This is false. The official Google Camera app works on GrapheneOS.
There is nothing preventing you from installing the Pixel Camera app and revoking internet access permissions from it.
But this is a OnePlus 13 topic, so lets hop back on that. I’m sure that it is an excellent value if you accept the security and privacy drawbacks of purchasing it. Anything you do to make it more privacy-friendly would be harm reduction at best though.
For example, there is no convincing a passionate emulator to ignore the Snapdragon 8 Elite or a tech enthusiast to ignore foldables. If you really enjoy the AI or Camera features on the OP13 , you must compromise on fast updates or the ability to install custom ROMs securely.
If you want the ability to reduce the extent of tracking, go ahead with purchasing the OP13. You don’t seem to be using your phone for sensitive tasks, so perhaps GOS is not the right choice for you.
Thank you for your reply. I’ll just see if I can snag a pixel 9 or the upcoming 10 for cheaper, and if I can’t then I’m gonna go with the oneplus 13r
It is a horrible value since it doesn’t have as long or as substantial security updates as Pixels receive.
Pixels, at least from 6gen, have awful quality. Recent situation with 6a/7a batteries is just one of the many problems. Paired with their lame SoCs, I don’t understand how someone could realistically expect to use them for 7+ years.
As for OnePlus devices, their one big plus is ability to unlock bootloader relatively easy, compared to most other vendors. Custom ROMs are almost non-existent at this point, but one could install LOS GSI. This solution is very far from ideal, and with the current direction of smartphone development, I’m sure even this option will be obsolete soon.
These have zero benefit since you’re still running the stock kernel and vendor partition.
They are more than sufficiently fast for any smartphone task. I used to play Genshin Impact just fine on mine.
Yeah I’m still daily driving my GOS Pixel 6 just fine and the only reason why I’m getting a new phone next year is that it will stop getting updates.
This way one can get a phone without Google services and many other built-in apps. Not ideal, as I said, but no exactly zero benefit.
Does GOS use their own kernel and vendor partition built from scratch, btw?
I have Tensor G3 device and sometimes it stutters just playing video. I have 6+ years non-flagship Snapdragon device, which has zero issues in absolutely identical situation.
It’s not just about comparatively low computational power. They overheat, they have bad modems and low power-efficiency. Most models have displays not bright enough by modern standards, all models have PWM-issues (which can be changed with minimal kernel modification, but GOS team doesn’t care about usability, only security).
This is just my opinion. I know people who still use their 6gen Iphones and somehow OK with it. But I’m not happy with Pixel hardware even now, not saying about 7 years from now.
I’m very happy with my Pixel 8a with GrapheneOS installed, and I came from an iPhone 12 Pro.
I cannot comment on SoC performance since I don’t run any processor-hungry apps. For me, it’s the overall reliability of Pixels that’s been a letdown.
My 6 just simply died out of nowhere around eight months after purchase. Pixels weren’t officially available in my country at the time so this was a grey import (overpriced, I might add) and the merchant was rather unhelpful with the warranty claim. My 8a was officially purchased via Google and the vibration/haptics (motor related, I guess) died a month after my official twelve month warranty ran out. A couple months later the screen developed some weird grainy effect when used in lower brightness. Dumped it soon after. At least the a series was cheaper, so less heartbreak.
I get the security benefits of the Teen Titan chip or whatever it’s called, as well as the privacy benefits of GrapheneOS (despite being butt ugly to look at), but the rest of the Pixel hardware, at least in my anecdotal experience, is rather dogwater.
I don’t get it. What’s so ugly about GrapheneOS? If you don’t like something, you can just install another launcher like Nova, Lawnchair, etc.
Yeah, I understand you very well.
From my own experience:
One Pixel 6 pro started regularly freezing and rebooting itself absolutely randomly.
Other Pixel 6 pro turned down out of the blue and stopped working completely.
One Pixel 6 had modem problems, sometimes mobile network works, sometimes it doesn’t, e-sim not working all the time.
One Pixel 7a got burn-in at the screen after just 4 months of usage.
iPhones aren’t exactly famous for their good price-to-specs ratio.
Pixel 8a is not that bad, if you don’t count outrageous bezels (81.6% display-to-size ratio ffs), display backlight flickering at 120hz and 18w charging. And there are good chances their batteries will soon start swelling/exploding like 6a/7a. If it doesn’t break completely earlier, of course.
It lacks so many useful features even LOS has for years. GOS developers laughing at countless users asking to make it possible to toggle flashlight with holding power button, because they sure they know better.
To turn Wi-Fi on/off I have to click “Internet” tile, then choose “Wi-Fi” every time, because who needs separate toggles for Wi-Fi/Mobile Network in 2025, when you have unparalleled security.
Lately they changed built-in keyboard, so now I have to tap-and-hold and then tap again every time I need to change keyboards language, instead of just 1 tap. So cool.
It’s just some of the many nuances that make GOS user experience disappointing for me.
Yes, of course, as does LineageOS and CalyxOS and others.
YES! GOS refusing to add this feature is extremely frustrating. This is so beyond extremely useful especially from an accessibility standpoint.