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Comment by ineedasername | Hacker News Reader

You don't need to be so quick to assume it was Apple criticism.

I didn't downvote you because you criticized Apple or Google. I downvoted you because I don't think you made a very strong argument to support your claim about going without smartphones. There are reasonable options available with smartphones that don't spy on you. They're not flagship quality, not the fastest phones, but they work fine if your needs for a smartphone are to stay in contact with people for work/personal life, browse the internet, etc. PinePhone for example is gaining popularity & much cheaper: Their new version just sold out but they're taking pre-orders for the next shipment. For something a bit closer to flagship quality you can go for the Librem 5.

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As someone who preordered a Librem 5 a year and a half ago, I’ll be surprised if this becomes a viable option any time soon (or ever). It still hasn’t received FCC certification https://fccid.io/2AT9R and the few that have been released out in the wild to some of the people who ordered in 2017 show a phone that still needs significant software work done and require multiple batteries or constant charging to last a whole day.

I just ordered a PinePhone in the latest batch. From what I’ve been able to find is the software support is a little better for the PinePhone, but the hardware is slower than the already slow Librem 5. It’s closer to being a daily driver, but not by much.

Neither of these phones are a replacement for what most people consider smartphones. Maybe through Android emulation they could be, but if it’s not available as a Linux application or a website then it’s not available for these phones.

I disagree about the ability for PinePhone to be a daily driver, but I suppose it depends on what you use your smartphone for. For me, it's phone/sms/web browsing. But if I concede your point, that still just makes the smartphone alternatives similarly lacking in the existence of Facebook alternatives. That still doesn't support the GP claim the smartphones should be of much greater concern, especially because we haven't even broached the social harm that Facebook has assisted. Privacy concerns may apply to both facebook & smartphones, but as far as harm done, smartphones in & of themselves on the same level as Facebook & other social media. Of course, opinions vary & I don't claim mine to be the actual factual way things are.

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