I don't care if anyone has a Xiaomi, Oneplus, Samsung, etc. Each brand is using a modified version of Android, and they chose to be compatible with each other. But for example the "blue vs green bubble" drama is a thing specifically because of Apple locking their unsuspecting users into a closed ecosystem. And it sure isn't Android's fault for not being compatible with it.
The more power a company like this gains, the worse will it be for the whole industry.
And do those phones that have been degoogled solve the issue of all the slave labor along the production chain?
And even if you install a ROM... You're still supporting them. You're funding Google.
I'm sorry dude but you're comparing apples to apples. They're both horrible disgusting companies, and there really is no picking the morally correct side.
Google is not a good company by any means, but when you buy their Pixel it's your device. You can unlock its bootloader and install whichever OS you like. And even with the stock Android you've always been free to do anything. There are no features built into Android that lock you in and force the other side to buy one as well. Whereas Apple's iMessage is available on iPhones only, peer pressuring others into buying one. Saying that buying an iPhone and an Android phone is morally the same is dishonest at the least. Especially since Android is just an open platform and each manufacturer is using their own modified version. Brands such as Xiaomi or Huawei went even beyond the software skin and optimized their ROMs to run especially well with their own hardware. If you buy an iPhone, you are forcing those around you into buying a specific device made by a specific company that loves playing Monopoly a bit too much.
I will admit the openness is why I chose one disgustingly evil company over the other. You do have a point there. But there is no getting over the fact that Google is doing serious damage in many ways and just because you managed to uninstall all their spyware when you bought a pixel or any android device you are still funding that. You personally help them grow and become more of a problem for the Internet at large.
And I like that you completely glossed over the biggest point... That they both profit off of slave labor. And of course child labor.
But hey open software means slaves are not as bad right?
Like I said, an Android phone does not equal a Pixel made by Google. If you are concerned about where the resources used to manufacture your device are from, get a Fairphone and flash Lineage/CalixOS on it. That way you are "supporting" Google in the smallest possible way and you can still use a smartphone.