StormWalker

It is funny, pixel phones gaining popularity due to de-googling. Something seems very wrong with that haha

I’m influenced…

degoogle yourself

I hear you. And it is ironic, I agree. The way I deal with it in my head is: I use nothing google in my life. (Except for YouTube via NewPipe). And I purchase a Pixel pro used from eBay when it is 1 year old, and keep it until I feel the need to upgrade. New pixel pro’s here in the UK sell for £900-£1000, but you can pick up a used one on eBay only 1 year old for £300, and the money does not go directly to google. So my contribution to google is tiny compared to most people. If GrapheneOS ever do support another flagship phone with good cameras then I will gladly swap. But for now I don’t see an option where I can have it all. There has to be a compromise somewhere. But I applaud your anti-googleism!

Well yes exactly. It’s all just big personalities online that say that these things happened. Who knows really what the guy is like. A few big names online say these things about him, but I personally have never had any Interaction with him. So it could all be true, or partly true, or not at all. I guess no smoke without fire… but there is always 2 sides to every story.

Because GrapheneOS is a debatable triggering subject for some people. Basically the OS itself is amazing and very good. But the project leader is apparently arrogant and offensive. And offended a load of big known online personalities. Apparently he says his OS is the best and better then everyone else etc etc. So the question is: do you use and support a project where the product itself is amazing and just what the world needs, but where the project leader is offensive? Some say yes, some say no. = Controversial subject.

Personally I use GrapheneOS because I need a good camera and I like having a flagship modern phone. Currently I’m using a Pixel 7 Pro. I also like the privacy and security features that graphene offer. I don’t see another project out there that can offer me the same. The product is good.

Yes I agree. The product itself seems to be very good indeed. The problem people have is not with the product, but with the personality of the project leader. Personally I have used GrapheneOS for the past 3 months on a Pixel 7 Pro and I love it. My reason for choosing GrapheneOS was that I need a phone with a top quality camera, and I want a phone that is less than 3 years old. That alone sets GrapheneOS apart from many other projects as many only support older phones with low to mid range cameras. Then you have the privacy, security, and setting customization that graphene offers and it’s a clear top choice for me. Even if the leader is arrogant as some say, his product is good, and exactly what I need at the moment. So with no other projects offering what is important to me, I choose graphene for 2024. It’s solid.

I have been using GrapheneOS on a Pixel 7 Pro for 3 months now. I am BLOWN AWAY at how good it is. I have 3 user profiles. Main profile has no google services at all, and 95% of my apps are running there. Then I have a second user I can switch to that has sandboxed google services and my banking apps on it. I then have a third user that also has sandboxed google services running where I can install any random app that demands google services. (I have only 1 app on that user) . So 99.9% of the time my phone is running with no google services at all. (Side note: without even the sandboxed google services installed, apps need to be left open in the app switcher in order to receive notifications. If you swipe all your apps away, then you won’t receive notifications. This is not a problem for me, as I just keep my messaging apps open in the app switcher. But if it is a problem for you, you would need to run the sandboxed google services).

I see GrapheneOS as a way of removing 99% of all the tracking, spyware and things that I dont like, while still having the convenience of having all the apps and features that are available on a regular smartphone.

There is a learning curve, and many settings to learn and customize. But definitely worth it.

To get a Pixel, instead of paying £900 for a new pixel 8 pro, I paid £300 for a second hand Pixel 7 Pro on eBay that was in perfect condition. So for £300 I now have a privacy phone and an AMAZING camera, which was very important for me the camera.