Android and worries

Image courtesy: Google Gemini

Almost everyone uses smartphones today. They help with communication, business, banking, and daily tasks, making life easier. But they also bring new problems.

How smartphones work differently from Computers

Smartphones aren’t built like computers. Computers let you upgrade parts or replace them if they break. But in phones, everything is packed into a single chip. Phone makers add special software (like drivers) to connect the hardware to the Android system and make it look good.

Drawbacks of Android phones

Android is the most used phone system worldwide, powering 70% of phones. It was created by a group of companies, with Google playing a big role. Unlike computers, most people can’t easily change their phone’s operating system.

Many phones come with bloatware—unwanted apps that track users, show ads, or can’t be easily removed. These slow down phones and invade privacy. Only a few brands, like Google Pixel and Nothing Phone, offer a clean Android without bloatware.

Short Lifespan of Phones

Phones need updates to stay secure and work properly, but most companies stop updates after just two years. When updates end, apps (especially banking apps) stop working, forcing people to buy new phones. This creates more electronic waste. Nothing Phone does better by offering 3 years of major updates and 4 years of security updates.

Can Custom Software Help?

When manufacturers stop supporting a phone, custom ROMs (modified Android versions) can keep it running longer. However, phone makers make it hard to install these, and some banking apps won’t work on them.

Are There Better Alternatives?

Some groups are working on privacy-focused, non-commercial phone systems based on Linux (like Debian). These systems, such as Mobian, offer basic features like calls, contacts, and maps. But they have fewer apps than Android and only work well on certain phones.

The Bigger Challenge

For Linux-based phones to succeed, more manufacturers need to support them. Google once tried a modular phone project (Ara) but gave up. Right now, Android dominates, leaving users with limited choices.