I’d go with CalyxOS. Install is also easy, but graphene touts allowing Google play services to be used… The very part of the picture that drew you to this comments section. You don’t have to install it in graphene, but then almost no apps work right.
CalyxOS use microG, a fully open-source spoof of Google play that is super light on battery, allows most apps to work fine (including banking), etc. Some apps like Pokemon go don’t, however.
Graphene sandboxes Google services heavily, and is enabled and used only at user discretion. It doesn’t get higher priority than any other user application on the device. Calyx is alright but I would recommend Graphene much more than Calyx. I don’t like either of these though unless you are a privacy nut. If you just want to get out of Google, LineageOS works plenty well although without many of the creature comforts of a stock ROM.
I wish graphene supported microG. They’ve decided running closed-source Google (user-level app or not) is the best option, and I disagree.
I’m glad there’s options though.
divest has all the graphene hardening and have unprivileged microg, it also runs on a much wider range of devices.
Thank you for your full explanation, kind stranger. Ill give it a good going over!
Cheers!