They only backport (some) OS patches, the firmware doesn't get updated after the vendor classifies a device as EOL.
Noxious
joined 2 months ago
To get Android into a fully patched state, you need both firmware updates that come from your phone's vendor, as well as OS patches that come from your OS developer (in this case GrapheneOS). GrapheneOS usually only provides OS updates as long as Google provides firmware updates, because they don't want people to run outdated and potentially insecure devices with old, unpatched firmware. But they have extended update cycles for some EOL devices like the Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5.
Your bank specifically requires Play Protect? That's odd, I've never heard of something like that before. I'd still check this list to see if it might be compatible with GrapheneOS: https://privsec.dev/posts/android/banking-applications-compatibility-with-grapheneos/
You can get a Pixel 7a for under 300 EUR, and it is supported until 2028, so you don't lose out on updates.
Fairphones aren't even anywhere close to meeting the security requirements of GrapheneOS. Daniel Micay explained this many times, most notably in this Reddit thread (before they left Reddit and switched to their own, self-hosted forum) https://redlib.nohost.network/r/GrapheneOS/comments/10b5x4n/has_anyone_managed_to_install_grapheneos_on_a/j67pbny
They will only support Pixels for the foreseeable future, as these are the only devices that meet their hardware security requirements https://grapheneos.org/faq#future-devices
DivestOS is pretty good. I'd stay away from /e/OS, CalyxOS and LineageOS though, as they have some pretty serious security problems.
Really? That's your concern? People seeing you use a Google phone? Just put a case on it ffs, no one cares that much about the phone you use. With a case, basically all modern smartphones look the exact same.
https://grapheneos.social/@GrapheneOS/113049891764818911
Edit: That was the experimental release. There's a stable release now https://grapheneos.social/@GrapheneOS/113072219898252365
Their camera app got much better recently, but you can also just go ahead and install the stock Pixel camera app from the play store, and use Graphene's network toggle to deny it internet access
Going back to a "normal" text editor after using Vim for a few years would be horrible
Life without qBittorrent would also be pretty difficult, hell no, I'm not paying for DRM content that requires proprietary software to watch
Hardware isn't privacy invasive, it's neutral. It's Google's proprietary software that collects all of your data, which is the reason I don't use it. I don't use any Google services, and completely blocked their servers on my network (both in my firewall and DNS). A Pixel with GrapheneOS is the best way to protect your privacy and security simultaneously, and it's the only device that can compete with iPhone hardware security. I'll happily buy Pixels from Google for their great features like the Titan M2 secure element, but I will never use their software and services.