Last Updated on July 2, 2025 by pg@petergamma.org
The following usb-c adapter:
which can be found on Aliexpress works surprisingly good with my Google Pixel 6 Pro.
- I can charge the phone over the adapter
- cable Ethernet works over the adapter
- the integrated micro SD card reader works.
- It is possible to read and write with the phone on a micro SD card.
A feature which does not work anymore with the internal SD card of Android phones.
- If I plug an usb 3 micro SD card reader in the usb 3 plug of the usb- adapter, reading and writing to the SD card in the reader works as well.
So with this adapter, data exchange from my Google Pixel 6 Pro to a PC works without a cloud over an SD card plugged into the external adapter
Then I added the following keyboard I found on Aliexpress
This makes out of the Google Pixel 6 Pro the Office device I was hoping the Pinephone, but it was not:
https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=16614
According to the Softmaker Office forum, Samsung Dex works with Softmaker for Android. But yet another feature which is only supported by some Samsung phones, or newer Google phones. And who wants to depend on Samsung and Google Inc?
An option is to make NextCloudPi to my daily companion. If I use a Windows PC, a Linux PC, and an Android phone, NextCloudPI is a good solution for file exchange and data storage.
- Furthermore, I will also use a small router with my Android phone. So I have no Wifi connection, but connect my Android phone over a cable ethernet to the router.
So this is now my solution I was hoping the Pinephone would offer. The Pinephone can also to this. But in every step I tried with the Pinephone, there where issues. Until I finally gave up the Pinephone.
This device is a but bulky. But still handier than a solution based on a Raspberry Pi 4, which would be an alternative.
I am actually against synchronizing around private data. And I was quiet happy with my SD card solution, where all my private data are stored. So NextCloudPi is only my second choice. For a while ago, I used teamviewer, and I was quiet happy with it. Teamviewer as become very commercial now. But there are alternatives.
I am quiet happy with the above shown adapter, which allows me to have cable etherned connection to my Android phone. And teamviewer can also be used without the internet. Search for “TeamViewer without the internet” on YouTube.
SCRCPY, screencopy is also a great solution. But not so handy to start it each time. Teamviewer should work fine with android phone, and has been developed over the last 10 years.
- The Google Pixel 6 Pro allows to flash costum roms on it. The above experiments where done with the stock OS, which is Android 14.
- One of my Pixel 6 Pro s runs GrapheneOS. I did some tests and it worked. I only had the issue that I was not able to pair my Sony 1000 xm4 on it
- Then I have another Google Pixel 6 Pro where I wanted to flash iodéOS on it. I have some troubles that there is a PIN on it of the pre-owner.
- I would prefer to do all of this with a device like the Pinephone. But currently the Google Pixel 6 Pro fit s better for my needs
- But I am waiting that Google locks down their devices so that they cannot be reflashed.
- So I am looking for another solution.
- I suppose I will have multiple devices in the future.
- My favorite among these are the Raspberry Pi 4, the Orange Pi 5 and the Raspberry Pi zero 2 w.
- But non of those currently fit s my needs
- What I won t do is use a Raspberry Pi 5 for developments, so that Raspberry Pi Inc. can pull it from the market and offer it to their costumers from the industry.
- I tried hard to find an alternative to the Raspberry Pi s.
- There are some.
- But since as Jeff Geerling once said “nobody even needs Raspberry Pi s”, do not choose the latest Pi for your project. And you can find the older Pi s on Ricardo Switzerland and eBay. They are always on stock there. And they are worth the money they are sold there. And they can be refurbished.
- With the above usb-c ethernet adapter, when connected to a router, I was able to connect to the ethernet over this connection. And on the phone, there was an i.p adress indicated on the phone. These is all i tested with this adapter as far as ethernet is concerned.