If you’re on Android, try InnerTune via FDroid. No subscription required, easy to find music. It has reasonable recommendations for music, but not the same standards as Spotify. If you buy a DAP and microSD card, or a mobile phone that takesmicrSD cards. After that, just download any and all music you like and play anytime, anywhere without neededing a data connection.
With Chinese phones, we have no real way of knowing where the spyware is. It may may be baked into the main OS, the added apps or other. Your safest bet would be a new ROM. ADB requires knowing which apps to pull out and unless someone has identified them, you’ll largely be guessing. Debloater will only remove what it knows about, so better than nothing. Whatever you do, I’d suggest something like RethinkDNS, or Netguard. These type of apps can go a great job of locking down anything that tries to connect to the outside world. It’s easier than it sounds, you simply select and allow at all the apps that you want to have connection.
Summary New ROM or ADB or Debloater plus, RethinkDNS or Netguard or similar.
I try for minimum 3 for fast or slow uploads. Generally my max is 5. It depends upon the total number of concurrent seeding files Slower torrents, I’ll just leave seeding. Some may still be below 1 after a month. If they have such low use, I can afford the small bandwidth and data impact.
The lowtech option is to connect your device physically. I do this in hotels and at home. USB C to HDMI output. Connection cables are relatively cheap, and easily long enough for most use cases.
Shaved off
Thanks really to the chap who similarly brought it to my attention. I use it in the car and at work.