Google has developed Android for the past two decades, and it’s hard to separate the technology giant from the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). While the AOSP is technically free and open-source, as the name suggests, it’s very dependent on Google services. Android uses various APIs, the Google Play Store, and Google Play Services by default, which all give Google a level of control over Android ROMs. Only a select few ROMs take extreme measures to provide a “deGoogled” Android experience, including Murena’s /e/OS.
I’ve been using /e/OS on my Fairphone 6 review loaner provided by Murena, and it’s a glimpse of what Android without Google feels like. It’s also an uncanny reminder of how many of our favorite devices, apps, and services track our every move and siphon our data. That’s because /e/OS is really about creating a privacy-first smartphone OS, and cutting out Google integrations is simply a required consequence. As a Google ecosystem user, /e/OS challenged me to take my online privacy more seriously.
Murena’s Fairphone 6 puts privacy at the core
/e/OS is built to block trackers, spoof IPs, and fake geolocation
Let’s start with the basics—every Android flavor uses AOSP as a base, adding custom skins, launchers, and features on top. There’s no such thing as “stock Android” anymore, because even Google’s Pixel Launcher is a highly customized version of the AOSP Android 16 build. Custom ROMs serve as an alternative to the Android ROM your smartphone ships with, and LineageOS is one of the bigger ones. Then, there’s /e/OS, which is a fork of LineageOS, which is a fork of the AOSP.
/e/OS is a privacy-focused version of Android, and that’s evident from the very start. On the Fairphone 6, there’s even a hardware switch that Murena uses to enable or disable camera and microphone access in /e/OS. My favorite features have little to do with the removed Google services. Instead, they’re system-wide privacy protections available as part of the Advanced Privacy suite.
Advanced Privacy in /e/OS automatically blocks trackers and detects leaks in your favorite apps, and the features reveal just how much data is collected every time you use your phone. While testing /e/OS on the Fairphone 6, I noticed hundreds or thousands of trackers being blocked daily. These trackers aren’t being picked up on obviously shady apps; they’re coming from popular ones like Threads, Starbucks, or Discogs.
Of course, it’s nice that /e/OS stops these trackers, well, in their tracks. But it’s also a painful reminder of how much information I’m giving up when I’m using a phone or device without the Murena operating system. On top of anti-tracking features, the Advanced Privacy suite can spoof your IP address and fake geolocation data.
I can pick anywhere in the world for my phone’s location and IP address, and it’s like having a powerful VPN built right into Android. Admittedly, these can’t be enabled often, because most of my apps outright refuse to work when they are. That’s yet another sign that the apps we use every day are more nefarious than we realize.
/e/OS cuts out Google wherever possible
While prioritizing compatibility with microG preinstalled
There’s one thing that separates /e/OS from other deGoogled versions of Android, and it’s compatibility. The operating system maintains compatibility with most Android apps, which is rare for a ROM without Google Play Services onboard. /e/OS does this by using the microG software package, which minimizes connections to Google while retaining Play Services functionality.
MicroG allows apps to contact Google for necessary validations, enabling features like device registration, Google sign-ins, and Android push notifications. However, it cuts out all the unnecessary elements of Play Services, creating a more secure experience. When the microG service does need to connect with Google, it automatically strips your device identifiers, including your MAC address and IMEI, or randomizes them.
For everyday use, this means you can use secure banking apps that would otherwise require a ROM with Play Services on /e/OS. It also allows the default App Lounge app marketplace, which offers APKs from the Google Play Store and F-Droid. The App Lounge adds a layer between you and the Play Store for privacy, and even makes progressive web apps (PWAs) available for quick installation.
I’ve found that all of my apps work flawlessly on /e/OS, and in general, my switch to a deGoogled operating system went way smoother than I expected.
Anyone can switch to /e/OS for free
You don’t need to buy the $900 Fairphone to try it
If you’re intrigued by a custom Android ROM that has built-in privacy features and the least Google integrations possible, it might be time to give /e/OS a shot. You don’t even have to spend a fortune on the Murena Fairphone 6 in the U.S. (although it’s certainly an option) because /e/OS is free to install and supported on more than 200 devices. Aside from the obvious security safeguards, I’ve found /e/OS to be a clean and refreshing Android ROM.
- SoC
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3
- Operating System
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/e/OS
- Rear camera
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50MP Sony Lytia 700C
- Others
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Repairable with a single T5 screwdriver
If you want to try the privacy-focused /e/OS Android ROM, the Murena Fairphone 6 is the best phone to buy. It comes with a five-year warranty and runs /e/OS right out of the box.
