According to the GOS team on Twitter, this move by Google will not hurt them whatsoever, but could actually serve as an incentive for people to switch to GOS: https://nitter.net/GrapheneOS/status/1960137342423114117
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great 
It’s incredible. For the last 15 years, I’ve had this HUGE list of reasons why I daily drive an iPhone. That list started out with over 100 items on it back in 2010.
Here we are in 2025, and all but four items have been checked off from the list, whether due to Apple suddenly deciding to allow it, or outside pressure forcing them to. FOUR items left. And Android is over here sacrificing all of their software advantages while continuing to manufacture sub-par, unreliable devices.
2010 me would never have believed me if I told him, but an iPhone may be in my future. The cons are no longer outweighing the pros of Android.
Side note, but I kind of hate the term “sideloading”.
It makes it sound like you’re doing something sketchy, when it’s the same as what we would do on Windows or Linux.
So it’s OK for users to run .exe files on our computers, but heaven forbid we source software from another, trustworthy, app store on our phones.
It blows my mind how Google and Apple treat their users like babies who can’t use their own judgement.
People are saying they’ll jump to Apple over this, but they’re much more condescending towards you.
I hope that GrapheneOS phone shows up on the market soon.
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I know they’re much more condescending, but their devices are also significantly better at this point too, both on the laptop and mobile front.
I don’t know about the other replies in here, but mine was explicitly that the cons of iPhones no longer outweigh the pros of Android. Google and friends have spent the last five years removing the pros, one by one, while Apple removes the cons, one by one.
So yes, I understand the downsides of Apple, but the massive upsides at this point far outweigh Android. So I’ll be on an iPhone for my next device.
I think you meant to say you why you daily drive an Android for the past 15 years.
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When it comes to privacy I can’t think of any advantage Apple has over GrapheneOS… in fact, it is just the opposite… You lose many privacy, respecting features with Apple and it’s walled-garden, proprietary ecosystem. Security though, that’s debatable.
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I wonder if DMA would affect this in EU? Google has been designated gatekeeper for Android platform (amongst other things) and one of the requirements is ”There are also device neutrality rules regarding the rights to delete pre-installed applications (as in the case of Apple iOS or Google Android for example) and to install apps from other sources.[6] “
If it still goes around DMA, I’d expect a rise in demand for “unverified” phone manufacturers.
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Not to mention freedom of choice, which I believe is arguably the greatest, and most forgotten, aspect of privacy.
I like Apple hardware, but it is so difficult to leave their ecosystem once you’re embedded.
The fact that all of your Apple products become worse, or outright unusable (homepods), without an iPhone is Apple punishing you for leaving them.
I don’t care how good Apple’s cryptology is. The fact that most users can’t afford to leave them is not worth whatever fancy features they have.
We should always assume any company, especially US based, will slowly erode whatever privacy standards they currently hold, so always have an exit strategy available.
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So…. Is that it? Are those of us on Android or a spin thereof (aka Graphene) now boned?
No, if you run a FOSS build like Graphene none of this applies to you.
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GOS is safe.
Unfortunately, they have their own share of problems with the changes to the AOSP’s open source commit schedules.
I just deleted (via canta and shizuku) system apps that used for OTA system updates. Better not to get updated (yes, I understand that it can possibly harm security fixes) than get unattended update making me locked in walled garden full of proprietary shit.
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One thing that really gets my goat is that FOSS OS users keep whinging about Screwgle. Let’s face it, it’s hardly a big surprise that the big G is locking down on third party apps and repositories with a longer term objective to completely lock their users in to the whole fake experience. If you want to set yourself free just run a FOSS OS with truly, no strings attached, open source app’s. If the bank you bank with doesn’t provide an open source app’, move to one that does. Support open source developers and companies that use them to provide app’s for their customers by buying off them. Support all the volunteers that give up their time freely to provide you with some of the most amazing alternative OS’s out there.
Took me 5 years to dig myself a path out of the walled garden and I’ll be damned rather than going back in. That was back in the day when there were hardly any FOSS app’s, now there are plenty to choose from. So now no reasons not to, only excuses IMHO.
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Which banks have open source apps?
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It’s not the fault of GrapheneOS but iPhones do have a few privacy or security advantages
- Next most secure smartphone for those who can’t stand GrapheneOS’ usability issues or can’t risk being profiled
- iMessage E2EE (extremely common in some countries & not yet compatible with RCS E2EE)
- Apple Pay (most secure option for those who can’t use something like Privacy.com)
(Not saying this makes iPhones better, just that GrapheneOS doesn’t beat it in every scenario.)
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You don’t need banking “apps” when you can use a Web browser to make payments or read statements. The apps may sometimes be convenient, but no convenience is worth more than my freedom.
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This is a common misconception. I’m pretty sure every benefit I mentioned is easily provable. Certainly the first and last, and the second can most likely be verified through other means. iOS security research is a thing and it can be done without access to source code. There are definitely major issues with being proprietary but it’s not as bad as “trust me bro” security.
I don’t recall an iOS backdoor actually being proven, but it is true that Apple has complete control of the device and I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a back door. The thing is, this isn’t radically different from GrapheneOS. The hardware, firmware, etc of the Pixel is largely proprietary and AOSP is a massive code base which could host hidden backdoors despite being open source. There’s a lot more to it than that but I’ll leave it there.
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In some countries many banks only offer PushTAN via app to view or authorize transactions for online banking. Is is even forbidden to offer insecure alternatives, like SMS TAN. So yes, you need banking apps.
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Just search…. android banking apps .apk and you should get a list of hits that are relevant to your locality.