Here’s a summary of the article and the seven key points mentioned about switching to GrapheneOS:
Summary: The article discusses GrapheneOS, a secure, privacy-focused mobile operating system based on Android. It highlights the benefits of switching to GrapheneOS, its features, compatibility, and user experience. The article also addresses potential concerns and provides information on reverting to standard Android if desired.
The seven things you should know before switching to GrapheneOS:
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Compatibility: Currently only supported on Google Pixel devices (Pixel 3 or newer) due to their strong hardware-based security features.
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App compatibility: Most apps are compatible, but some may require alternatives. A sandboxed version of Google Play can be installed for popular apps.
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User interface: Similar to standard Android, but with enhanced privacy controls and a decluttered, ad-free experience.
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Regular updates: Frequent security updates are provided to protect against the latest threats.
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Community support: A dedicated community of users and developers is available to offer help and tips.
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Reversibility: It’s possible to switch back to standard Android if you don’t like GrapheneOS.
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Privacy and security features: Includes end-to-end encryption, revocable permissions, randomized MAC addresses, and strict app data access controls.
My point is that “stock” is not a “standard”. If anything GrapheneOS is more standard.
Right. It’s different in that it lacks Google Framework Service, and adds a bunch of privacy controls, like additional quick toggles to control the cameras, and microphone, the way other Android can quick toggle the flashlight and location servcies and bluetooth.
The biggest thing is substantially more granular per app permissions, controlled from a calentral interface in settings.
Or any other rom, really. Stock, which is the Google version of Android, but the pixel line is well supported by lineage and other variants.
Haha no worries 😅 I always appriciate summarys myself so I thought I would pay it forward
No mention of the mental instability of the founder and the toxicity of the Dev team?
Pointing the blame away is not the right answer. Also it does not happen in Lineage OS, Calyx OS and many other similar projects.
Does android auto work? Last I herd it did not…
Well, now I know what my next phone is. Does it work on the latest Pixel or does it have to be a previous version?
It does work on the Pixel 9 Generation and even on the Pixel Fold 9 and Pixel Tab.
It works on the latest pixels
For how long will the older pixel phones be supported? Is it worth it to buy a cheaper older model like pixel 6 and have graphene in it?
Cause I’m not giving more than 200-300 for a phone. I’ll stick to cheap android phones that lack nothing compared to expensive phones for my needs.
https://endoflife.date/pixel This is for googles support. GOS may support a specific device a little longer than google but does not promise to and recomends getting a newer device.
Pixel 8a looks real good right now.
5a is EoL so no headphone jack for you. This is a nonstarter for portable devices to me.
USB C to AUX adapters work for me.
Having a secure and up to date device should likely be more important
Wait what do the android updates have to do with Graphene? Does the phone need to still be supported by Google and android for Graphene to be secure and work?
Yes. Many security updates come from upstream AOSP and then are put into GOS.
So when a device has stopped getting AOSP updates, it is unreasonable for GOS to continue support it. They can and I believe they have applied more critical security patches to just barely EOL devices, but this isn’t promised or expected.
They have a list of dates on their FAQ for different devices. It sounds like you may get a few more years beyond when Google cuts off official support. https://grapheneos.org/faq#device-lifetime
Can someone give an example of an app that doesn’t work? I always hear about apps that do work, but is it mostly banking or some other category that doesn’t work typically?
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Some banking apps allegedly don’t work but i have never encountered one. If your bank has a mobile accessible website, it’s basically a non-issue.
google wallet is not required to be tied to any bank accounts, and US does not even support NFC within banking apps.
More specifically, Play Integrity API will fail on the Play Service integrity check. If I recall correctly, this is why Google Pay won’t work on GrapheneOS.
Some banks require the app to be used as second factor to log into their website.
Like you said, banking apps. The logic behind that is they use google to security check their apps. A random non-bank example would be the slick deals app. Without play services it would just open then crash.
Many apps use play services for their notification system. So for instance, proton mail works fine but notifications do not.
NFC is not supported, so anything that uses that won’t work.
Not an app, but I was surprised that widgets don’t work unless you’re in the primary profile. Technically they work on any profile, but they randomly get deleted, and frequently. It’s a known bug that probably will never get fixed because the source of it comes from stock android.
I will mention that you can have a profile running play services, which gives you access to many apps that wouldnt normally work. And it’s sandboxed so it has less impact on your information (I don’t know all the specifics but it does limit in some way how much it can snoop into the rest of the OS). Then you can also set up granular controls on your apps to limit them from snooping.
Thanks! I don’t think this will work for me. Where I live, most of the payments are made directly through banking apps by scanning a qr-code.
Yeah, that’s why I mentioned having a secondary profile. Some stuff like bank apps you just can’t get away from so a profile with play services running is a workable solution. If you have a pixel phone already, you can give it a shot. One very nice feature of GOS is that it’s super easy to install - and uninstall if it’s not for you.
NFC payments also don’t work. Non-starter for me
google wallet in general will not work.
also bank apps utilizing NFC is not a thing in the US
Why not? You van set up a separate profile and install gplay services so pretty much anything would work under these conditions I assume
