Only if you have Google hardware...

Ubuntu touch seems like a more viable option at this point

As well as postmarketOS, but unfortunately neither of them are in a usable state for the average person. I'd definitely suggest donating to Mobile Linux projects if possible to get them polished up and viable, as Android is clearly going to make the life of Graphene and LineageOS more and more difficult over time.

Buy it used. The hardware by itself doesn't call home.

Does anyone use this outside the US? Curious how it works across different sims

I do have a friend that uses it (we’re European) and it works fine

AFAIK it is as compatible as the stock android that comes on your phone regarding different carriers.

It works well for me. I did hear that there was bad support for baking apps but they seem to work fine.

I have had trouble with ride hailing apps as they seem to use googles integrity API.

Great idea in theory, but you need a Pixel phone to do this.

*banking. My baking apps work fine.

My banking app also works fine, but others may be more strict. And no one can add a payment card for tap to pay until Google certifies grapheneos.

I'm kinda curious what baking apps there are, i use a multi-timer for different bread rising stages but that's all I've got

I looked it up at a local refurbished phone dealer. A pixel 9a with 256GB storage in "excellent" condition (the second best condition) is 500€.

Who in their right mind pays that for a phone? New or not, that's just insane. My current android has twice the storage, 50% more memory, waaay better display, and a larger battery that can charge faster, and it was just 200€ with no contract. only downside is that I can't get a different ROM for it.

I bought a used 9 XL Pro with 512 for approximately $400 USD. I sold my 8 Pro right afterward for $350.

I'm not sure if I was in my "right mind," but I don't expect to replace this for a long time. I only replaced the 8 Pro because after a screen replacement, the thumbprint sensor would not work again. Known issue with screen-based sensors.

In any case, I run at the trailing edge of tech on these devices. It's worth it to me to have better privacy.

GrapheneOS is partenered with a major OEM to release compatible devices in 2027. The OEM will publicly announce this partnership in March 2026.

https://grapheneos.social/@GrapheneOS/116092580774968482

My banking app doesn't. But their website does, so it doesn't really bother me.

I bought a used Pixel 7a for 150€ from Kleinanzeigen (like Craigslist) and it works great.

You don't have to buy the newest stuff, older tech still works fine and is often dramatically cheaper.

It's only compatible with Pixel devices at the moment.

Australia here. Works fine.

I'm commenting from a pixel 6 I picked up for nothing to learn on. Check out Swappa, I've had nothing but good luck with them. You can pickup a Pixel 8 or 9 for a good price

Is bricking your phone as much of a risk as it used to be or that we were told it was? That always held me back

I'd never heard of it being brick-prone. I suppose it's possible in the sense that updating a PC's BIOS could brick it if it loses power during the update, but I've never heard of Graphene's install process being particularly brick-prone.

I've personally flashed 4 pixels (friend's and family's as well as mine), a couple of them multiple times (I tried CalyxOS before Graphene with my first pixels), and it's always been a super smooth process, never had anything go wrong.

Yay privacy. Just give Google a shit ton of money first. Can we please get a Linux phone. Made with modern hardware and useable in the us.

I’m not sure about Graphene specifically, but as long as there’s an established procedure documented, I’ve done like fifty installs of custom Recovery and various ROMs, such as Lineage, crDroid, Resurrection, Havoc, Cyanogen, AOSP, AOKP, ASPCA [:-)], WKRP [:-)], etc. and dozens of other less well-known ones, and I have not bricked one yet. So, as long as you don’t do anything blatantly foolish, should be ok.

Once I get some time I'm moving off GrapheneOS to Lineage OS. This is because GrapheneOS isn't primarily privacy focused, but security focused. Its security model assumes you will use the OS as-is without customization, including root.

This prevents a privacy minded user from doing things like poking around in apps or modifying them to suit your needs. Or hell, even editing the hosts file. So be sure about the reason you switch before you do.

They're working with a vendor to make a phone that meets GrapheneOS's security standards.

The installation process is extremely simple now. It does everything for you via your web browser, all you have to do is press your volume down, power button or click a button in the browser occasionally. The same applies for other projects like iodéOS; custom ROMs have come a long way in terms of ease of access.

By used direct from the previous owner, not refurbished via a third party. Refurbished generally means the seller bought it used and is selling it on for a profit, sometimes after repairs which drive the cost up even more.