Google’s Android, the world’s most widely used mobile operating system, started life as open-source software. In its quest for ever-greater profits, the tech giant has been gradually eroding Android’s open-source nature over the last decade.
Originally published on The Lever, but that one asks you to sign up.
Only certain apps require play services, aurora store itself requires no play services. Just the potential for the apps you are trying to use. I’ve used F-Droid and aurora for years.