this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2025
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Already using GrapheneOs on my phone, so fuck Google.
Wait until Google locks the bootloader.
I know that the GrapheneOS team have mumbled about the possibility of working on their own device. Although, this would probably be a long way off if it ever did come to fruition.
Maybe shit like this will push them down that road faster. We need options for sure.
Sucks that it only works on devices made by Google though..
But, what happens when Google decides to no longer the option to unlock the bootloader for future phones? It's the future that is the concern when it comes to the degoogle options available.
Then the community shifts to a different model, or puts more resources behind mobile Linux projects, and all that would need to happen is something like what Valve did for Linux for the Steam Deck.
I'm ready to switch to a Linux phone as soon as I can find one where the basic phone features work properly (MMS, wake from sleep, camera, etc). The more people like me can switch, the closer we'll be to mainstream adoption. That's the same process as Linux has been going through: I switched before Steam on Linux was a thing, then Steam came and more switched, then Proton made windows games work and more switched, etc, and now we're seeing the start of "normal" people switching.
I hope that happens before my Pixel 8 goes out of support or breaks.
https://furilabs.com/shop/flx1/
I'm already seriously considering giving this a go as my next phone soon. My current phone is desperately in need of replacement.
If it goes well I will be vocal about it.
If I were to switch to a Linux phone I'd want it to be made for an open and trusted OS, not the (unknown to me at least) manufacturers own.
Is it good?
It's very "meh..." with the added benefit of several (non-google) apps not working (/s). I choose to live with this inconvenience, but it still bothers me that my smartphone is significantly less useful in my daily life.
You always have a choice. You can ditch your morals entirely, give up, be subservient to the capitalists and give your identity over fully to the system like the good little consumer slave you are and enjoy your normie life looking at your normie phone and toss us all out as tinfoil-hatted weirdos who almost convinced you to make your life worse for the sake of self-sufficiency, independence and privacy.
No one in the real world will ever know, care, or judge you. Only you will know that you gave up, that every location you exist in is known about by someone behind a monitor being overseen by fascists. Every day! You can live with that, right? That's a small thing to give up in the grand scheme of things, isn't it? At least Youtube loaded today, right? It's all worth it, lol.
Just remember to type "thanks" in google keyboard whenever you want them to know you appreciate them. They log it.
Oh yes I forgot that pointing out the flaws in privacy-related things, so people who are interested in switching know what they're potentially getting in to, is a big NoNo here...all hail the perfect FOSS which can do no wrong.
Don't feel pressured by me. If you feel pressured yourself, it may be a form of projected guilt.
If you don't find privacy and security important enough to give up your connectivity or usability, that's perfectly fine. I don't have to live with it.
The purity tests are so exhausting
People crying crocodile tears about "purity tests" are even more exhausting to listen to. It's a thought-terminating cliche.
If somebody is passionate and principled about a subject... and that is in conflict with your complacency and apathy - stop engaging, please.
Dead Kennedys were prophetic when they named one of their albums "Give me convenience or give me death".
Honestly, smart phones being less useful in daily life is probably a good thing.
Having not used default Android for many years now, what makes GrapheneOS worse (aside from a few apps not working - which isn't an issue I've had, fortunately)?
GrapheneOS is not worse than other custom ROMs, never said it was. it's a mediocre experience best described with a "meh..." and a shrug.
Sorry, I was asking about GrapheneOS vs stock Android. I assumed that your comments on it were in comparison to stock Android since that's what the previous user most likely was asking for.
The answer is the same, very average.
Yes, ive had zero issues with it 👍
You have to pay google to use it (only works on pixel phones afaik).
There's a thriving used market with significant discounts if you're willing to go 1-2 models back from the latest ones.
I went from 15 years of iPhones directly to Graphene, without really messing with Android in between, so my experience has been a STEEP learning curve, followed by a fairly hum-drum experience. But honestly, that's fine. I want my phone to take more of a back seat and not be something I keep needing to worry about.
My banking app doesn't work in Graphene, but the website does, so I don't really mind.
It could that there's a whole bunch of shit I'm missing, but mostly it's... fine.
The issue isn't that. It's that devs may juat abandon projects if they're too naughty for Google cos the custom ROM crowd is so tiny.
Right so think torrent clients, idk, Pornhub app, that sort of thing. Yeah, it doesn't affect your phone. But it absolutely will affect what software is available at all should Google clamp down on this.
What kind of phone?
I want to know, too. I got a Samsung s23 when my last phone suddenly died and I only then realized thar it wasn't compatible.
The joke is that GrapheneOS only works on Google Pixel phones.
Fuck Google!
Gives Google $900
I spent a mere $500 for my Pixel 9a. Most expensive phone I've ever owned. But at least I can send a text message from inside my house and make phones from out in my yard now.
Eh, I got a used Pixel 8 for $350 or so, and it works great with GrapheneOS.
My gold standard is a proper Linux phone, but those aren't reliable enough yet, so using Google's phone is the next best option.
I noticed that, and they are expensive.
Bought a Pixel 7a new below 350 EUR last december. Buying used is also an option.
That is reasonably priced. I have another year on my current phone before it is paid off. I armored it up like there is no tomorrow so it should last without a breakage.
I had a problem for years of buying cases and tempered glass for my phone since I had a phone break BECAUSE of those things.