Mobile (phone)

¶101— Attributes ("What I Want")

:
    * rugged (display should not break etc):
        BUT: "Although Samsung fans looking for a rugged smartphone could simply get a flagship and slap some tough case onto it..."

    * good camera

    * budget (~250€)

    * Android versions + upgrades:
        12 (2021)
        11 (2020)
        "Q" 10 (2019)
        pie 9  (2018):
            * "Android Dashboard" with TIME LIMIT per app!
        oreo 8 (2017)
        nougat 7
        marshmallow 6
        ###
        (xcover 3 = android 4 / android 5)
        ----------------------------
        Comparison:
            http://socialcompare.com/en/comparison/android-versions-comparison

    * size:
        xcover3 = 4.5"
        xcover4 = 5"
        p30 = 6.1"
        mate p20 pro = 6.4"
        p30 pro = 6.5"
        [...]

    * water-proof

    * software not full of shit

    * to root ??

    * to buy new ??

    * use a case ??

    * dual sim ??

    * [...]

¶(GENERAL BUYING GUIDES)


https://www.mbreviews.com/toughest-smartphones/#show9 !!


_____ DATED

https://siol.net/digisvet/nasveti/top-10-najboljsi-vodoodporni-pametni-telefoni-444616

https://www.monitor.si/clanek/kateri-telefon-kupiti-leta-2019/189297/
"samsung s9 has a good camera"

https://www.racunalniske-novice.com/novice/dogodki-in-obvestila/najboljsi-kitajski-pametni-telefoni-leta-2018.html
china phones

¶PHONE/TOUGH— Galaxy Xcover 3 (2015)

D had for a while. Quite rugged.
Kind of slow and sucky and shit camera.
Running Android 6.0.1

¶PHONE/TOUGH— CAT S61 (tough + infrared, 2016)

* INDOOR AIR QUALITY MONITOR:
    "as well as solvents or other type of pollutants" !!!
* HD thermal camera !!
* can be submerged !
* laser measurer
BUT ~ 800€ ....
-------------
alt: s60, s30, s41

¶PHONE/TOUGH— Galaxy Xcover 4 (tough, 2017)

http://www.bolha.com/telefonija/mobilna-telefonija/pametni-mobilni-telefoni/samsung/samsung-galaxy-xcover-4-lte-16gb-sm-g390f-crna-1319817630.html?aclct=1558047970&kw=samsung+galaxy+xcover+4
201905: 180€ new
Android 8 since 201808

¶PHONES (2019)

* Samsung Galaxy S9
S9+ = 450€

* Samsung S8 Active

* Galaxy A3 (2017)
"cheap amongst better phones"

* LG X Venture Rugged
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073SN7GMM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B073SN7GMM&linkCode=as2&tag=mbr08-20&linkId=309e38149da6ba387138e228f9cd4146

* AGM X3 rugged smartphone

* Doogee S90 / S90 SUPER
350€

* Blackview BV9500

* Kyocera DuraXV / Dura Pro

* Pixel phones

* Sonim XP8, XP7

* OnePlus older version ?

* Nokias ?

* Huawei P20 lite
zgleda default za 350€

* Homtom ht20 (2017)
https://www.techradar.com/reviews/homtom-ht20

* [...]

¶LIST/TOUGH— 2020/05 update

* ulefone armor x5 90€
https://nl.banggood.com/Ulefone-Armor-X5-5_5-Inch-NFC-IP68-IP69K-Waterproof-3GB-32GB-5000mAh-MT6762-Octa-core-4G-Smartphone-p-1579916.html?akmClientCountry=FR&gpla=1&gmcCountry=BE&currency=EUR&createTmp=1&utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=cpc_bgcs&utm_content=xibei&utm_campaign=xibei-ssc-beg-nl-all-newcustom-ncv63-1119&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIme-kkay86QIVcWHmCh3B8AB8EAQYBCABEgJjsPD_BwE&ID=5133446246444&cur_warehouse=HK

* doogee s90c 185€ (banggood)
* doogee s60 lite 120€
* samsung galaxy xcover 4s 230€:
* samsung Galaxy XCover Pro 490€
* s40 80€
* s60 250€
* s95 pro 350€

shops:
    https://coolblue.be
    banggood !!!

* Crosscall Trekker M1 130€ ... A6

* galaxy xcover 4s https://www.coolblue.be/nl/product/834036/samsung-galaxy-xcover-4s-zwart.html?cmt=c_a%2Ccid_8783357480%2Caid_93880339172%2Ctid_pla-342141448749%2Cgn_g%2Cd_c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt6eptqy86QIVC7h3Ch38ZAjZEAQYAiABEgLoPPD_BwE

https://www.mediamarkt.be/nl/product/_archos-smartphone-saphir-50x-16-gb-zwart-503589-1743674.html?rbtc=||||p||&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt6eptqy86QIVC7h3Ch38ZAjZEAQYBSABEgL4VfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
100€

¶LIST— 2023/10 <L

* Xiaomi 13, with Leica lense // CN version for europ as cheap option?
    Xiaomi Mi 13 @Leuven 500 euro
    https://www.2dehands.be/v/telecommunicatie/mobiele-telefoons-overige-merken/m2009265115-xiaomi-mi-13
      --> https://xiaomi.eu/community/threads/flash-xiaomi-13-global-rom-on-chinese-version.69767/

* Xiaomi 13, with Leica lense // GLOBAL version for europ as cheap option?
    550 ###

* Xiaomi 12 or 12T, with lesser quality camera

* got a Huawei P30 PRO at cash converters in Sint-Gilles
    230euro + 1y warranty
    20231020

¶TIP— never take a phone to bed

leave it outside and have a sensible ring policy

DO NOT GO TO SLEEP WITH IT
... read a book

DO NOT WAKE UP WITH IT
... get up and do stuff

¶[sm!!*] POSTANDROID/TIP— liberating + jailbreaking (2022)

[!!**]
* what to do???
* what is the current updates of these things?
* what are experts i know using?
* what are side dangers?

_______

https://fsfe.org/activities/android/ (2022)

* cyanogenmod -> lineageos
* replicant ?
* [...]

¶TIP— regular phone cleaning

???

¶TIP— collect old phones from friends?
###awk

NO - camera is bad, won't be ok for for documentation
YES - maybe somebody else can use them?

¶TIP— repair and maintain broken screens?

[!!]
YES !

¶101/TIP— buy used phones

2021:
    ~100€ you can get amazing devices that lack nothing

2025:
    many phones "you just get" (passed down, donated, abandoned-donated, etc)
    ... this has several problems
    os software version (no updates / security) is a problem
    some software makes it difficult to migrate (==whatsapp, if you don't buy in with syncing via it + giving more permissions)
    ###

¶[!!] SOFTWARE/WORKFLOW— Looking for software...
:
    * calendar ?
    * image editing + GIFs (instagram style)
    * [...]

¶[!**o] SOFTWARE/WORKFLOW/Q— How to pack software together into "packs" or even "distributions"?
ties to #DISTRO #DISTRO.mobile

¶OS/POSTANDROID— ANDROID ALTERNATIVES
→→ALTERNATIVES

via:
    * https://itsfoss.com/open-source-alternatives-android/
    * LLMs
    * [...]

———————— 2025

* LineageOS
"biggest community, almost stock, most safe to not brick"

* grapheneOS
"Pixel only, hardcode security, still kind of normal"

* calyxOS
"mostly pixel, easier than grapheneOS"

* divestOS
"lineage but more paranoid"
"best for old devices" (?)

* Replicant
"100% free software Android, very limited device support"

———————— NON ANDROID

* Ubuntu Touch
"most usable Linux ... Best on PinePhone, Volla, older Nexus devices"

* pinephone:
    also on 🔗real-hacks

* kai OS
"runs on feature phones"

* tizen
"""Tizen is an open source, Linux based mobile operating system which is often dubbed as official Linux mobile OS for the reason that the project is supported by the Linux Foundation. """

* SailfishOS (+Jolla phone)
NOT OPENSOURCE !
"European alternative"

* postmarket OS (pmOS) 
"non-android OS, real Alpine Linux on phones, not great everyday phone"
------------------
WOW! :D
"""
idea is to provide 10-year life cycle to smartphones. You probably already know that after a few years, Android or iOS stop providing updates for older smartphones
"""
#toemail !!!!!!

¶_[m!!**] OS/POSTANDROID— CONDITIONS FOR USE TO CHECK & KNOWN SOFTWARE PROBLEMS (as of 2021/08)
:
    * bank app
    * tinder
    * the popular chat (=Whatsapp/Telegram)
    * ###

¶REVIEW— LG k9 (2020-2022)

2gb RAM, 16gb storage
android 7.1.2 (nougat)
8MP

Went really slow after a while ...

¶[!] MATRIX/GRAP— Flowchart: choosing a device !

WHERE IS THIS?
TO CHOOSE PRODUCTS AS FLOWCHARTS ???
#ordering #postmarket

¶[!!*] OS— How about non-Androids? Ubuntu phones / Linux on Mobile

https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2020/04/pinephone-ubuntu-touch-edition
community work, based on 16.04
pinephone ... 150€

most things work !
(not camera)

¶[m!!*] MARKETS— Shops to buy

* banggood (###)
* bol.com (Belgium)
* ###

¶[ap/] REVIEW— Asus Zenphone 2 Laser (2016) seemed ok, but ...

david got one 2016-10, but then:
    * touchscreen is making random presses after a few months
    * bloatware sucks
    * Linux support for MTP is annoying

¶_[!!**of] MERGE— Merge ^CHT🔗v1-workfow-android
for more software

¶[!] SOFTWARE/SYNC/ANDROID— Spacemaking on android (with USB debugging+ADB)
(via "+++ mobile")

0) common folders to clean
$ /storage/self/primary/Android/data/com.tencent.mm/MicroMsg/xlog

1) plain "du"
du -sh *

2) ADB SORT BY SIZE (+scale)
aka "ANDROID LARGEST DIRECTORIES"

cd /storage/self/primary
echo "k..M..G.." ; du -d 1 -H . 2> /dev/null | sort -r -n

(same as?)
echo "k..M..G.." ; du -s * | sort -nr

¶(L:) [¶] PREFS/ANDROID/UI— Navbar at bottom of phone

Enable in settings, look for "nav" 

¶[m!!**] SYNC— Syncing Android→Linux (basics)

* connect + "transfer files"

* adb shell

* adb pull:
    adb pull "/storage/self/primary/DCIM"
    adb pull "/storage/self/primary/Android/data"

* FreeFileSync:
    * open in Files
    * right click → "Open in Terminal"
    * you get directory, like:
        /run/user/1000/gvfs/mtp:host=HUAWEI_ELE-L29_XPH0220618001593/Internal storage
        ↓
        symlink it!:
            (!!) will only work in user that mounted it. not even root!
    * okay!

* DISTRO scripts:
    ### [!!**o]

¶LIST— 2025/8 buying (Colombia)

via deepseek

BASELINE:
    * huawei p30 (still an option)

* pixel 7a (comparable camera)

* samsung galaxy s21

* xiaomi mi 11 (2020)

* oneplus 8T

* Redmi Note 13:
    ###

* Xiaomi Poco F3

* Xiaomi Poco F4 (2022):
    600mil = 150$
    (-) no eSIM
    Android 13

* Oppo Reno7 5G:
    (-) no OIS
    (-) worse camera

--------------------------------------

Need to do:
    * great camera
    * e-SIM & double SIM
    * headphone jack
    * android version >###
    -----------------------
    * check IMEI (stolen?)
    * check battery
    * ###

¶Before losing/breaking device ...

* enable advanced find hub

* make sure it works screen-less (Developer mode, ...)

* have 2 devices (one shitty for going out)

* have 1-command backups

* put a AirTag-like thing on the phone

* ###

¶Lost device ...

* https://www.google.com/android/find/ :
    (doesn't show time)
    ↓
    Secure Device! (If it comes back)
    ↓
    Settings → 

* https://myaccount.google.com/u/1/find-your-phone :
    ↓
    shows time!

* check gmail activity (on bottom)

* https://play.google.com/library/devices (shows "last used" date)

* try with mobile operator?

* try with police?

¶2025 Colombia street vendor offers

* Samsung Galaxy A02 ... 280mil ($80)
* Redmi 12 ... 8+4GB RAM ... 400mil ($100)
* Huawei P20 Lite ... 4GB RAM / 32GB ... 200mil ($50)

https://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?&idPhone2=9530&idPhone3=12328&idPhone1=10708

¶ROOT— Huawei P20 Lite (==can be a bit complicated)

Official P20 Lite (model number whitelist though)
https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/anne/
https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/anne/install/

Unofficial Android 13 / LineageOS 20 for P20 Pro (not Lite)
https://xdaforums.com/t/rom-13-0-lineageos-20-huawei-p20-pro-update-20-06-2025.4734688/

----------------------

A) Hmmmm apparently some people have to pay to unlock bootloader on older huawei bc 'unsupported'??
https://www.reddit.com/r/androidroot/comments/m099b4/huawei_p30_lite_unlock_bootloader_paid_install/
https://xdaforums.com/t/p30-lite-unlock-bootloader-paid-install-twrp-lineage-os-17-1-gsi.4235989/
https://xdaforums.com/t/tool-p20-tool-all-in-one-drivers-unlock-twrp-factory-image-stock-recovery.3779080/

("$4", linked from both reddit & xda)
https://www.dc-unlocker.com/
https://www.dc-unlocker.com/supported_models_1/huawei_phones

(another guide)
https://xdaforums.com/t/my-complete-bootloader-unlock-and-root-guide.3881779/


B) You can do it by opening phone and doing some juju
https://xdaforums.com/t/bootloader-how-to-unlock-bootloader-for-free.4311911/
https://github.com/mashed-potatoes/PotatoNV

by a russian hacker loool 🥔🥔🥔
https://github.com/mashed-potatoes?tab=repositories

¶ROOT— Unlocking bootloader ("pre-rooting") & Rooting

"""
Basically for almost all Xiaomi/redmi (excepting 'Android One' products—i had 1st gen it was great) phones:
    you submit a thing,
    they verify,
    and process takes like a week or sth last I knew
"""

For Xioami Redmi 12
https://xdaforums.com/t/guide-how-to-flash-install-lineageos-for-redmi-12-fire-unofficial-not-by-me.4742747/
https://nanda.id/unlock-bootloader-ubl-redmi-12-fire/ (linked non-english unlocking guide)
https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/onclite/install/variant1/#unlocking-the-bootloader

¶ROOT— Huawei P30 (and other "flagship" Huawei) (==locked bootloader, cannot root)

TLDR: P20 was the last generation that allowed it

"""It's a shame that Huawei locked down their bootloaders, as the P30 is a capable device that would run LineageOS beautifully. However, the risks and extreme difficulty of bypassing the lock make it impractical for almost all users.

¶PRIVACY/SECURITY— Ordering online vs local risks
(<axx)

lets say you order a phone online, how could it be compromised in supply chain?

1. at seller (bribed/coerced/insider) swaps for malware device
2. via shipping partner ('') ''

or locally

1. by removing other options (agent buys all 'based' phones huawei/xiaomi/pixel/... in area of target)
2. then adding several compromised options fitting the target's selection criteria to local retailers/pawn shops

if there are 'local+online' options steps are diff but a hybrid option requiring fewer humans than pure local is achievable

for any of this to matter you have to be deemed a severe threat, but imo (axx) compromise is possible via any route.
they (intelligence community & many other parties throughout history) have been doing this for a very long time,
since long before computing

¶OS/102— LineageOS (and other alternative OSs) vs stock Android

https://plexus.techlore.tech/
"will my app work"

https://www.reddit.com/r/LineageOS/comments/y5nmlj/can_lineageos_run_apps_from_the_play_store/
↓
* banking apps could be a problem
* ###

----------------------------------

(<axx)
with Magisk & some hacks, SafetyNet/etc bypasses are doable
(and in @axx experience w less blak magik than this huawei unlock juju)

e.g., i could get my banks apps, revolut, etc to work fine on unlocked
but NFC payments via GooglePay would not work

some ppl report greater successes, but that's as far as i got

¶[!h**] SOFTWARE/DEV— There needs to be better HISTORY for phones
ties to/also see/related:
    * #qslinux #telemetry #screenshats
    * 🔗dev-phistory
    * [↓]media recording , #hypermediae / #hyperphotos / #hyperarchive
    * ###

¶[!*] SOFTWARE— adb-sync

checkout!

https://github.com/mjfwalsh/adb-sync
needs (?)
https://github.com/landley/toybox (a shell?)

¶[m!!!**] SOFTWARE— Best way to sync
........oh there's one [↑!!**m]..............

A) D's 2025/9 "adb pull" scripts:
    ###[←!!**]

B) D's old, more fancy scripts:
    ###

C) syncthing

D) ###


--------------------------------------

<DS (mentioned, btw)
"""
Graphical Alternatives

• AirDroid: Wireless file transfer with sync capabilities
• KDE Connect: Integrated file sync between devices
• Syncthing: Continuous bidirectional synchronization

"""

¶[!!o] SOFTWARE/WORKFLOW— The power of "adb exec-out"

$ adb exec-out "pm list packages"
list all installed packages ("apps"?)

$ adb exec-out "ps -A -o pid,ppid,name,%cpu,%mem --sort=-%cpu"
$ adb exec-out "ps -A -o pid,ppid,name,%cpu,%mem --sort=-%mem"
display running software by CPU/MEM

¶[!!o] SOFTWARE/WORKFLOW— "adb shell settings *"

adb shell settings list system
adb shell settings list global
adb shell settings list secure

adb shell settings put system hw_screen_brightness_mode_value 0

¶[!!o] SOFTWARE/WORKFLOW— "adb" for broken screens

(directions)

adb shell wm size
adb shell wm size ###
adb shell wm size reset

adb shell wm overscan 0,0,0,100 #cuts off 100 on bottom
adb shell wm overscan reset

adb shell settings put secure display_size_forced 1080x2290+0+0
adb shell settings put secure display_size_forced null

adb shell settings put system hw_screen_brightness_mode_value 0
###### more for brightness, to come through

¶[s!!*] "Linux Android" <axx

####################### not sure exactly what we're doing here

------------------------------

few ways:
    - qemu-kvm/etc Android-x86 VM (outdated but works, often better occasionally worse. wayyy slower tho
    - waydroid (new Linux WL container thing that works p well)
    - emu from Android Studio (convoluted permy setup, but more upd8d v Android-x86)


qemu-kvm con Android-x86
i have successfully run WA this way, SMS verifying on a dumb phone
has shitty UX bc u are running an Android VM on ur laptop

i played w long ago, but nvr tried WA


waydroid (hardened via incus)
waydroid is already partially isolated, but u needa allow some shit4some things2work ofc

can isolate further using incus

https://regrow.earth/blog/2024-10-29_gui-apps-in-incus-containers/
https://discuss.linuxcontainers.org/t/incus-lxd-profile-for-gui-apps-wayland-x11-and-pulseaudio/18295

¶SECURITY/PRIVACY— Cops, Israeli "Cellebrite UFED" machine, etc

via https://www.instagram.com/p/DOsxhGOkdq4
(about deleted messages!)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellebrite_UFED
"""
The UFED (Universal Forensics Extraction Device) is a product series of the Israeli company Cellebrite, which is used for the extraction and analysis of data from mobile devices by law enforcement agencies.[1]
"""

¶[m!!**] (Some Android softwares)
→→APPS

first/software provision
* fdroid (via website)
* aurora store? (liberated google play)
* anyapk?

maps
* osmand (and download maps):
    ... and import settings ###
* ... shortcut + dll current hypermaps

travel
* Rome2Rio (? tocheckout)


science
* plantnet, birdnet

VNC/remote
* droidVNC-NG (good server, no config just works, well set a password)
* ... AVNC (okay & compatible client ... no scrolling tho!)
* RustDesk (works well)
* padland (for pads)
--------------------------------
https://github.com/wsvn53/scrcpy-mobile
this would be great

general utils
* Translate You (okay but not perfect translation UI)
* ###



<------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ((new))



https://crdroid.net/
some other OS, linked as if having "xioami redmi 13" (i think) support (but not lineage)


https://wiredgraft.com/samsung-rugged-smartphones-review/
rugged phones