You can actually deny the permission popup every time and still use the application. As far as I've found, no actual data exchange happens if you do that. However, that does mean clicking the deny button every damn time you open one of the system apps.
Thay being said, I haven't found that many things that Xiaomi is sending to the cloud that Google isn't sending already. The calculator uses exchange rates, the file explorer had a whole bunch of cloud features as a core selling point and there's various antivirus and other such tooling built into most applications. With Google there's a single checkbox that says "I agree, upload everything", with Xiaomi there's popups for each app.
I don't trust Xiaomi but I haven't found any concrete evidence of the supposed data leaks as long as you turn off ALL the cloud stuff.
I don't use the built-in web browser because built-in web browsers have always been proven to be crap to me so I can't comment on that.
My pihole history is mostly filled with American trackers. The occasional MIUI URL gets filtered out, but I'm honestly not as worried about the data it's trying to submit.
I bought my phone when it was relatively new hoping that I'd receive official LineageOS support. That didn't work out, but so far I haven't had any trouble with MIUI to be honest. The data collection seems to be on par with the average American or Korean ROM, although that could be because it was sold in the EU area.
> As far as I've found, no actual data exchange happens if you do that.
What research have you done on the matter?
> I haven't found that many things that Xiaomi is sending to the cloud that Google isn't sending already.
Two people find you and take your wallet. One says your wallet was empty and the other says you can have it back if you just keep walking.
Both are just as evil.
> I don't trust Xiaomi but I haven't found any concrete evidence of the supposed data leaks as long as you turn off ALL the cloud stuff.
Oh yeah sure. That's great. Nothing stops Xiaomi from pushing an "update" to reset the settings. Or, like Apple, from pushing "new features" that are automatically turned on "for your convenience"
I've put a TLS intercepting proxy between my phone and the internet. Most traffic flows towards Google (either sync or analytics). I do it every now and then to see if any of the apps I recently installed contain any funny trackers.
> Both are just as evil.
But one of them is completely vilified by mainstream media while the other is vilified by tech nerds and politicians disliking search results that call out their racism.
Of course all of the stalking is bad, but there's no reason to call out any specific company here.
> Oh yeah sure. That's great. Nothing stops Xiaomi from pushing an "update" to reset the settings. Or, like Apple, from pushing "new features" that are automatically turned on "for your convenience"
I'll be pissed when that happens, but the annoyance with having to turn that shit off is worth the €400 I saved by going with a cheap Chinese phone. I don't make Silicon Valley money, that stuff counts.
Thay being said, I haven't found that many things that Xiaomi is sending to the cloud that Google isn't sending already. The calculator uses exchange rates, the file explorer had a whole bunch of cloud features as a core selling point and there's various antivirus and other such tooling built into most applications. With Google there's a single checkbox that says "I agree, upload everything", with Xiaomi there's popups for each app.
I don't trust Xiaomi but I haven't found any concrete evidence of the supposed data leaks as long as you turn off ALL the cloud stuff.
I don't use the built-in web browser because built-in web browsers have always been proven to be crap to me so I can't comment on that.
My pihole history is mostly filled with American trackers. The occasional MIUI URL gets filtered out, but I'm honestly not as worried about the data it's trying to submit.
I bought my phone when it was relatively new hoping that I'd receive official LineageOS support. That didn't work out, but so far I haven't had any trouble with MIUI to be honest. The data collection seems to be on par with the average American or Korean ROM, although that could be because it was sold in the EU area.