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Comment by RealStickman_ | Hacker News Reader

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RealStickman_

Here's an updated list of relatively popular phone manufactures and their bootloader unlocking potential.

https://github.com/melontini/bootloader-unlock-wall-of-shame...

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Surprise that Oppo is in avoid list, while oneplus is in safe list. Both of them are from same company.

This proves there is no technical difficulty to provide unlock bootloader

Was anyone else shocked to see Microsoft in the top tier of their list of unlock-friendly phone manufacturers?

I mean for the Microsoft Android phones it kinda makes sense, since they're not exactly shipping Android by choice. They'd much rather you use the Windows Phones which this says ARE locked down.

Wasn’t windows phone discontinued like 10 years ago?

Yes.

Apologies for being unclear, it's true Microsoft didn't have the option of Windows Phone for their Surface Duo devices, so they had no choice but to use Android. To clarify, when I phrase something as being an unwilling outcome it does not mean both were equally viable options and they picked the one they wanted, rather that Microsoft's hand was forced due to this development. I hope this helps.

That literally makes no sense. What forced their hands?

Given that they're a monopolist?

No, that's exactly the sort of tactic you'd expect from them.

They mix up Google-vendor (pixels are absolutely the best and most unlocking-friendly hardware at this point), with Google Play Services services/limitations (ie dominant player in android ecosystem) AND Google, the dominant contributor to AOSP project.

And it's also partially false, as Gemini works just fine after unlocking/relocking, and all the advanced features (full performance of the cameras, NPU access, secure element) work even on non-Google OS. Things that do not work (mostly wallet) are valid issue, but then again, they work just fine after flashing OEM firmware And relocking The bootloader.

So I can only guess the quality of the contribution is similar with other phone brands.

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