i know you said no pixel, however … Pixel + GrapheneOS works great and easy to install.

GrapheneOS takes the google spyware out of pixel. However, it does add a slightly steeper learning curve to Android. Not too bad, just a few more options to poke at.

It doesn’t cut you off from the google play store, instead sandboxing it preventing from accessing data outside its own service. This is important if you need specific apps for work, bank, etc.

For open-source apps F-Droid app store is your friend.

Unfortunately, GrapheneOS only works for pixel. There are other options you could look into such as LinageOS, but those goes beyond my personal knowlage. Specifically you want a phone that allows you unlock the bootloader.

Avoid Samsung like the plague.

Any version of Android that comes pre-installed is going to have Google Spyware and bloat. Manufactures, especially Samsung, spin up their own version of Android so then you have both Googles bloat and Samsung bloat.

“You can’t download more ram if you don’t see the ad”