Isn’t Graphene Android?
this post was submitted on 21 Jul 2025
233 points (97.2% liked)
GrapheneOS
879 readers
5 users here now
An unofficial discussion community for anyone interested in GrapheneOS.
Helpful links:
Official Graphene OS Discussion Forum
List of official Matrix channels and other contact sources.
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
It's a stripped-down and much more secure version of android, yes. Google is optional and sandboxed on GOS.
It’s just sad I need to pay a couple hundred bucks for a google phone for the privilege of deegoogling…
Buy used, cheaper + no money tk google (directly at least)
Android with actual privacy controls: camera blocking, mic blocking, storage space definitions, google play store NOT integrated directly into the phone. Control on USB port so connected devices can be 100% ignored. 5-7years of security updates. Etc.
5-7years of security updates.
Now that is the real deal!
That's just the same support window that google provides for the pixels though
It is. And that's why its the best choice to run GrapheneOS, you get full 7 year support in a non Google OS. Other OSs exist but Graphene is on par with the major player
My point being that they only provide a long support window because that's how long the manufacturer provides firmware and driver support for. They do offer a few extra updates for older unsupported devices but:
We provide extended support releases as a stopgap for users to transition to the far more secure current generation devices.
But lineageOS or /e/OS may not provide the 7 years for pixel. Because it is still effort to maintain an offshoot even if you have source code.
Good point
Not to be a bummer, but GrapheneOS will forever by small and unrecognised as long as it is Pixel only.
I get their perspective, and I don't balme them, but an OS that only works on one lineup of phones that isn't even that popular in many countries, and needs to be sideloaded? It just inherently can't be very popular
They're working on that with an OEM. But right now, Pixels are the only ones meeting their security features requirements.
Once they move to hardware the isn't Google owned and is available in the eu I'll switch
Did they say which OEM they are collaborating with? A first party GrapheneOS phone would be a huge deal
Not disclosed yet. I assume the OEM and maybe also Graphene won't be comfortable disclosing that info until they get close to the release.
"Canadians want an alternative to Android"
Graphene requires Google hardware
Dead in the water. LineageOS and others can be loaded to a whole bunch o'phones.
Graphene for some weird reason decided to grab the bull by the tail. First you need to have the hardware you want, then cones the software. The safest product out there is useless if it can not be used.
It's not dead in the water though. After weighing up all my options, I decided buying a Pixel and immediately putting GrapheneOS on it was better for my privacy and security than getting another non-Google phone, and going through whatever processes required for whatever de-Googled Android ROM on that phone.
I don't like giving money to Google, but when I weighed up all the options this was still the best course for me. Of course, this is just my experience and reasoning.
Besides, it sounds like GrapheneOS is in talks with other OEMs so we may see support in other non-Google devices!
About damn time.
They should have fund raised to have their own custom phone made awhile ago. Not only would it ensure better stability for the long term future of the project, but would rely less on Google.
Of course, Google is still trying to stop all android custom ROM development so that's still an issue. But had they had their own phone made then Google would have to give them expanded access anyway.
Hope PostmarketOS can keep on developing well, because ideally we can get something more universal that's not dependant on Android in the first place past emulating apps.
Take a look at the security functions the Pixel platform hardware provides. It isn't optional.
Does it work with banking apps?
Are there killer features in banking apps that are not available via the bank's website? I understand that different people have different workflows, but for me, I tend to use websites over apps wherever possible.
I can't do mobile deposits on the website, which is a pretty important feature for me.
Yes
And many other apps I use for streaming don't work at all.
Some banks restrict many features behind a "trusted computing" requirement.
Scotiabank works
Seems to work with USAA, though I haven't tried depositing a check yet.
It works for RBC in Canada.
USA here, it works with both my national banks and local credit union apps. One of my credit card apps gives me a pop-up on every page that it won't work because there's no Google play services, but it actually just works anyway. Had to turn exploit compatibility mode off for a couple of them though
I have a second hand pixel with graphene, but what we really need is something that isn't downstream of google. If enough people switched to graphene so that it actually hurt google, I'm sure they could do things to make life hard for alternative android based systems.
GrapheneOS is Android though.
**Conditions apply
Why is this specific to Canadians. Wouldn't everyone want this?
There's also CalyxOS my guys