degoogle

Yes, you should install it right away, but be sure to check all hardware features first! (Cameras, flashlight, battery life, etc...) because if some are DOA, you need to return the phone before if has had its bootloader unlocked!

Good luck with Pixel hardware.

A very good friend gifted me with his old pixel 7a, and even got graphene on it before sending it.

I have no fucking clue how I would go back to anything else for my main device. I am genuinely antsy for the graphene team to announce whatever brand they're working with because I do hate Google.

But, fuck me, even the 7a on graphene is just so damn nice. Amazing battery life, everything is smooth animation wise, and I get to choose what is on it. It really is what android always should have been (for my preferences, I know it wouldn't be that perfect for everyone). I've had it for months now, and I'm still irrationally angry that it took moving to a degoogled/minimum Google set-up in Google hardware to find a phone so right for me. I'm also rationally angry that there's no sd card slot, but that's a different issue.

So, yeah, I highly recommend graphene if only from a user friendliness perspective.

Yeah, I'd definitely install it right away. There's really no reason not to - it's super easy to install over a browser (must be Chrome-based, unfortunately), and it's the best mobile OS experience I've ever had.

Edit: As the other comment said, make sure to get a Pixel with an unlocked bootloader! I never go through my provider for my phones, and always buy independently.

You should be able to buy the phone from Google instead of from your carrier, which will let you ensure it is not carrier locked.

If you are certain you want to switch to GOS you should install it right away.

If you are not sure about what you want you should use the pixel as is for a few days, then switch to GOS for a few days. (And see what you like the most)

I know you don't want to reset it but the fact that you are asking means you are not sure.

Maybe you can give additional information on why you would or wouldn't want to switch to GOS, that way I may be able to give you more usefull advice.

All phones are sold bootloader locked, even if not carrier locked.

Might i suggest getting a used pixel from swappa or on ebay instead?

The one att gives you will most likely be carrier and bootloader locked for a period of 30 or 90 days i forget which but its fairly common for providers to do this to prevent folks from getting a cheap subsidized phone and then dropping the contract. So youll probably be able to flash graphene eventually but there woukd be a wait.

Alternatively a used pixel 8 or 9 will come already unlockable and ready to go and cost less too.

How are they forcing you to change phones?

If you get the device from your carrier it will probably have the bootloader locked so that you can't remove their malware. Don't do this.