, and the ability to unlock bootloader (bonus the the 5s are <6" screens which is rough to find smaller phones now). Google Pixels won’t get you a headphone jack or microSD & Asus Zenfones don’t have unlockable bootloaders.
I have an xperia 1 iii running LineageOS w/microG and I was able to get and install the sony stock Photography Pro, Cinema Pro, and Videography Pro apps, however several features of these apps are missing, such as the ability to do panorama shots and other stuff.
Yup. That is the tradoff. I’m willing to accept that one.
You might check xda forums and see if it's capable of flashing a custom ROM. Not sure how much functionality you might forfeit though
Google for Sony Open Devices. AOSP, but running on Sony devices. While I prefer LOS, SODP is always the beginning to port it from.
DivestOS is the most degoogled (removes the most proprietary blobs) android ROM. See if your device is on this list: https://divestos.org/pages/devices
Seems nice, but no root as far as I've seen, which kills it for ne
Yeah, any security focused android ROM won't include root because it breaks the android security model. Breaks the ability to have secureboot and system safety checks by apps.
I haven't de-googled mine but really have enjoyed my Xperia 1 IV after having multiple Pixel phones. Feels more premium than the Pixels. Also love the headphone jack and dual Sim card slots for traveling international.
Glue and ductape