As from next coming week, The first batch of refurbished smartphones with /e/OS are expected to be shipped. And it looks like this is just in time for the next stage of my experiment of living a life without Google services.
As if on cue following my experiment using a smartphone without Google services Part One and Part Two, and my conclusion that using a smartphone that runs /e/ is the next logical step, an e-Foundation newsletter came in this evening and included news that smartphones with /e/OS are ready to ship.
By way of a reminder, /e/OS claims to be an open source, privacy-enabled smartphone operating system devoid of the influences of big corporations like Google and Apple who run by harvesting user data. Because it is “unGoogled Androidâ€, you can still use all of the favourite apps and games that you are used to.
ALSO READ: Android Open Source: Google May Be In Big Trouble If Others Follows Huawei’s Step
This is the sort of operating system that Huawei should be working on. Android with no Google services and apps. And now, the non-profit foundation behind it say you can order any of the available smartphones with /e/OS pre-installed.
What Refurbished Smartphones Comes With /e/OS?
For starters, the Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S9. The e Foundation say they partnered with with professional smartphone refurbishers to provide these first smartphones with /e/, and at a great price too!
e Foundation says these are the “highest grade refurbished smartphonesâ€, which translates to getting them at much lower costs that one would have if buying them brand new.
Shipment of these first set of refurbished smartphones with /e/OS starts early next.
Naturally, my choice would be the Samsung Galaxy S7, being the more affordable option. It is available with dual SIM slots and 32GB storage. And at 279€, it should cost a little over N100,000. That is a little bit above my budget for this experiment though.
I’d like to not have to dish out more than N50,000 on the hardware for this experiment. When I am finally convinced that things work well enough and I am ready to dive in full-time, I wouldn’t mind spending more on a smartphone that runs /e/OS.
ALSO READ: Fuchsia OS will be optimized for specific devices
If you would like to live on the bleeding edge and be among the first to get your hands on a smartphone pre-installed with /e/OS, and this is within your budget, go ahead and register HERE.
