@ililiililiililiilili I think*** they are required to unlock the phone if you don't owe them anything. I had them carrier unlock my last iPhone when I switched to Android so I could sell it at full value vs locked value. That's not quite the same as the bootloader. It might be worth asking though.
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@ililiililiililiilili I think that is a dealbreaker for any 3rd party OS. Check with your cellular provider to see if they will unlock it.
@ililiililiililiilili @Marighost Lineage or CalyxOS are better options than replacing a perfectly good phone.
@deweydecibel @peter Agreed! I've recently been trying roms on a Pixel 7 and it's nothing like the dark ages. Just READ the install guide, make sure your computer is configured properly, and follow the steps. I've ran Graphene, Calyx, and Lineage on my P7. The only problems I've had were related to something I didn't do correctly. Stop, READ, rinse, and repeat. Modern rooms are fantastic and they let you regain control of your device.
@APassenger @GenderNeutralBro I was interested in the mobile Windows 8 back in the day. So I found and bought a used cheap Nokia phone to check it out. I ended up using it as my primary for a few months. The Nokia and Windows were both fantastic! I didn't stay with it because there were no apps. The Windows store was a stinking infested cesspool of awful and/or malicious apps so I resold it.
@OpenStars @kivulallo I had an OP9 and it was okayish most of the time. I picked up a crazy good deal on a 9 Pro after the 10 came out and it was good, but not like 8T good. Now I have an 11 and Color OS is tolerable, but the 11 is crazy fast and makes the whole package right tasty. I tried 3rd party launchers, but ended up tweaking the OP launcher to get rid of the most annoying things. You can do a lot worse than OnePlus and I'm not sure about finding anything much better.