Bigme B7 Pro unstable after debloating, was it worth it?
So I've seen alot of debloating threads on this subreddit and was eager to debloat my B7 Pro.
Yesterday evening (monday) I've finally took the time to set up my bigme as it was delivered on Friday morning.
I've encountered a few things and lessons I would want to share with anyone deciding wether to debloat or not.
Step 0: Updating to latest firmware
First of all updating the bigme was a hurdle on its own, BE PATIENT!
I thought it was stuck, so I clicked update again and as a result i had to factory reset my bigme, so please be patient else you will brick your bigme into an update loop without having done a single thing to it.
Step 1: Installing canta & shizuku
Nothing special here, just CTRL C and CTRL V both APK to your download map and open it on the reader.
Step 2: Use canta to delete all recommended apps and lists on reddit
So this is where the "fun" began. I've encountered a few lists and deleted the ones deemed save.
Step 3: Profit?
Well this was where i was thinking, was it all worth it?
- Bigme os5 became very unstable
- Duraspeed is still installed as not everyone recommended deleting this.
- 4GB Ram available before debloat, 4,5GB ram available after debloat, not as big increase as expected
- Device seems a bit more responsive, if the buggs dont occurs (F.e. Bigme os5 has stopped working)
- All app icons of deleted apps were still there and now causing bigme os to fail over and over, ended up combining them all in a folder to declutter, all apps just say "app is not installed" leaving their icon
- Browser is gone after debloating, not a big issue but still for downloading apks maybe a bit a pain
- Disabled all google play related services in hopes to reduce power drain, i solely use Mihon anyways for reading manwhas.
- Gboard was preinstalled so i had no issue with disappearing keyboards luckily
- Data management app is removed during debloating with canta and lists online, so to acces your data files you now have to navigate to Settings -> Storage -> and then something like all data. It will just open the android explorer with all yours maps and data. I used this to put APK's on my bigme through my PC.
- Power saving settings and customizeable keys stopped working due to the debloat. Keymapper can solve the customizable keys issue, all be it a hurdle to remap the keys, but the powersaving disabling with the debloat seems strange, but perhaps its not needed.
- Power drain before debloating was approximately from not using the unit at all for days. 69% at arrival on Friday -> 20% before doing the debloat on monday evening. So without using the device at all for days the power drain in standby was 49%. Keep in mind, No wifi was connected, no google play account connected, no bluetooth, no airplane mode, no power saving settings tweaks. Just factory settings nothing more.
Step 4: Data (current)
I have charged it last night to 91% before bed and havent touched it so the power drain would be mainly focussed on standby mode, I have wifi turned on and as most power saving settings are unavailable I've no clue wether my device will turn of all wifi etc. on standby or deep sleep or w.e.
Expectations:
I've read people who got 10-15 days of battery life with debloating and disabling google play services. Based on the factory settings power drain I would've had approximately 5-6 days on standby not using the device at all.
To achieve 15 days, with all the tweaking, if I take my bigme tonight (24 hrs after the last charge) I would expect it to have dropped with at most 6-7%. If nothing has been achieved at all, it would've been reduced with 14-16%.
Debloating is not worth it if powerdrain >10% IMO. The system has become way more buggy and less user friendly, although still doable, but if the drain still occurs with its usual pace, I rather factory reset it again and just disable google play services and perhaps just stuff like bigme gpt as i have no use case for it. Customizeable keys and power save settings i would rather keep then deleting them.