For those unfamiliar, GrapheneOS is a privacy and security enhanced custom ROM endorsed by Snowden. Despite these big names, plenty of people give it backlash
Even @TheAnonymouseJoker@lemmy.ml gives it backlash despite being a moderator of Lemmy’s biggest privacy community. A quote here: “grapheneOS trolls are downvoting every single post and comment of mine, and committing vote manipulation on Lemmy. They are using 5-6 accounts.” That was in response to downvotes on a comment posted in the c/WorldNews community, which is entirely unrelated to technology.
One of the reasons is that GrapheneOS can only be installed on Google Pixels due to security compatibility, which makes complete sense considering Android should be most compatible with Google’s own devices. GrapheneOS even lists the exact reasons they chose Pixels, and encourage people to step up and manufacture a different supported device.
One year ago, Louis Rossmann posted this video outlining his reasons for deleting GrapheneOS. Mainly, he had multiple bad experiences with Daniel Micay (the founder and main developer of GrapheneOS) which put his distrust in the GrapheneOS project. Since then, he has stepped down and will no longer be actively contributing to the project.
So, I am here to learn why exactly people still do not like GrapheneOS.
although just a cursory look at the drama surrounding it is reason enough, my real reason is pretty simple: the hardware costs just way too much.
a phone should cost like $100, max. that’s an easily breakable thief magnet and you should put in as much effort as possible to treat it as a fungible device. you break or lose one - no big deal, it’s encrypted, restore from backup and keep on truckin’.
I can lose/break/gift like 6 or 7 competent devices (SDM680/845/etc, 6 GB RAM) before I even get close to the price of one used Pixel. hard, hard pass.
I usually buy pixels used for $200, where are you getting 6/7 phones for that price?
you’re not mentioning which Pixel you’re getting for $200 and also that’s only twice the stated budget. anyhow, the cheapest Pixel 7 I have locally available is $310 (“lighty used”), which I think is the lowest rung; sixes are like three years old and that’s a no bueno for phones with fixed batteries. as an aside, if I’m buying something someone rubbed their face on, spat on, and rubbed all over, I’m paying half price max, not 15% less than NiB ($355 here).
last week I bought a Poco F1 (SDM845/6GB) in not great condition for $60; excellent LineageOS and PostmarketOS support though and easily replaceable batteries. a month or so prior, a Mi 9T Pro (SDM855/6GB) for $80. those are on the high side, there’s a ton of LineageOS supported Xiaomi devices for $50 or less if you go down to SDM6xx/4GB, which is plenty for everyday use. they can be had on the cheap because their MIUI operating system is bloated and hella slow so people just upgrade, whereas unlocking the boot loader and flashing an alternative nets you a super useable device.
I’m not saying any of those is as good as a modern Pixel device, but for my use cases they are more than enough.
Removed by mod
I noticed a big jump from pixel 6 to 7 in cost, so the 6 is what I meant. Still very usable in 2024. I don’t need all the newest features, just security upgrades. The battery is fine - I use a chargie to keep it between 35 and 85% to prolong the life.
You can pay more for a more modern phone, but if your only criterion is a usable pixel you don’t have to spend more than about 200 if that.
Edit: I really appreciate your recommendations though – I may try one of those out when I need to upgrade.