I was wondering what y’all think about Chinese phones like Xiaomi, Huawei, and TCL, mainly in the realm of security and privacy. I ask because the deals are so good (especially when on a budget) considering the chips they pack, which is mainly the case with Xiaomi. I understand that value is often a result of government subsidies. I also understand that there are security issues, but how deep do they run?
I am considering getting one and flashing it with another operating system. My question is mainly around the fact that I can't change the firmware, and I am buying the hardware (So replacing it is out of the question.). How safe am I if I install a new operating system to get rid of the bloatware and spyware the phones come with? I was mainly looking at the Poco X8 and similar phones; this one in particular comes with a MediaTek Dimensity 8500 and costs below $400.
This is all conceptual because I understand putting a new operating system on a Chinese phone can be challenging. However, I am willing to tackle the endeavor for the impeccable value, as long as I am convinced I have some level of security.