European mobile operating systems

A mobile operating system manages a phone's hardware and runs its apps, sitting between you, the software you install and the radio, camera and storage underneath. It decides which app stores you can use, how permissions are granted, how updates reach the device and how long it keeps getting security patches. Android and iOS dominate, but they are not the only options.

A phone knows your location, contacts and habits, and by default it reports a fair amount of that to whoever wrote the system. /e/OS and Sailfish OS are developed by European projects and companies, which puts the default accounts and services under EU rules. A European mobile operating system is a bigger commitment than most switches, so check supported devices and app availability first.