Is Debloating Androind in 2020 worth it - General Topics

Hi,
I'm facing a dilemma about Debloating Android vs its benefits like security and time spent on it, my OCD and need your opinion on this.
The very first thing I do when I get a new Android Smartphone or Tablet device, I will debloat them but the insane amount of time it takes me to do it, I don't have anymore because of adult life taking over. When I debloat Android device, I can spend hours upon hours if not days doing it by making a full dump off all the packages installed then inspecting every single one, doing research on them and coming to conclusion if such package is needed or suspicious. I repeat the whole process again when such device gets a major update to the next version of Android, for example, from Android 9 to Android 10.
That behaviour which I would say is my OCD at the moment, obviously is taking insane amount of time to get rid of all the crap and telemetry that have been placed on such device and I'm starting to question if it's even worth it anymore. It sometimes sounds like too much trouble and time is taken from doing it and having a little benefit from it. The main reason for my OCD with debloating is due to the fact that Android devices are Open Source and during manufacturing process it can be infected with Malware so obviously I want to make sure that there are no offending apps on the device that can harm my privacy and data.
The other question is, are there any benefits by performing a debloat ? I know it can speed up the device a little, improve battery life and make more resources available like RAM or Processing Power so that it can be used for the tasks I need to perform on the device rather than wasting it on a crap that is not needed in the background. Also, are there any benefits when it comes to Security ? I know that some Android devices are already coming infected with Malware straight from the factory (Can't post links till I reach 10 posts so I can't link the research ...) This is mostly because of how Android ecosystem works and that the development of software is mostly outsourced to different companies for example in India to reduce the costs of the device.
P.S Currently I have untouched Nokia which have some TWRP and Unofficial LineageOS available, I will try and see if I can unlock the bootloader and flash a custom ROM, if not, I will need to think if I should go through with debloating it as I don't have much time anymore. I want to finally start using it but I have that dilemma about the whole debloating thing and decided to check with you guys what you think about it.

Related

why is my phone constantly freezing?

i already did everything i know to figure out
i clear cache all teh time on the phone and on apps like facebook and other heavy apps
i keep the internal memory below 50% use
phone is almost 2 years old and worked flawlessly for a year and a half.
always wore a case never actually dropped it but suddenly it started lagging and slowed down noticeably
then few weeks ago it got even worse. apps hang all the time
dont update dont respond
for example besides being slow facebook and instagramm and other apps would not load updates or internet would not load pages
facebook wont load new comments and says retry connection
i close it with the left button menu and reopen and it works again for few hours and does same thing
its very fn frustrating why is there no good diagnostic software for android system after 10 years on the market is beyond me...
im tired of clearing cache and resetting everything. and tired of buying new phones all the time especially when this phone was over 700 dollars. **** like this shouldnt happen on a 700 dollar phone. i would espect a 150 dollar phone from costco to break in less than 2 years but not top of the line phone
I would personally recommend backing up anything on the phone important to you, then doing a full clean flash with Odin using the latest stock firmware. This doesn't require root and won't trip Knox or warranty.
App cache and memory bloat is always something that's affected me on Android, but since I do a full wipe at least once a year because of changing ROM's, my experience usually stays pretty controlled.
is there no way to find out what is causing all this without a complete wipe?
i clean all app cache often and phone cache also
i mean if i have to erase everything all the time and start over whats the point of buying a 700 dollar phone?
is there a clean stock android rom that doesnt have tmobile bloatware?
Pretty much all phones suffer from slowdowns the longer they're used. Especially when they go through OS updates, that's a common complaint for both Android and iOS.
This article generated some buzz the other day suggesting that despite being flash memory, fragmentation heavily affects android performance https://www.tuxera.com/blog/why-is-my-android-phone-slowing-down/
Since you've got TMobile bloatware I assume you have G930T, you can flash the G930U (unlocked version) firmware via Odin and it will rid you of bloatware. Home_CSC if you don't want to wipe data, CSC if you do. Updato.com and sammobile.com to get the firmware.
US models can't use custom roms, so stock G930U firmware is your best bet.
so it sno tthe hardware issue then?
i just feel like every time theres a software update before the release of their new phone my old samsung phone suddenlyslows down to complete crap.
is it just me or anyone else notice that also?
It's a common theory that manufacturers intentionally slow down older phones each new flagship release, but there's not really any proof.
New OS builds can be more resource heavy and built to expect higher resource amounts that older devices might not have, since they're usually made with flagships in mind
Otherwise RAM, CPU's and Storage all degrade over time. Best thing you can do is full wipe each new Android version, so that the OS starts on a clean slate and any optimisations it has can work from the start instead of having to try work with a previous builds bloat.
Besides what was mentioned so far, I recommend you also check your installed apps to see if there are any third party unwanted apps installed on your device.

Help with May Update

Hello all. I'm in need of help. I recently tried to update my phone to the May update. It says failed update. Error Code:410. I contacted Verizon Wireless 1st. They couldn't fix it. They connected me to Samsung and they told me it was a carrier issue. any ideas on how to fix it.
if you did a phone call when speaking to Samsung, one other way you can try to get help is reporting an issue on Samsung Members app. The app will pull device logs and determine if some function has failed. The key point is to report soon after seeing the issue, so try to reproduce the error and then submit the error using the app.
Really if your Note is running fast, stable and fulfilling it's mission I would leave it's firmware alone. General and security updates are overrated. An update can easily break it or leave you with a lot less then you had.
Android 11 is Android in a no way out high G flat spin; load it and cry a river of tears.
Even outdated Androids systems rarely get nailed by serious malware unless you do something stupid. My stock AT&T Note 10+ is still running Pie on a load that's a year old. Zero issues. I disabled updates almost a year and a half ago because I knew Q would screw it up.
Sometimes updates really screw up the phone locking it down to make future rooting or downgrading impossible.
In reality a rootkit would cause less trouble; it takes me about 2 hours to do a factory reset and bring the phone back to 99% full functionality as long as the SD card data is intact.
Retaining firmware you like to use is more important than any update unless it enhances your user experience. New OSs keep you off balance with a constant learning curve, forcing you to find new solutions and work arounds.
For what? I would waste far more time migrating to Q then a 2 hour reload would cost me. Worse I loss critical functionality.
At least wait a month or more to see if the update blew up other people's phone
Having no control over OTA downloads is dangerous and can lead to a bad flash or trashware you will hate. Fixing it is time consuming and in some cases impossible; disable auto updates.
Use your SD card as a data drive, only the OS, apps, and download folder goes on the internal memory. Keep everything you need for a reload including copies of your apps on the SD card as well your database of music, vids, pics etc.
Back the SD card up redundantly to at least 2 hdds that are physically and electronically isolated from each other. Done

Question Should I buy iqoo 7 for long term use?

We all know there's no custom rom support for iqoo 7. Should I still buy this phone for long term use?
Lala🇧🇩 said:
We all know there's no custom rom support for iqoo 7. Should I still buy this phone for long term use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Going by iQOO track record do not expect any development or custom roms in future. It would be good for 2 years then you'll have update to new phone. Do not expect any development. Like LOS, Even simple bootloader unlock and root will not be possible.
This is actually true for almost all Android phones these days. I want able to use my S9+ Street 2 years because it's battery decayed pretty fast. My wife's phone's displayed died. She had the S9 and we bought both phones together.
Updated and custom ROMs aren't that great these days because of plethora of phones and great devs of this forum also can't keep up with whether to fix issues with current build or to push next update build.
I used to own an HTC Wildfire S and its devs were pretty mind blowing. It used to have great ROMs which were much faster than stock. But these days stock ROMs are also good enough if you disable some bloatware and irrelevant system apps.
I have disabled some system apps using adb and am not facing any kind of adware notifications and the phone is smooth as ever.
I never even tried to root my S9+ also since I never found any good reason to lose Knox and DRM capabilities just for a little bit faster but still bugged ROM since I had the Exynos version.
With stock I prefer the peace of mind.
I've shared all my thoughts with you on this, now choice is yours.
Quite right. And will there be something significant better then screen 120hz, 12gb ufs 3.1, incredible fast charging, 120 watt 18 minutes fully charged, exceptional good battery management, at least 36hrs with full use of phones possibilities. Processor SD 888, good for the next 4 years I think.
With the increasing complexity of hardware, various chips (additional display chip in Iqoo 7), multiple cameras, etc. it will be difficult for custom rom devs to keep up with future of android. We will have to learn to live with Stock ROMs.
I suggest to keep full backup of each stock ROM before upgrade so that you have option to roll back incase you dont like performance/features of upgraded ROM.
Every android phone will have a life span of 2 years then it will slow down with software updates. My suggestion is to update your phone only if your device has some serious bugs and the update will fix it or ignore the annoying update pop-ups. Your device will last longer. This is from my personal experience
It's also important to protect the device from external fall damages I recommend using good quality protective gears from good brands or if you drop your phone and get it fixed it will be never good as a new one. I use a screen and body protector from {Mod edit: Please no commercial advertisement}.
The device's heating issue is a major concern. if a gaming phone gets toasted frequently it won't last longer
Gad0 said:
Every android phone will have a life span of 2 years then it will slow down with software updates. My suggestion is to update your phone only if your device has some serious bugs and the update will fix it or ignore the annoying update pop-ups. Your device will last longer. This is from my personal experience
It's also important to protect the device from external fall damages I recommend using good quality protective gears from good brands or if you drop your phone and get it fixed it will be never good as a new one. I use a screen and body protector from {Mod edit: Please no commercial advertisement}.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree but I change my device every 6 to 8 month so no worries and I get try new features comes with an update
Lala🇧🇩 said:
We all know there's no custom rom support for iqoo 7. Should I still buy this phone for long term use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Always have an external storage or Hardisk to save your files or if you loose your device you might miss a lot of data. I always back my data and keep my device free

In us but allways got exnos version cause I require root but hated the lack of carrier aggravation. Now seems snapdragon is root able. Whitch to get

Just wanted to find some opinions on what to get basically it's been awhile since I was on her and my note ten is having the cold battery can't charge issue so Im looking what to replace it with and need root and loved the functionality of a fully unlocked bootloader but I missed the great speeds of a US phone since I'm in the US so wonder what I shoud do?
Too cold, won't charge?
You think it's a mobo failure on the 10+?
I've never seen that warning. Use something like DevChek to view all the sensor temperatures.
May just be a battery failure. They're good for about 2 years on a heavily used phone, my lasted 1.5 years and failed.
I'm looking at getting a second Note. My choices are another 10+ or a new 20U. It will likely be another 10+; it a solid, stable, fast phone with no glaring issues. If still running on Pie, that's a huge plus, Android 10 and especially 11 just suck. I don't have high hopes for 12.
So if it's the battery or C port PCB*, just replace and wait for the 2022 Note release.
From what I've read the Snapdragon has a better chipset architecture and instruction set.
They seem to be notoriously hard to root. Probably not a good choice for rooting.
I know you can optimize a stock 10+/Pie, not sure how well that will go with Android 10 and above. Some of the functionality isn't there for valuable 3rd party apps like Karma Firewall's logging feature. You can still use Package Disabler or ADB edits to kill the bloatware though.
On newer high dollar phones is many ways rooting is a liability especially with warranty/insurance and you lose Knox, Samsung Pass etc if you use that junk. There are those especially on this forum that swear by it but won't acknowledge their cost in time (which can be and typically is huge) and inconvenience.
Stock Androids/roms are easier to troubleshoot and more secure. If there are issues with a stock setup there will be thousands or more with the same issue making solutions more likely and easier to find. With a custom setup you are on your own which can quickly implode into a time sucking blackhole in more ways than there are stars.
If I was going to root it be an older Note... not a brand new one... risk/time vs reward.
*the C port PCB may have a temperature sensor, not sure. It can cause a lot of bizarre issues in seemingly unrelated systems like internet connection, I know that for a fact. Make sure if you do replace it you get the exact PN that on that PCB or it will not function properly! Both the battery and C port PCB are relatively easy to replace with the proper tools and skillset. Both are cheap, under $50. Make sure you replace the back cover OEM seal with the same or equivalent if you open it up. Do not use generic double sided adhesive tape!
And the award for Longest Post Title and Longest Run On Sentence In A XDA Post goes to...
*Nervously opens envelope*
@ressegger !!!
*Raucous applause*
ressegger said:
Just wanted to find some opinions on what to get basically it's been awhile since I was on her and my note ten is having the cold battery can't charge issue so Im looking what to replace it with and need root and loved the functionality of a fully unlocked bootloader but I missed the great speeds of a US phone since I'm in the US so wonder what I shoud do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes ,
i had this same issue of yours ,
"to cold to charge" can't charge ,
notice/issue .....many years back .
Can't remember which device of mine it was , think it was a Samsung Tablet A 2016 .
Anyway ,
Took devices to Samsung Service Centre.
It was the USB charging port .
They did not charge me much for the repairs .
Got it fixed and device charging normally / working fine afterwards.
My point is whatever you do or decide do not "throw/give "device away .
It's a small fix.....!
good luck
I am running the US snapdragon spammy 20 - ultra rooted up with boot loader unlocked thanks to afane and his advanced bros, although due to the lock down on many features such as scoped (controlled) storage preventing apps from being installed outside of the control room (googel store), did I mention notification sound got locked down too?

Update to Android 11

Hi
I am on OOS 10.0.11.GM21BA with Magisk and TWRP and I want to update to Android 11 11.0.3.1.GM21BA.
However, I saw that there are mentions of stuck devices after updating and the need for patched boot.img and what not.
Until now I used following method to update:
Disable Magisk Modules
Download newest TWRP to SD
Download Full OTA from OP servers to SD
Flash OTA via local update in system settings
Flash A/B retention script with Magisk
Install Magisk to inactive slot
Reboot
Is this method still a valid way of updating? Do I need some extra steps for the update to Android 11?
I would wait... major reported issues even on Pixel phones.
If your current OS is fast, stable and fulfilling it's mission, let it be.
You have nothing to gain.
Running on Android 11 the OnePlus ranks second to Samsung in having severe aggressive background app killing issues. The full implementation of scoped storage in R will devour cpu cycles like a kid eats candy.
The endless popups asking permission to do everything will give you a new pastime.
I can likely coexist with Q... but R is for reject.
Thanks for the informations @blackhawk !
I was actually hoping that I had waited long enough by now for the initial issues to be gone. I actually want to update because of security patches in the first place, which we can't get on Q anymore, at least with stock OOS.
Also, I have multiple friends that updated (just stock phones) and didn't have any major problems, in regards to background killing of apps too, which I would definitely go crazy over if I had to experience that again.
Do you have any further insight to the update process posted?
Nightmare[ITA] said:
Thanks for the informations @blackhawk !
I was actually hoping that I had waited long enough by now for the initial issues to be gone. I actually want to update because of security patches in the first place, which we can't get on Q anymore, at least with stock OOS.
Also, I have multiple friends that updated (just stock phones) and didn't have any major problems, in regards to background killing of apps too, which I would definitely go crazy over if I had to experience that again.
Do you have any further insight to the update process posted?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't help you on the update process.
I don't think R will ever be fixed. So much so that I bought another N10+ because both Google Android and Samsung have been dropping the ball so badly I'm stepping back for 2-3 years.
The fact that the N10+ is still a good viable choice today shows how poorly Samsung has done particularly in 2021.
I wouldn't even think twice about not getting security updates. Unless you do something stupid*, malware simply isn't an issue on Android 9 and up. Q has all of the worst vulnerabilities patched anyway. Don't buy into the Gookill security hype.
Been running unpatched Pie N10+ for close to 2 years with over a year on the current load. No malware forced reloads ever, and no malware in over a year. Redundantly backup all critical data and be ready to reload if needed. Really a reload be less trouble than trying to implement R.
Watch what you download, keep email in the cloud, watch over the download folder for anomalies and you'll be fine.
*no saving dumb bunnies...
blackhawk said:
Can't help you on the update process.
I don't think R will ever be fixed. So much so that I bought another N10+ because both Google Android and Samsung have been dropping the ball so badly I'm stepping back for 2-3 years.
The fact that the N10+ is still a good viable choice today shows how poorly Samsung has done particularly in 2021.
I wouldn't even think twice about not getting security updates. Unless you do something stupid*, malware simply isn't an issue on Android 9 and up. Q has all of the worst vulnerabilities patched anyway. Don't buy into the Gookill security hype.
Been running unpatched Pie N10+ for close to 2 years with over a year on the current load. No malware forced reloads ever, and no malware in over a year. Redundantly backup all critical data and be ready to reload if needed. Really a reload be less trouble than trying to implement R.
Watch what you download, keep email in the cloud, watch over the download folder for anomalies and you'll be fine.
*no saving dumb bunnies...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for the delayed response, it was actually not because I updated haha.
Well I can't really say much about R, since i haven't had personal day to day experience, and that's where the little things play a key role which can ruin your experience.
When it comes to the security part, I must say we have a different view on that topic. Unfortunately, you don't always have to be the reason for getting pwned, as there are vulnerability that are out of your ability to do something against it unless the system itself gets patched. The amount of those grows considerable faster once it's not updated anymore as the researchers know that there won't be any patch comming against it. Many of the vulnerability get searched on those system on purpose, especially if a big part of the users are still on that OS version. It becomes more lucrative for them then searching vulnerabilities on R and seeing it getting patched 4 weeks later.
Take RackTooth (which we currently don't know how it really works and how it can be fixed) for example, you are basically screwed once it gets out in the wild, if your device it not supported by the manufacturer anymore. That's also a reason why customs ROM are still so important and the manufacturer giving us the ability to unlock out bootloaders so we can continue to safely use our devices once they don't want to support it anymore.
I will probably be switching to Samsung too after my current device as I don't like where OnePlus is headed, especially with the Oppo codebase merge and them giving up on devices so fast.
It's been 2 years and they still haven't fixed the f*cking call on speaker mic problem, nor the audio quality when making a call with Galaxy Buds+! It is really ridiculous. Kinda regret making 10 people in my surroundings get OnePlus phones....
It feels like Samsung is the only real option left, which is sad to see.
Nightmare[ITA] said:
Sorry for the delayed response, it was actually not because I updated haha.
Well I can't really say much about R, since i haven't had personal day to day experience, and that's where the little things play a key role which can ruin your experience.
When it comes to the security part, I must say we have a different view on that topic. Unfortunately, you don't always have to be the reason for getting pwned, as there are vulnerability that are out of your ability to do something against it unless the system itself gets patched. The amount of those grows considerable faster once it's not updated anymore as the researchers know that there won't be any patch comming against it. Many of the vulnerability get searched on those system on purpose, especially if a big part of the users are still on that OS version. It becomes more lucrative for them then searching vulnerabilities on R and seeing it getting patched 4 weeks later.
Take RackTooth (which we currently don't know how it really works and how it can be fixed) for example, you are basically screwed once it gets out in the wild, if your device it not supported by the manufacturer anymore. That's also a reason why customs ROM are still so important and the manufacturer giving us the ability to unlock out bootloaders so we can continue to safely use our devices once they don't want to support it anymore.
I will probably be switching to Samsung too after my current device as I don't like where OnePlus is headed, especially with the Oppo codebase merge and them giving up on devices so fast.
It's been 2 years and they still haven't fixed the f*cking call on speaker mic problem, nor the audio quality when making a call with Galaxy Buds+! It is really ridiculous. Kinda regret making 10 people in my surroundings get OnePlus phones....
It feels like Samsung is the only real option left, which is sad to see.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are security vulnerabilities, simply be aware of them and do what you to mitigate them.
After over a year of zero updates though I know the actual threat level is low. Updates are far more likely to cripple the phone than malware.
Most victims pawn themselves, one way or another. The other common inept screw up of those infected is failure to promptly address abnormal behaviors.
Malware needs to be resolved immediately and the phone shutdown until it is. Trojan preloaders count on a person's lack of wherewithal and failure to act promptly. If I got nailed now, at the worst I be reloaded and 99% fully operational in about 2 hours. 6 if I lost the SD card data.
So what? My data, security, everything is redundant, replaceable, resetable.
Right now unless you go with a older Samsung still running on 10 or 9, there aren't many good options. 2022 is looking bleak as well. This is one reason why I got another 10+. In my opinion it's the zenith of Samsung Note flagships and of Android OS. I'm a pragmatist, I go with what works best. The hype rolls right off like water from a duck.
We are in living a pond of hyperbole
blackhawk said:
There are security vulnerabilities, simply be aware of them and do what you to mitigate them.
After over a year of zero updates though I know the actual threat level is low. Updates are far more likely to cripple the phone than malware.
Most victims pawn themselves, one way or another. The other common inept screw up of those infected is failure to promptly address abnormal behaviors.
Malware needs to be resolved immediately and the phone shutdown until it is. Trojan preloaders count on a person's lack of wherewithal and failure to act promptly. If I got nailed now, at the worst I be reloaded and 99% fully operational in about 2 hours. 6 if I lost the SD card data.
So what? My data, security, everything is redundant, replaceable, resetable.
Right now unless you go with a older Samsung still running on 10 or 9, there aren't many good options. 2022 is looking bleak as well. This is one reason why I got another 10+. In my opinion it's the zenith of Samsung Note flagships and of Android OS. I'm a pragmatist, I go with what works best. The hype rolls right off like water from a duck.
We are in living a pond of hyperbole
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Pixel 6 / Pro is looking better every day. For once they didn't use specs from 2 years prior.
Nightmare[ITA] said:
The Pixel 6 / Pro is looking better every day. For once they didn't use specs from 2 years prior.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No SD card slot which makes it useless to me.
It also lacks the intense customization stock Samsung's have by way of the Galaxy store.
Samsung's also have builtin workarounds for the lame swipe gesture navigation; Samsung's can easily be set to have screen navigation buttons.
Word of caution, the Samsung interface on Android 11 variant is reportedly a mess.
The spen is a feature I appreciate more the longer I own* the 10+. It's remote bt control and Smart Capture are extremely useful to me. Otherwise when not needed it neatly nests out of sight.
For power users the Note series is still the weapon of choice in many ways.
*lol, I'm still exploring the features in my original 10+ Pie variant. There are many. I play around with it. Even more on the Q variant and new UI features too, I haven't even played with those yet

Categories

Resources