Nope, Android itself is not restrictive, it's the extra add-ons by vendors that cause restrictions.
This is it.
I switched to Pixel phones ordered from Google. I can replace the software with whatever and not worry about breaking an eFuse warranty.
If they are going to restrict sideloading, they'll probably restrict bootloader unlocking too. In the future, just make sure you research the bootloader unlockablility before buying a phone, because the next pixel might be locked.
It's cellular providers who restrict bootloader locking generally. But you're right but that would go against the grain as the Pixel series are designed to be the flagship for AOSP
AOSP at the very least, but the average consumer doesn't really care much about Google Play Services or their Mainland China substitutes (obv cos great firewall).
Nope, Android itself is not restrictive, it's the extra add-ons by vendors that cause restrictions.
This is it.
I switched to Pixel phones ordered from Google. I can replace the software with whatever and not worry about breaking an eFuse warranty.
If they are going to restrict sideloading, they'll probably restrict bootloader unlocking too. In the future, just make sure you research the bootloader unlockablility before buying a phone, because the next pixel might be locked.
It's cellular providers who restrict bootloader locking generally. But you're right but that would go against the grain as the Pixel series are designed to be the flagship for AOSP
AOSP at the very least, but the average consumer doesn't really care much about Google Play Services or their Mainland China substitutes (obv cos great firewall).