I was thinking we can make an updated list of phones and brands which employs security chips and hardware specifically made to enhance security and avoid intrusion in phones as i found them gradually increasing presence in the market share (for instance i recently bought an Honor Magic 7pro which i discovered has a dedicated security chip called S1) 'cause brands are slowly becoming aware of the important matter and the customers needs.
It could be useful for privacy savvy people and also if privacy is one of the aspects you take in consideration as the “purchasing drive”.
Everyone knows about the Apple’s Iphone with Secure Enclave and Google’s Pixel with the Titan… I’ll add the S1 chip in the Honor Magic7 and Magic6 line… Others?
There’s more to a phone than just having a security chip.
Can it flash GrapheneOS? No
maybe any other operating system that utilizes it? Likely not
Also iPhones use their own proprietary operating system and don’t allow sideloading or flashing any other operating system (oh wait you said honor, afaik those are android but the point still stands), and likely would be hard for even get a OS let alone one that utilizes the security chip for honor
I know graphene is the best in class software when it comes to privacy but i guess it’s useful to teach the average Joe there’s also hardware privacy and i care for him to be acknowledged and aware when he buys a phone.
90% of the times privacy is not first and foremost purchasing drive reason so people just don’t get graphene (otherwise just go for it) but it could be the second.
You need to reduce the friction of people thinking using the OS is hard to use or something, it’s why I generally recommend Pixel or iPhones depending on the consumer and threat model and needs and I try to explain them about GrapheneOS to Pixel users where I find them but in my country it’s rare.
And that’s the point of my topic, one who approaches into privacy might not be already interested in graphene and to narrow the buyer’s choice list just to pixels but still might want to know what phone brands are at least trying to employ dedicated hardware.
to add to the post, GrapheneOS’s criteria to support a phone goes beyond just a security chip, they have a strict criteria to ensure security and privacy of a phone, it is likely honor doesn’t meet them and I will eat my words if they somehow do.
I completely get it, but the average joe doesn’t want to flash customs rom but wants a ready product that at least makes him feel “”“safe”“” (even though not completely and not best in class like graphene).
If you’re close to them I don’t see how you couldn’t help them do it, In fact [as much as we love or hate graphene community regardless of what your stance is] I would recommend the GrapheneOS community for assistance even though they’ll likely tell you to read everything in the web installer but I’m sure they’ll find someone helpful. (I daresay I agree with them, the web installer is well written).
If that’s still not the case somehow then if im being honest I’d much rather recommend an iPhone than an Honor, but that could be just me.
A security chip has nothing to do with privacy. Trying to get privacy and security on a Honor device is quite something. Chinese smartphones have done pretty bad with respect to privacy and security in the past.
Even if the “encryption” is less secure, it makes everybody safer. And it changes the phrasing from “government accidentally got the clear text before the warrant”, to “grandma sent to El Salvador for accidentally dropping iPhone into puddle, intentionally wiping encryption keys”