You can also buy it preinstalled on a fairphone through Murena’s website. And the bootloader is locked.
I understand installing e/os yourself sometimes gets you stuck with an unlocked bootloader. I have no idea if that’s true for Nothing phones, but thought I’d post up an alternative for those concerned about that.
Hoping that phones running e/OS wouldn’t count as certified android devices anymore. Especially if they don’t have Google Play Services on them.
“Starting in September 2026, Android will require all apps to be registered by verified developers in order to be installed on certified Android devices”
EDIT: Found this from last August:
https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/26/android_developer_verification_sideloading/
The restrictions will apply to certified Android devices, meaning Google-approved and including the core Google apps and services. Most Android devices fall into this category, though niche options exist, such as mobiles running /e/OS, a de-Googled version of Android, or the open source LineageOS. The downside of using non-Google Android from a consumer perspective is that some apps might not install, such as those that use the Play Integrity API to verify that the app is “installed by Google Play, running on a genuine Android device.”
I came so close… Didn’t know about flash paper. Thought magicians used tissues. Dropped a burning tissue into a pile of stuffed animals. Smothered the flames with the stuffies. And was then amazed that my parents never smelled the smoke, or noticed me popping windows to desperately air out my bedroom.
… and what?! Did they get to you?!