this post was submitted on 17 Feb 2026
60 points (100.0% liked)

Privacy

4012 readers
107 users here now

Icon base by Lorc under CC BY 3.0 with modifications to add a gradient

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
Ategon@programming.dev
danielintempesta@programming.dev
60
GrapheneOS - break free from Google and Apple (blog.tomaszdunia.pl)
submitted 1 day ago by cm0002@toast.ooo to c/privacy@programming.dev
26 comments fedilink hide all child comments
top 26 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Mikina@programming.dev 3 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

I've been using Graphene for years at this point, and so far it has been amazing.

I have two profiles, main one without Google Play services, and fortunately a lot of apps just work out even without them. Some complain about it, but still work at least as far core functionality I want is considered, and for the few that don't, I have a second profile that runs sandboxed Play Services and just switch when needed.

I'm a little bit worried about Google's push around installing apps from other sources than orignal Play Store, or the new integrity API, but I'm willing to just stop using any app that requires it, and change banks to one that either doesn't require an app for login, or can work without play services. Fortunately, my current one works without, for now (mBank).

[–] Nightwish76@feddit.uk 1 points 12 hours ago

Break free from Google by buying a Google Pixel, because GrapheneOS can only be installed on Pixels...

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 2 points 17 hours ago

Well this is awesome. I opened the link to read the article and my phone dropped a notice that I can finally unlock the bootloader. What timing! 😃

[–] noxypaws@pawb.social 10 points 1 day ago

I switched from iPhone to GrapheneOS five years ago and I remain extremely satisfied. I highly recommend it. Even if you don't want to give Google money, you can buy used or at least rest assured that you're still sticking it to them by denying them control and surveillance even if you buy new

[–] Zwiebel@feddit.org 12 points 1 day ago

Best phone OS around imo

[–] DGen@piefed.zip 3 points 1 day ago

Made the jump a half years ago. As is as half as hard as it Sounds and pretty Forward.

I can only recommend to do it.

[–] lambalicious@lemmy.sdf.org -5 points 1 day ago (6 children)

"break free from Google"

requires investing in Google devices

I swear, the low quality posts with scam-like titles one sees in the Fediverse these days...

[–] lka1988@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Every single time GOS comes up. Every. Single. Fucking. time.

Do you people forget that buying used is an option?

[–] lambalicious@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 1 day ago

I mentioned it in a comment below. But that also depends on how the used market works where you live. To buy something privacy-minded used, I'd have to buy it either from a meatspace vendor I can check myself, or from an online vendor that will take cash in split payments and has a verifiable history in the platforms I trust.

[–] cm0002@toast.ooo 12 points 1 day ago (2 children)

requires investing in Google devices

It's because Google devices are (ironically) one of the last few manufacturers that allows you to unlock the bootloader and provides mainstream "flagship" specs or foldy phones

If you want to go with an actual privacy focused phone, it requires a compromise somewhere

[–] xep@discuss.online 1 points 22 hours ago

The Tensor is a capable soc but not as snappy as I would like compared to Snapdragon. Your point stands, though.

[–] wobblyunionist@piefed.social 1 points 1 day ago

You said it! If it gets people moving towards alternatives I think its a win

[–] hanrahan@piefed.social 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Yeah, unlike apple fanbois everywhere using whatabouitism to justify their shitty stance /s

Just buy a used phone ffs or at keast encourage those going this way so e/os can grow big enough to work with a manufacturer to make their own phone

[–] entwine@programming.dev 5 points 1 day ago

at keast encourage those going this way so e/os can grow big enough to work with a manufacturer to make their own phone

Graphene is doing this already. They announced a partnership with an Android OEM to produce a GrapheneOS phone some time in 2027.

[–] Th4tGuyII@fedia.io 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Yeah, it's very ironic isn't it. It's like paying Google a massive exit fee.

[–] lambalicious@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I mean, you could buy used, but if you are going for privacy you lose a number of assurances from doing that.

[–] onlinepersona@programming.dev 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Make Google Pixels more valuable on the second hand market means even more reason for people to buy one new because they know it will still have value to some nerd. It still helps google.

[–] lambalicious@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

¡Exactly! Like, at that point you could buy a Fairphone used, and if you do that in your own country at least you have some level of assurance that it was already working with the cellular network in-place.

[–] onlinepersona@programming.dev 1 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

Exactly. Fairphones support eOS with relocking the bootloader. You can even buy a new fairphone with eOS preinstalled.

No need to ride some hype train that benefits Scroogle.

[–] gandhibobandhi@feddit.org 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

They recently announced they're working on support for hardware from other manufacturers:

https://www.androidauthority.com/graphene-os-major-android-oem-partnership-3606853/

[–] lambalicious@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 1 day ago

But that means making new phoens and getting them to market (and then to an affordable price), right?

If I was to make a deal with a manufacturer it'd be about releasing the relock keys for the firmware on extant builds, since there's a reasonable overlap between people who want to go to a phone for getting outside the Google / Apple ecosystems and people who want to get their already extant devices to last.

[–] onlinepersona@programming.dev -3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

"But but but Google is the best, you don't understand!!!"

GrapheneOS has amazing marketing. They have convinced people to give more money to Google than google would ever make from selling their private information. Is GrapheneOS a Scroogle-op?

[–] hanrahan@piefed.social 0 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

apple fanbois everywhere using whatabouitism to justify their shitty stance /s

Just buy a used phone ffs or at keast encourage those going this way so e/os can grow big enough to work with a manufacturer to make their own phone

[–] onlinepersona@programming.dev -1 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

I encourage people to buy a fairphone with eOS preinstalled. That already exists. No need to put money into the Scroogle ecosystem.

[–] thomas@friendica.tomforge.de 0 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

@onlinepersona
I prefer iodéOS over eOS

[–] onlinepersona@programming.dev 1 points 17 hours ago

Whatever floats your goat 👌