this post was submitted on 18 Sep 2025
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Hey, Iโ€™ve had GrapheneOS installed for some time, but after a while, issues started popping up. com.android.systemui kept crashing, and Iโ€™d get a message saying it had stopped working. The only option was to force close com.android.systemui. I could also dismiss the notification, but that didnโ€™t help because the message would just come back after a while. After closing it, the problem would return. So, I asked for help on the official GrapheneOS general chat... and got nothing. Thatโ€™s why I decided to install stock Android (the factory version that comes with the device). Itโ€™s nice because it has a lot of cool features, like automatic Wi-Fi hotspot. But thereโ€™s also a lot of bloatware, and it drains the battery quickly.

So, I decided to make a pros and cons table for both stock Android and GrapheneOS, and I thought Iโ€™d share it here in case someone needs help deciding.

GrapheneOS Stock Android
Pros: Pros:
No bloatware (due to minimal installation) Automatic Wi-Fi hotspot
Longer battery life Google Wallet works
Can charge the phone from any charging port (even in public places) Technical support available
Sandboxing all apps Automatic app installation from Play Store
Better backup options (can save to network drive or USB) Easy remote lock and wipe
Native file explorer is visible (unlike stock Android, where the icon is hidden) Adaptive vibrations and sound
Faster updates than stock Android All apps work
No need for antivirus (patches are general, not for specific viruses)
Easier backup process (just select location and data, the rest is automatic)
No VPN leaks
Random PIN digits (harder to guess or see)
Can add an extra PIN with fingerprint (additional security)
Google services are optional
Default GrapheneOS apps respect privacy (e.g., camera removes metadata, PDF viewer runs in a sandbox)
Still Android-based
Google wonโ€™t block APK installations (GrapheneOS is based on AOSP)
Cons: Cons:
Cannot automatically install apps from Play Store Shorter battery life
No Google Wallet contactless payments Lots of spyware from Google
No automatic Wi-Fi hotspot (unless thereโ€™s a way I havenโ€™t discovered yet) Lots of bloatware
Rare technical support on official GrapheneOS chats Hard to access native file explorer (icon is hidden)
At some airports, devices with GrapheneOS may be automatically flagged for inspection if someone notices a Google Pixel with GrapheneOS Automatic backup only covers photos and some data, and only to Google Cloud
Not all apps are supported VPN leaks
Phone is more vulnerable to attacks (due to bloatware)

Orginal one is in polish and on Buy European matrix chat i was asked to post it here

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[โ€“] alzymologist@sopuli.xyz 11 points 5 days ago

After using grapheneos for my actual phones for 5 years I'm disgusted every time I see any of those stock systems (which is often, I do occasional mobile dev gigs and repurpose used electronics).

[โ€“] The_Grinch@hexbear.net 6 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (2 children)

Don't forget the duress password feature. On graphene you can set up a second password that if entered, will immediately wipe and lock your phone.

I haven't run into anything I can't install with aurora store yet, and the apps on f-droid tend to be better than their play store counterparts when available anyway.

What's an automatic wifi hotspot? You can certainly do a wifi hotspot "manually"

[โ€“] MoreZombies@piefed.au 2 points 4 days ago

I did not know about the duress password - neat!

[โ€“] Igilq@szmer.info 2 points 5 days ago

Yeah, i forgot to add it. Thanks for letting me know, i will update post

On stock from wifi you can connect to phone that has sim card and is logged into same google account without having to turn on wifi hotspot manually, it gets turned off also automatically

[โ€“] kuneho@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago

I was about to buy a Pixel 9 Pro XL at my carrier and use Graphene with it, but unfortunately the Pro XL version got discontinued or I don't know so now only the Pixel 10 variants, 9 and 9a are available. (Strange that the Pro XL got pulled only).

Now I can't decide should I wait for Graphene on Pixel 10 or just go for the 9.

I mean, 9 would be probably more than good enough, but that +4GB of RAM that the Pro XL (and 10) has are keeping me back from buying the 9.

I probably don't even need 12GB RAM, but my previous phone also had this much and if I buy a new one, an upgrade here and there would be nice.

[โ€“] ch00f@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

This is a great rundown. I'm considering Graphene for my Minimal phone which some kind soul has ported. Mostly because I want to try it, but also because the Minimal phone software sucks ass.

[โ€“] Igilq@szmer.info 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Graphene can only be installed on Google pixels, you cannot install it on any other phone brand

[โ€“] ch00f@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago

You're right. I was mixing up Graphene and LineageOS.

[โ€“] Lazycog@sopuli.xyz 1 points 4 days ago

Thanks OP for the comparison! Now I can easily link it to people who are not on our matrix chat :)