this post was submitted on 21 Aug 2025
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Looking for a privacy-respecting tablet (lemmybefree.net)
submitted 3 months ago by Electricd@lemmybefree.net to c/privacy@lemmy.world
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cross-posted from: https://lemmybefree.net/post/1243814

Hi! I'm looking for a privacy respecting Android tablet.

I ruled out the google tablet due to it being too expensive with an LCD screen

I would prefer a nice OLED screen if possible (or similar), and preferably cheap. Must be able to stream HEVC encoded videos (not 10 years old hardware), and preferably more (VP9, AV1, for future proofing)

The main use will be to watch content (movies, series, videos) from YouTube and Jellyfin, and sometimes some other apps if they're not enforcing the Play Integrity API

So far I've searched some OS and I'm considering LineageOS or /e/OS, with /e/OS looking better in terms of privacy. Don't want google to track everywhere I go and everything I do.

Any recommendations for good cheap hardware with bootloader unlocking, and recommendations for a good Android ROM?

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[–] hendrik@palaver.p3x.de 6 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Good question. Unfortunately there aren't many tablets out there with official LineageOS support. Here's the list, you can filter by device type "tablet": https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/
But it just lists some very old Samsung tablets and a Pixel tablet from 2023.

I have an old Galaxy S6 Lite and flashed it with LineageOS for microG but I'd advise against buying one in 2025, it's kind of slow and was meant to be affordable, so it has a minimal amount of memory and no fancy things like OLED.

I hope someone else has a good recommendation. Mind with Android, it's the entire ecosystem meant to invade your privacy, so the apps as well. Try to stick to open-source apps from the F-Droid store.

[–] Electricd@lemmybefree.net 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Try to stick to open-source apps from the F-Droid store.

That was my plan

Unfortunately there aren’t many tablets out there with official LineageOS support. Here’s the list, you can filter by device type “tablet”: https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/

I was checking it and yea, there isn't much, sadly.

I have an old Galaxy S6 Lite

I saw that the Galaxy S5e had a great screen but I was afraid the chip was going to be slow as fuck, and it doesn't seem great

So my only real choice is a Pixel tablet then? Might wait for some promo, I find it pretty expensive

I was also considering the Xiaomi Pad 5 which is supported by /e/OS and is much more affordable

[–] hendrik@palaver.p3x.de 2 points 3 months ago

/e/OS support and the Xiaomi Pad sounds alright as well. However... It says community supported, so I'm not sure whether they keep up in the future. And the build I found is Android 13, so they're already at least 2 versions behind, which isn't great.

[–] leave_it_blank@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

I got the Lenovo Tab M10 Plus 3rd Gen three or so years ago for watching movies when away. There was almost no crap pre installed, and what remained I could uninstall.

Av1 and vp9 usually works, there is the occasional file that acts weird. Hevc, whatever the bit depth, resolution or encoding method works flawlessly.

It has a Qualcomm SDM680 processor, it's also available with a less powerful one, but the one I mentioned has definitely enough power to play 4k 10bit TrueHD whatever.

[–] Electricd@lemmybefree.net 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

so you kept the stock OS?

[–] leave_it_blank@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Forgive me, I must have missed the last paragraph. Yes, it's running standard Android. But since there is almost no bloatware it might be worth looking into.

[–] Electricd@lemmybefree.net 1 points 3 months ago

alright, but still, google play services having access to my location at all time and being able to leak my IP and stuff is annoying to me

[–] tal@lemmy.today 1 points 3 months ago

Note that that'll have an IPS LCD display.