[Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite Guides, News, & Discussion] adriakus:
*I'm no dev., and some of the statements here might be technically innaccurate. Please, forgive and correct me. I'm just sharing my experience.

*I'm creating this thread following [MENTION=4456977]elvinguitar[/MENTION] 's request to list the apps/services safe to disable and how to do it.

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Introduction

I've been google-free ever since I've rooted my Nexus 5 and flashed AOSP. Everything worked like a charm. I even experienced longer battery life and better performance. I've done the same to a Samsung Galaxy S, Motorola Moto G 2015 and a couple other Samsung, BQ and Xiaomi devices I don't remember the model now (family and friends). Really happy with the process. Of cause, you cannot use most Google apps if you don't have the google services (framework?) running in the background (consuming resources and collecting all sort of data).

Only downside when disabling Google core services is that most apps out there in the market use google services to show up a map. If you don't have google services, you won't see a map. However, it is possible to "trick" the apps into calling for openmaps instead. I haven't tried, though.

Android One lets you disable most apps/services via the default settings menu. But there are still some of Google's tentacles fused into the core of your phone you cannot get rid of. But heck, it's something. We'll have to wait until the custom ROMs start showing up.

The reason

There are endless reasons to use all Google products. But there are endless reasons to avoid them. It's up to you what you want to do with your privacy. Despite privacy laws and promises, it's well known that your data, once online it's not longer only yours. And smartphones sensors combined with big data management, they are capable of infinite ways of recording your lifestyle. Camera (obvious), microphone (obvious + knowing where you are and what are you doing by the background noise), location(obvious), GSM/wifi/bluetooth (knowing where you are, who you are with...), body sensors/movement sensors (activity you are doing all the time)... Without being paranoid, unless you are a VIP you are not being followed, and if someone really wants to follow you, they'll do so even if you get rid of all this apps. But ALL YOUR data is being stored and analyzed for their own profit and linked (securely) to your persona. Now, it's only for economical profit, but indirect censorship is already taking place. Try doing some research for something rather unpopular and then try looking up a mainstream celebrity. You'll see the difference. I'm sure you've all heard about the China "Social credit" they want to develop in China. It's what big internet companies have been doing for a while now. Orwell's big brother all over. It's kinda scary if you ask me.

Some reading:

https://www.socialcooling.com/

https://donttrack.us/

Some alternatives to Google products we all use

An example of rogue censorship (one of millions)

Interesting infographic about how google knows you

But well... let's go to the bone. These are the apps and services I've tried to disable and some alternatives I use/consider.

I strongly recommend using a powerful firewall that blocks all internet communications unless you say otherwise. I use AFwall+ (root). There are other alternatives like NetGuard (no-root) that use VPN. This way, even if you have an app you want to use, but you don't want it to be communicating with the outside, you can have it (nothing is bulletproof, though). - Let me know if you want a lit of internet enabled apps/services, too.

Disabled APPs / services

Note that I uninstalled the apps when possible. The unistalled apps won't be in that list. Also, I've stopped the device initial set up progress and, therefore, some apps had never been installed to my device. So, they are safe to disable.

Disabled via the settings menu:

Calendar

Carrier services [MENTION=8237713]thorin0815[/MENTION] explained to me what they do. Thx.: "intended to allow you to take full advantage of RCS, which allows for extra features in the Android Messaging app)

Chrome

Contacts

Gboard

Gmail

Google

Google Backup Transport

Google Contacts Sync

Google One Time Init

Google Partner Set Up

Google Play Services

Google Services Framework

Market Feedback Agent

Messages

PAI

Photos

YouTube

Disabled via an app manager (root) or adb method without root

Device Setup

Feedback

Google Play Services

Spock

Google and tricky enabled apps I guess they can be disabled with no problem:

Android Setup

Android system webview (gotta look for an alternative)

Google text to speech engine

Maps

TalkBack

Google and tricky apps I do use and I won't disable because they are too critical for me (or I have no idea what they do and I'd rather not mess with them).

Android Services Library

Android Shared Library

Clock (there are alternatives, a lot. But it wakes me everyday, and it doesn't look to be to bad).

ConfigUpdater

PackageInstaller

Phone (I've tried a couple alternatives, but I didn't trust them (one crashed and the other one looked even worse (privacy-wise) than the original)

Print Service Recommendation Service

There are tons of other apps needed for the correct use of the device that shouldn't be disabled. Anything you can disable from the Settings/apps menu, you should be OK trying to disable it. Disable it, then try to use what you think the app might be used for, and if it works fine... there you go. Try and error! :)

Alternative APP to the disabled ones

When possible, I tried to use FOSS apps.

FOSS app catalog - F-Droid (most apps come from here)

Google Play - Yalp Store or Aurora store - Yalp works better, but Aurora is nicer. Both have Exodus Privacy check.

Maps - Here and OsmAnd (mountain) - there are a lot of good mapping apps out there.

Calendar - I use BusinesCalendar because I like the widget. But there are a lot of other apps. Eg.: SimpleCalendar. Personal preference.

Contacts - Again. Personal preference. I like the AOSP app.

Files - I have it. But I use Es File explorer. Not the best for privacy or anti-bloatware. But I like it.

Chrome - Firefox all the way! I use Firefox Beta. Previous versions of the non beta one used to be way slower compared to the beta one.

Gallery - Simple gallery

Mail - K-9 mail. It's ugly, but I love it. There is a material version. I also found another app worth trying, here in XDA, but cannot remember its name now. I'm switching to protonmail as my personal mail service (I still use Gmail, hotmail and others as I always have).

Phone - I use the stock app (google :( ) 'cause I didn't find a valid alternative.

Messaging - QKSMS. Signal is a neat app with more features and secure communication (thx [MENTION=8237713]thorin0815[/MENTION])

Keyboard - I use SwiftKey (internet blocked)

Calculator - AOSP calculator.

YouTube - I use WebTube. NewPipe is a valid option, too.

Camera - Check the discussion threads about the camera :)

If you have any app not listed here, post a comment and I'll add it. Also, if there is any error or you know something I don't, let me know and I'll correct. Same with the apps/services I have no idea what they do.