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All manufacturers do it. Of course, not all of them report to China specifically.
If you want to be safe, you could use a phone like Xperia with Sailfish OS (though beware it's not Android and it's less user friendly), Pixel with a Graphene OS or something that supports Lineage OS.
Xiaomis are quite hackable. You can install LineageOS to be safe from any potential spyware.
I looked it up for op, this is a lowest end redmi, so no custom roms exist for this unfortunately.
Well, not 100% safe. They still control firmware in the radios and such. And they could include a separate processor that just listens to what you're doing and sends it over the cell radio.
Did you wrote this from your libreboot laptop? As what you wrote is unfortunately true for all devices.
So here's the thing. The phone was made by a company in another country that has to follow that countries laws. But that only extends to the stock OS.
Just unlock the bootloader, root it, and install whatever on it. IIRC Xiaomi phones are pretty open platform wise, and are compatible with a wide array of ROMs. I've personally been using LibreMobileOS recently and I really like it--but unfortunately that seems to be one of the few Redmi models they don't support yet. lol
Yes but, have you ever rooted a Xiaomi device. it's VERY hard. not impossible, but very hard. Requires iirc a 28 day waiting period, and you can only do one per year. (I imagine they enforce by phone number) Here's a guide I found with a quick google search, it requires running their super sketchy windows only utility, etc.. etc... https://www.reddit.com/r/PocoPhones/comments/1bsb2ce/how_to_root_your_phone_whatever_your_xiaomi_phone/
And yes, everything you have read is true about how bad it is. Did you know by default every app is set to debuggable? it's something the OS does, and no, you can't turn it off from the apps perspective. The whole system is just not secure, by design.
Yes but, have you ever rooted a Xiaomi device. it’s VERY hard.
It takes a bit of working around, but it's generally not that difficult to unlock your bootloader without following "official" methods: https://xdaforums.com/t/a-guide-to-unlocking-the-bootloader-of-the-xiaomi-redmi-9a-9at-without-mi-unlock.4687858/
Thanks for that!!! I'll give this a shot.
it’s generally not that difficult to unlock your bootloader without following “official” methods
I wrote the wrong model number, right model number is 2022 redmi 10C 220333QNY, I didn't find a guide to bootload this model on xdaforums.
There's also a caveat: I'd be bootloading with debian 12.9.
Can I bootload without installing any redmi crap on my computer or creating an account with them?
I have been using Xiaomi Redmi Notes since version 7, currently I have version 13. Hardware is solid, fast, dependable and flexible. It comes with some bloatware but the new HyperOS is actually very open to turning off all possible privacy / tracking apps.
I rooted some of my previous phones but haven't the new one. For the price point, imo is the best option.
Make sure to check the supported bands of the device against your carrier 5G/4G bands or the phone has a hard time connecting.
If you are planning on rooting, set a Xiaomi account right away as it takes time to get unlocking code.
That's a redmi 9c if that model number is correct. No official lineage support, but there are a lot of interesting roms on xda: https://xdaforums.com/c/redmi-9c.10999/
This seems good, official, gapps is optional: https://xdaforums.com/t/rom-12-1-official-nusantara-project-4-5-unified-for-redmi-9a-9c-9-activ-garden-sinila-updated.4374805/
Afaik if you replace the rom they cant really do much. Also MIUI or whatever they call it nowadays is the worst android experience i've ever used.
That’s a redmi 9c if that model number is correct.
you are right, I wrote a false model number. The device is a 2022 redmi 10C 220333QNY
That's a bit more niche device, no xda page. I couldn't found any custom rom for that device.
Most xiaomi devices at least have the so called xiaomi.eu rom is available which is basically the same as the original rom, but every chinese only parts and gapps removed. It doesn't have one as the developer wrote here:
Actually, no. Conditions for a device to be supported: https://xiaomi.eu/community/threads/supported-devices.65673/ Redmi 10C has a 720p resolution, while we only support 1080p and 1440p resolution devices. Please, don't buy trash devices if you wish to use our ROMs.
So as this is a low end budget device I wouldn't expect that it will be supported by any 3rd party. If you really want to hack on this device, you are on your own.
With this knowledge I would do the following:
Good luck!
I'm saving your thread because I've been curious about this as well. For reference, are you using this phone in the US?