IMO
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I’m currently using a Pixel 7 Pro running GrapheneOS. When it launched, I had to import it since it isn’t sold in my country, which meant I paid 215% of the original phone price on fees, absolutely insane!
I’m considering switching phones next year. While I haven’t had major issues with GrapheneOS and I genuinely admire the team’s work compared to other custom ROMs, my budget won’t stretch to pay 215% for a Pixel 11 next year.
I’ve been researching alternatives and noticed some posts here on PrivacyGuides calling iPhones the “second-best” private phones. How do they really compare to GrapheneOS? iPhones are pricey here too, but still more than half the cost of a Pixel.
For context, privacy is important to me, but I’m not willing to sacrifice a lot of convenience. Here’s what my current setup looks like:
- ProtonMail & ProtonCalendar
- Proton Pass and Bitwarden for passwords
- Brave browser
- SimpleLogin with a unique alias for every service
- Self-hosted services like Nextcloud on a local Linux server
- Mullvad & ProtonVPN always on
At the same time, I:
- Use a Mac and a Windows PC daily
- Wear smartwatches
- Rely on Android Auto & Google Maps
- Use LLM websites and APIs daily
So I’m looking for a balance between privacy, usability, and cost. Would an iPhone provide a better compromise? How does it compare? What would I win/lose?
Your Pixel 7 has full support until October of 2027, two whole years from now.
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I know, but I swap phones 1 year before it gets EOL, so I can get a better resale value
All of these service works on iOS.
If you’re in the EU, you can install third-party app stores, but if not, then don’t worry, because you
All apps on iOS need to be signed by someone. iOS don’t have the ability to sign apps. If you download an app from the App Store, the app is signed by Apple. Alternatively, you can self-sign apps on Windows/macOS devices. All you need is an IPA file (it serves the same purpose as an APK file on Android. Or you can use a third-party app store like AltStore.
PS: Unless you pay Apple $99/year, you can run at most 3 self-signed app only. It’s called 
Sideloading as a Subscription Service (SASS)
What smartwatches? They may be incompatible with iOS.
Apple Maps is surprisingly good at privacy. However, depending on your location, it may not meet your needs. In that case, you can still download Google Maps. All map apps recommended by Privacy Guides is also run on iOS. However, if Apple Maps doesn’t meet your needs, I doubt those alternative can.
I don’t know about your use cases, so I can’t comment much. Apple Intelligence, despite its flaws, is way better than any of the competitors when it comes to privacy. The only better solution (in terms of privacy) is running LLMs on-device. If Apple Intelligence doesn’t meet your needs, then you can just download ChatGPT, Gemini, or whatever…
PS: Siri is not Apple Intelligence.
The most important thing that you lose (in terms of privacy) is that you have to trust Apple with at least three (practically essential) online services: App Store, Apple Push Notification Service, and system updates.
All the other online services are entirely optional, including iCloud. If you don’t want to use iCloud at all, don’t sign in/up an Apple Account when setting up an iPhone. After that, sign in/up an Apple Account in the App Store app, not in the Settings app.
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Well, iPhone and Pixel with GOS on your new device are both great options. For the list you’ve mentioned, all of that is possible on iOS too. So, yes - it would be a better compromise. GOS is just the top notch privacy and security + freedom with software that iOS cannot provide in full 1:1 with GOS. So, if you’re okay with the second best of what the world has for privacy and security, then iOS is the simplest and best option. Not to mention, iPhone will last a long time too.
If I had this issue, I would decide on what I want more for what I can afford whenever you plan to buy it.
That’s my two cents.
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Anything by Apple would be a significant downgrade over a true FOSS phone like Graphene without Google Play and other crapware. Is buying a Pixel at (near) MSRP really not an option, e.g. by traveling to a nearby country where they can be sourced? Also, GrapheneOS is reportedly in talks with OEMs about making dedicated devices; by then such plans may have materialized and Pixels may become irrelevant.
This is the most Apple thing ever lmao
Yeah I don’t live in the EU, but I hope this will not be a big issue, I checked and most of my apps are on Apple Store 
Galaxy Watch and Xiaomi Watch, but I don’t mind selling them and getting an Apple Watch if that’s supported and it means a privacy gain.
I see! If I go team iPhone I’ll definitely try Apple Maps, but nice I have the option of still using Google Maps or other apps if I need!
Oh that’s neat!
I’m also curious about Apple Pay. Is that more private / secure then contactless or swipe?
The closest country where Pixels are sold I could go is the US, and unfortunately the travel itself and all of it’s fees would already surpass the price of the Pixel…
That’s true, if they sell in my country and the phone has good specs, I might choose it!
Yes. All of the apps you mentioned are on the App Store.
Newer Galaxy Watches don’t support iOS. Xiaomi Watches do support iOS. In terms of privacy, Apple Watches are way better than Galaxy Watches (according to the Privacy Not Included project). There’s no data for Xiaomi Watches, but considering they’re Chinese smartwatches, I don’t have high hopes.
Garmin is the best when it comes to privacy, but their product is even more expensive than Apple’s and has one of the worst sleep tracking accuracies. If you don’t want to be gaslighted by numbers✨, check out the Quantified Scientist Youtube channel.
Apple Pay is more secure than physical cards, but not more private. You can watch @jonah’s video to know more.
I don’t recommend going to the US right now. Foreigners have very few rights in the US, and the current US administration is very hostile to foreigners.
Im going to wait for that HMD-Graphene OS partnership phone.
I really dont want to support Apple in principle because it is significantly expensive, the company also isnt very ethical in its practices and they’re still a business - in the end if it is profitable to use a server based in (whether its China, UK, or US) or other repressive countries, they will use it if they can get away with it.
Out of spite, I may just use some random Linux phone out of spite for Google (for locking down AOSP). Its a bad idea because it will probably lack support and lack security but I think its better to not pick the lesser evil between Apple and Google.
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What? Prices are the same.
| Model | Brand | Starting Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 17 | Apple | $799 |
| iPhone Air | Apple | $999 |
| iPhone 17 Pro | Apple | $1,099 |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | Apple | $1,249 |
| Galaxy S25 | Samsung | $800 |
| Galaxy S25 Edge | Samsung | $1,099 |
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | Samsung | $1,300 |
| Pixel 10 | $799 | |
| Pixel 10 Pro | $999 | |
| Pixel 10 Pro XL | $1,099 | |
| Pixel 10 Pro Fold | $1,600 |
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I don’t understand why people think iPhones are more expensive than Android phones in 2025. Pixel 10 and iPhone 17 have the same starting price in the US. Maybe because Apple doesn’t care about low- and mid-range phones?
Also, whatever HMD Secure is cooking, it’s not going to be cheap. Just take a look at their website. It smells… military-grade level of expensiveness.
On the other end of the spectrum, poor people like @Private_Plan has to pay more than double to acquire a Pixel. Ubiquitousness has its advantages.
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Did grapheneos officially announced they partnered with hmd?
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No, they haven’t announced anything. They can’t say anything right now anyways since they’ve signed an NDA with the OEM.
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Do you know for sure it’s HMD? I’ve been dying to know:D
No, there is nothing to suggest the OEM is HMD. I’m fairly sure this speculation comes from HMD Secures recent announcement of this device but that has absolutely nothing to do with GrapheneOS.
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Anything that suggests or discussed or anything of the sort it may be a specific OEM (eg. Samsung, HMD, Sony etc. etc.)
CONSIDER IT ALL A SPECULATION, NOTHING HAS BEEN CONFIRMED AND WILL NEVER BE CONFIRMED (UNLESS CONFIRMED BY OEM OR GRAPHENE) UNTIL THE PHONE IS RELEASED OR HAS BEEN APPROVED TO BE TEASED BY THE OEM THANK YOU
(yeah the fact that we speculate which OEM it is and it is for sure getting into people’s mind, guys and gals: ^)
IF YOU’RE GOING TO SPECULATE IN A FRIENDLY MATCH KIND OF MANNER, AT LEAST ASSURE USERS THIS ABOVE SO THAT THEY WONT GET CONFUSED
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They are: An iCloud subscription is effectively mandatory.
And you’re forced to get apps from App Store instead of a wide selection of FOSS from F-Droid.
And another example: most apps have subscriptions, a habit tracker equivalent to @iSoron’s was charging a subscription for additional tasks… such behaviour is entirely normalized on iOS.
You also mentioned above that all their apps will work, except VPNs on iOS are fundamentally broken since no kill switch.
And Apple Maps isn’t private, it is opted-in by default to sharing your location.
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I think the speculations came after the recent announcement of HMD about their security phone supporting custom roms.
But I agree. GrapheneOS project has mentioned in the past that they were collaborating with an OEM but then said it didn´t work out.
But I am in the same boat as OP. As of today, nothing is certain for AOSP and GrapheneOS (despite the denial). My phone battery is dying (and yes, GrapheneOS degrades the battery quickly after certain time, I think because it does not have Google “intelligent” battery integration or whatever the feature is called).
So, an iPhone 17 is not that bad of a deal as far as I see. Same price as Pixel 10, better hardware, more disk capacity and finally memory corruption protection. And in Europe, you can also use alternative App stores.
Not an easy decision, I have to admit.
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