As far as smartphone hardware goes, the Google Pixel is the gold standard when it comes to security. This is why GrapheneOS only supports Google Pixel devices. The only problem is Google, of course. In most cases, your best bet is a Google Pixel with a privacy-hardened Android alternative on it.
If you want privacy baked into the hardware, you can opt for options designed with certain values in mind.
Purism Librem 5
Purism was born in 2014 out of a frustration with the tech industry’s shady practices. Wanting more freedom, privacy, and security, they crowdfunded their way to success. First came their powerful and well-built laptops embodying these ideals. They come with physical kill switches for the camera, microphone, and even WiFi and Bluetooth. They run their own Linux-based PureOS, which blocks ads and trackers right out of the box.
Now, they’ve expanded their mission into the smartphone world with the Purism Librem 5. Its 5.7" 720p screen is backed by a quad-core SoC. The headphone jack is nice to see here, and so is the USB-C dual charging port which can charge and be charged. You also get a replaceable (with tools) but not removable 4500mAh battery, and LTE. It’s not cheap though, starting at $799 with only 32GB storage and 3GB of RAM.
The Librem 5 may seem underpowered compared to 2020 flagships, but this isn’t Android. Hardware requirements depend on the software running. For example, Samsung devices require more hardware than a Google Pixel to be smooth. And they’re both running Android.
For me, the lack of a fingerprint sensor is a dealbreaker. On the bright side, the video out is cool, considering the Librem 5 also runs PureOS just like Prism’s laptops. Hook it up to a monitor, mouse and keyboard and you’ve got a fully-fledged desktop. They conveniently also sell a Lapdock, a concept I’m a huge fan of, as well as mini PCs and servers.
Update 2024:
4 years later, their flagship is still the Librem 5, so the information remains accurate. They now also sell a Liberty Phone which is a Librem 5 100% manufactured in the US. It costs twice as much at $1499.
Fairphone 5
Fairphone has been around for over a decade, making phones that are kind to the environment and easy to fix. They also boast fair labor and avoiding conflict minerals.
Most popular phones receive an iFixIt repairability score between 1 and 7. The Fairphone series are the only phones to ever receive a score of 10, and they’ve done so with all their phones. They even have a recycling program where you can trade in your old phone for up to €500 off a new Fairphone.
Fairphones are also a great value for all that you’re getting. Their latest phone, the Fairphone 5, is a serious step up specs-wise. You get a big, bright 6.46" OLED screen with a smooth 90Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, there’s a custom-made Qualcomm chip designed for long-term support. The 4200mAh battery is not only removable, but also charges up real fast, reaching 50% in only 20 minutes.
You get all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a modern phone. 3 50MP cameras, including an ultra-wide and a ToF 3D depth sensor, capable of 4K video recording at 30fps. Android 14, WiFi 6e, 5G, and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor are all here. We also get an IP55 rating, and even military-grade shock resistance. Fairphone promises an industry-leading 5-year warranty and 7 years of software updates.
Another welcome introduction they’ve made is into the world of wireless audio. They make headphones and earbuds now, both fully repairable and sustainably-built as expected. I didn’t even know such small electronics could be reparable!
Pine64 PinePhone
Pine64 is a community-driven company that started out making powerful single-board computers. They surprised everyone with their PineBook ($100) and PineBook Pro ($200) chromebook alternatives. Now, they’re shaking things up again with the PinePhone.
Right off the bat, this bad boy runs Linux, not Android, meaning you have a lot of OS choices. Ubuntu, Manjaro, Arch… you get the idea. It also has physical privacy switches and a removable 3000mAh battery. The standout here is pogo pins for attaching hardware modules (like a fingerprint sensor).
The PinePhone starts at $150 for the 16GB/2GB RAM model and goes up to $200 for 32GB/3GB. The $200 model even comes with a free dock in the box with USB ports, an HDMI video out port and an ethernet (RJ45) LAN jack. The battery is the same one used in the popular Samsung Galaxy J7, so finding a replacement is a breeze.
Like with the Purism phone, the PinePhone doesn’t need a lot of resources since it runs Linux. That said, you shouldn’t expect a polished experience like Android. These devices are for those who love to tinker and want complete control. I mean, you can even boot different operating systems from a microSD card!
Oh, and Pine64 also makes a $25 smartwatch that is also Linux-based and open-source. In 2024, they also added open-source wireless earbuds to their lineup. You can finally immerse yourself in a fully-hackable ecosystem.
Update 2024:
They now offer a PinePhone Pro with the same body and screen but with updated specs for $400. 4GB RAM and 128GB of eMMC storage. Still no fingerprint sensor, but they’ve kept the headphone jack and microSD slot.
Shift Phone 8
Shift is a small German company combining privacy with sustainability and ethical production. Their previous phones were affordable, lower-end options. The Shift Phone 8 is impressive though. It’s their first phone with a IP67 water and dust certification, a 5G antenna, Android 14, and high-end specs.
The Shift Phone flagship sports a 6.6" FullHD+ AMOLED screen powered by a midrange Snapdragon SoC and 8GB RAM. Storage starts at 256GB and is expandable via microSD. There’s also a 4K-capable camera and a fingerprint sensor, but sadly the headphone jack is gone. Their battery is also backwards-compatible with all their previous models.
If you don’t like their Android-based ShiftOS, you get official CalyxOS support. Not only that, but Shift Phones also support Linux, opening you up to many more OS options. You can have your cake and eat it too.
The only caveat is that the Shift Phone 8 is not yet available. You can pre-order it, but they have missed their March 2024 launch date. It’s fully-funded though, and they’re likely experiencing difficulties being a very small manufacturer. Shipping should start in October/November, according to their August 2024 update.