If this will continue to go on well… We (or me at least) will have to ditch smartphones (or move to Linux only ones).
Look, if bootloader not being able to unlock, there is no way to even get root (for me no root = brick). Phone without custom ROM (or at least ROOT to remove proprietary CRAP) is equal brick.
So I see following solutions:
Purge (with root or adb) OTA update app
It can (and probably will) cause you be more vulnerable because you won’t get fixes. So use this method only as temporary one or as last resort.
Buy another vendor
Once again. Temporary solution. As they can let walled too.
Move to dumbphone and Android emulator on Linux
For now the easiest solution. Bank or android only apps should (no guarantee) work properly on emulator. With Wayland and few hours you can even spoof imei for apps and they will (probably) not be able to detect VM.
Buy X86 device with full UEFI support
It is second more easy way. But much more expensive + there is almost all X86 devices is PC or tablets.
Try to buy Linux only phone
Looks good but: not all countries available for delivery (pain in ass), no guarantee service centers (like your Samsung or Apple stores each 500m). This will give you all you need and want. + Android emulator
Tin foil hat mode
Ditch smartphones, IOT and all this smart trackers etc entirely. Ditch even dumb phone. Buy modem that supports full AT interaction (4/5G, SMS, Calls etc) and make sure it supports AT+EGMR=1,7,"XXXXXXXXXXXXXX" (allows you to change IMEI, do not use frequently, only when changing SIM or better only if you are changing ISP or traveling between countries). I love this one: https://www.gl-inet.com/products/gl-m2/
Use it connected to your PC and make calls via it.
Ultra-mega-freak mode
Why? Because maybe someone will want to try?
Idea to use something like steamdeck with Linux flashed. It will add portability. But if you are doing so, better buy tablet with FULL (it is important becausethis will prevent manufacturer to make it walled remotely!) UEFI support.
Update: just searched good ones.
Here is what I found (all listed here supports NATIVE linux without something like bootloaders, flashing via PC or hard bricks):
- PinePhone Pro (boots OS images from microSD; full touchscreen phone hardware supported by Linux phone distros (postmarketOS, Mobian, Manjaro ARM builds). No bootloader unlock required. Sold new via PINE64). Headache to buy in some regions, but most perfect solution without caveats.
- PineTab 2 / PineTab. Same as above.
- PinePhone (all later community revisions sold new).
- Purism Librem 5 (and Librem 5 USA) — designed to run PureOS (Linux) natively; supports SD/USB recovery images and can install/boot alternative Linux distributions without vendor-locked bootloader. Touchscreen-capable phone. Sold new via Purism.
- Librem 11. Same as above.
- Volla Phone (current models sold new in 2025) — Volla focuses on alternative OS options (Volla OS, Ubuntu Touch, others) and some models support booting from recovery/SD images without forced bootloader unlocking — support varies by model. Double check if you will be okay with it.
- Fairphone. Still needs fasboot flash (pain in ass) but no locking into locked and walled garden.
- Xiaomi Mi Pad (selected older models reissued or community-supported new units). community ports (e.g., Ubuntu Touch, postmarketOS) exist for certain models. Untrustworthy, as vendor not really “open” for modifications.
- Microsoft Surface Pro (Surface Pro 9 / 10). Full X86. Native UEFI, full desktop x86 hardware. Linux support. Can boot/install from USB without unlocking. Personally I don’t trust Microsoft. But as option it should be listed.
- Lenovo ThinkPad X12 / ThinkPad L13 Standard UEFI / Lenovo Yoga Tab / IdeaPad Duet. Have UEFI, some people complained about capabilities.
- Chuwi / Teclast / Alldocube (Chinese OEMs) — Typically ship with UEFI and allow USB boot.
- HP Elite x2 / Spectre x360 - UEFI support.