Just started 2 weeks ago with graphene Os on a pixel 8 pro , love it already
this post was submitted on 11 Sep 2025
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Constantly, to the point where I'm considering what concessions I would have to make to start using a linux phone. I've also considered the possibility of reverting to not having a phone anymore and supplementing my communication needs through other means.
It's definitely getting to that point, especially with the new stuff google is trying to pull.
yes, but my phone isnt supported. I'm looking a lot at mobile linux but thats still a ways off.
I use GrapheneOS. IDK if it will still be available when support for my current phone's support runs out. I'm kinda thinking about some kind of dumbphone if Android becomes too difficult to harden. A linux phone would be nice, but the options that exist so far are pretty expensive or have other severe issues.
iOS is like wearing a straightjacket (I say this with using iOS daily, and having used Macs since 1985).
Linux isn't ready for daily driver.
So, no
I'm carrier locked until my phone is paid off, so I can't do anything until after that. I'm probably going to go with Graphene since I have a Pixel. Admittedly, my reason for switching is less to do with privacy (though I would like to have more than stock offers) and more to do with Google's upcoming restrictions on installing apps from non-registered developers. If I wanted a corporation telling me what I can do with my phone then I'd just go back to iOS.
This isn't related to carrier locking. If your Pixel is a carrier branded model, there is a high chance the bootloader is permanently locked. Verizon especially.
Hopefully that's not the case. I'm not on Verizon, but my carrier does use their network. According to my carrier's support pages they'll automatically unlock the phone a couple days after it's paid off, which for me is in a month or two.
I’m not on Verizon, but my carrier does use their network.
Did you buy your phone from that carrier? Because if you did, then it's a Verizon model (because it's carrier locked and running on the Verizon network), and will have a permanently locked bootloader. You can check this by going into the phone's Developer Settings and finding the "OEM Unlocking" toggle. If it's greyed out....Sorry bud.
According to my carrier’s support pages they’ll automatically unlock the phone a couple days after it’s paid off
Hopefully. But please keep in mind that SIM unlocking (i.e. locked to a carrier) is not related to bootloader unlocking. Far too many people get confused over this concept.
Well, that's unfortunate.
I switched to iOS a few years ago after my OG pixel finally died and work was offering me a new iPhone for free. At this point I don't really want to go through the hassle of migrating again. I have been keeping an eye on the whole Linux phone thing though because it's really interesting. Without tap to pay or any sort of android auto/car play support I don't think I'll be fully switching anyway though.
EDIT: I re-read the post and realized OP was talking about android ROMs. As an iOS user I don't really have a place in this conversation but I'll leave my original post up anyway.
there are only two viable ecosystems:
- android based
- stock iOS
- niche Linux phones not ready for daily use
The post is basically asking if people will move to apple, and I don't want to give up side loading, newpipe, and my open source freedom.
Im on android since 2.x. Awesome android experience since I discovered Cyanogenmod for my xperia mini pro a long time ago, and as continuation Lineageos. Since I have not used stock rom. I would never buy apple even if google would make it impossible for lineage os to keep up development. I would buy linux phone 100% if it matures.
My old phone is 5+ years old at this point and the battery's going spicy pillow on me... Considering replacing it with one of Murena's offerings (which ship with /e/OS) but I'm still on the fence.
Yes, as soon as Calyx starts back up. Or de-googled Lineage. Haven't decided yet.
I've basically degoogled mine as is, but I really do wish I could switch my tablet off samsung's nightmare OS. Every update they move/change/add things, even though I have updates turned off. They keep remapping things to use that ridiculous bixby thing.
So yes, the moment it's supported, it's getting switched.
I would if I could. I only found out Verizon has some bullshit lock on my phone that prevents me from at least trying GrapheneOS. Likely the last time I buy from them and I'll bring my own device next time.
If anyone knows a way around the Verizon lock let me know.
Had been Android user for more than a decade. Switched to iPhone last year.
No, not like that! Lol
Really interested hearing why.
My journey: https://piefed.social/post/180870
Wait, you are that Cloudless! I only realize now, I only remembered the dog profile picture
Yeah 90% of the threadiverse is from our multiple accounts.
Yeah, Android has been getting worse. I still remember when I could still install apps on an SD card. Suddenly, the next version of Android just removed that feature, and I was stuck with the pitiful 16 GB of onboard storage even though I had a 32 GB card at the time.
I'm contemplating making the same move. Google killing sideloading also kills the last reason for me to stick with Android, so I may as well go with the phone by the company that hasn't based literally its entire business model around harvesting user data for targeted advertising.
Years ago, I switched to an iPhone. It’s awful, but the alternatives were even worse.
Before that, I experimented with everything: full de-Google setups, vanilla Android approaches, and compromises like LineageOS with Gapps. None of them were good enough for me. The middle ground (LineageOS + Gapps) served me for years, but eventually, essential apps started requiring vanilla Android, which I refuse to use due to privacy concerns.
At this point, I still prioritize functionality and reliability, so stock Android and iOS are the only realistic options. I’m not a journalist in a dictatorship, so my data leaking isn’t a life-or-death issue, but Google’s data-exploitative business model makes Android the worse of the two evils. Both platforms have major flaws, but blatant privacy violations are a dealbreaker for me.
In an ideal world, LineageOS or GrapheneOS would work seamlessly with all apps, but that’s no longer the case. The perfect OS is out of my reach.
If my needs were still limited to calls, SMS, and email—like in the 2000s—there’d be plenty of great FOSS options. But the 2020s demand more, and the FOSS world hasn’t kept up.
I’m seriously considering using my laptop for 99% of my computing needs in the future.
Moved from Android on a Samsung S24 to /e/OS on a fairphone 6 and will probably move to Lineage if and when there's a build for this phone. It's been fairly frictionless but I was already pretty degoogled by now so the only big change was losing contactless and I just keep my card in my phone case now instead for the same effect. Even though One UI on the Galaxy has its problems, I think it's a better UI than the stock Android UI which /e/ uses. Apart from that, I'm pretty happy with it so far, even if it isn't the gold standard that Graphene is. I can't see myself ever moving to iOS though, I would probably prefer a basic flip phone.
Yes. I have some old phones that I play with when I have time. I find that /e/ is pretty good, but I'm a little bit iffy on the company atm. So now I'm trying to build postmarketOS for my Galaxy S9, which is a fun and frustrating journey.
I do want to try Graphene, but I don't have a Pixel and really don't want to buy more phones when I have multiple that works.
Also I need certain apps for work so I can't completely rid myself of Google and Microsoft. At times I have had two phones in active use, but I find myself defaulting to work phone since I'm required to have it on me for most of the day anyway.
yep
I'd love to at some point but, last I heard, it breaks the felica and wallet integration which I need to do japanese government stuff (and use the train and such)
I've been thinking about this for a while. I have Pixel 7, so GrapheneOS is an easy choice. But I have a few paid subscription apps via Play Store, and I don't want to get rid of them... Maybe I could ditch some, but not all.
You can lock Google into its own little play area on GrapheneOS using a work profile with the shelter app, or a completely separate Android user account.
Graphene supports running GMS in a sandbox like any normal app. That's what I do as there are too many apps in the play store I need
I probably don't know enough about sandboxing in GrapheneOS. So if you do that, you still have to log in with Google account, but Google will be able to only see what you are doing with play store apps? And the rest of data like sensors, file system, other apps, will not be visible to Play Services?
Not quite. The Play store will be its own application. Which you can apply permissions to. Any application in the same space can still talk to the Play store. That's just inner process communication. So if any app wants to it can still talk to Google Play in that same profile.
When you're logged into the phone you have three areas that are separate by default, you have the main user, you have the private space, and you have the work profile. All three of these could have different Google accounts that don't see each other, they could have no Google Play and nothing goes to Google. It's up to you
Okay, thanks! I think I should try it then
Not yet. My Motorola g84 behaves well enough and there's probably no alternative rom that will run on it anyway.
The other real option is iPhone and I'm not spending that kind of money on shit I don't need, so no.
I'd love to! I can't find one that supports my Samsung Galaxy Note 20.
I've been slowly trying to de-google my Pixel 6 pro. Thinking about Graphene.
I use Google Photos to share kid pictures with the grandparents but I've been trying to migrate to Ente. Google checkout makes it a pain to export your pictures in bulk and load them into something else. I think I found a Python script that did the last batch but I forget the specifics.
My wife and I track each other on Maps but that's not a deal breaker, just nice to see when the other is in transit to time dinner and things.
After that it's just some banking apps, bitwarden, 2fa, etc which should work fine.
It just feels like a big leap.
It's funny. When I first heard about couples sharing their location with each other, I thought it was so creepy. I trust my SO, why the fuck would I want to spy on them?!?! But then, we had some family members develop some health problems where it could be life or death to know where they were, so we started sharing our locations. And now I find it comforting to open up maps and double check to make sure they are still okay, and how long till their home, etc.
It sounds cool
I keep hearing mixed messages if it works yet or not.
I'm also hearing that you can't do it on most phones?
I've been wanting to do this for ages! I'm rocking a Pixel 8 Pro so I'm considering GrapheneOS, but lack of time keeps holding me back. Also not sure what to do about Google Wallet. I know Curve Pay exists as somewhat of a replacement, but I haven't done enough research on whether I want to trust yet another company with my card purchase data. Was thinking maybe just go back to using physical cards? Even though it's less secure. I also recently added some store loyalty cards to Google Wallet. I do wonder what else I'd be giving up? But yeah it's mostly the time investment to install it and learn it.
No. I have better things to do with my time and need a reliable device at all times.
I moved from iOS to Graphene back in March, and have never had an issue with it, despite having to very suddenly learn how to Android.
It takes longer to figure out what apps and data you want to keep than the actual loading of the ROM onto the phone.
They're more reliable because you have a smaller set of things that can go wrong without all the bloatware. Now if you're doing crazy Android magic, then I understand what you're trying to say about the reliability part.
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