What speaks against torrents with mullvad?

The google services are preinstalled they’ll send data nonetheless

I recommend you to root your phone. With a rooted device you can debloat your phone very easily with UAD (universal Android debloater) for example. Delete any Google related app and of course any diagnostic app from OnePlus. After you deleted Googles apps including gms (!) You can install microG via an magisk module named microG installer for magisk. You don’t need the Playstore, use Aurora instead. But first search on Fdroid if there is an opensource alternative for what you’re looking for.

All of this might take an evening, but after it, you have peace of mind. Note that for root, you’ll have to unlock the bootloader. This will wipe your data, so do a backup beforehand.

If you want to, I can give you a more detailed guide.

With root, it is not hard at all. You just net the “fix safetynet check” module for magisk. After that you’ll need to hide root within magisk: Hide magisk + Zygisk + enforce denylist. Some of the Apps might still detect the Magisk App somehow but for that, I recommend you “Hail” from Fdroid. It freezes / deactivates the apps you want and thaws them, whenever needed. In the frozen state, magisk won’t be detected, as it seems uninstalled to other apps. Hail is also incredibly nice for apps that drain your battery on idle. It is even possible to use GPay without any problems, though it is a bit tricky to set up for it to work. But there’s tutorials for that as well.

In Android 13, there are two different battery optimization steps, are you sure, signal is unoptimzied? I have had no issues at all. Even now without Google GMS, I receive them within 20 seconds. Edit: You can also bulk delete pictures fairly easy within Signal in the settings. Imho its the videos though, that take away the most memory.

What excactly dont you like about FF? The ability to add addons (on nightly, you can even add any Desktop add-on you like), tab containers / cookie jars, or the flawless syncing to desktop, including passwords and bookmarks?

I have done my research a few years ago and came to the solution, that there is no free method. You will need to pay for a service. I use smspva.com for registrations. But that only works, if you only need to read an sms once. After 10minutes or so, you will not have access to the inbox anymore. Depending on the service, you need a number for and the country you want it to be from, it costs between $0,10 to $1,5 per number. Sadly you have to pay a minimum balance of $5.