Define bloatware-
But generally speaking buying unlocked phones lack bloatware. Buying service provider versions of the phones usually have bloatware. I have an unlocked OP6, no bloatware to my standards. Buying a Verizon version, likely will have bloatware. Some unlocked phones might have bloatware, IMO Samsung comes to mind as an offender.
Also another interpretation of bloatware- persistent or non-persistent. Usually an unlocked phone will let you un-install most any app. Some phone’s lock in the bloatware and its impossible to un-install. Samsung was in the news for a while where some of their phones had facebook and it could not be removed. It made teh news when FB has been falling from grace + people figuring out you don’t even need to be logged into the app for it to create a profile on you, try to figure out who you are, gather bluetooth beacon data etc.
An unlocked google 4a should not have “bloatware”, unless you consider g-apps bloatware, in which case two options:
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put on your learning hat, search a lot of the threads here where many members have chimed in how rooting phones, installing tools, outputting logs etc to check the privacy/phoning home stuff etc. Explore threads such as:
De-Googlifying - my journey
And threads on flashing to Lineage OS or other ROMs witout G-apps. -
put on your tinfoil hat, buy a pinephone.