Phone Recommendations
Graphene OS on Rooted Pixel
GrapheneOS recommends the following phone models for best security/longevity
Pixel 9a
Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Pixel 9 Pro XL
Pixel 9 Pro
Pixel 9
Pixel 8a
Pixel 8 Pro
Pixel 8
“8th/9th generation Pixels provide a minimum guarantee of 7 years of support from launch instead of the previous 5 year minimum guarantee. 8th/9th generation Pixels also bring support for the incredibly powerful hardware memory tagging security feature as part of moving to new ARMv9 CPU cores.”
Cheapest: $249, Not Recommended by Graphene, Support Will End Oct 2026
Going for cheapest Pixel @ $249 is pretty much committing to chucking the thing in the ocean in a few months, which COULD be our use case but then gonna have to get another spy phone again.
$499 Pixel 8a - Graphene Recommended. Supported till May 2031. 8GB RAM, 128 GB Storage, 6.1 Inch Display
https://store.google.com/product/pixel\_8a\_specs?hl=en-US
$599 Pixel 8 Pro - Graphene Recommended. Supported till Oct 2030. 12 GB RAM, 128 GB Storage, 6.7 Inch Display, Free Pixel Watch 2 Which Can also Be rooted/loaded with Custom OS
Pixel 8 Pro is $100 more than Pixel 8a. Both will be supported by Graphene until 2030/2031.
It has a larger display and 4 GB more RAM than Pixel 8a.
12 GB RAM
128 GB internal storage
6.7 inch display
With the current sale, you get a free Pixel 2 Watch that can be rooted/loaded w custom OS.
If Google stops allowing rooting/sideloading/etc at the hardware level in the future, which they are signalling they want to do, it could be a good time to splurge on tech before that happens.
Like idk why Blackberry went out of business because the aftermarket for Blackberry phones as a decent, budget consumer grade privacy-ish phone was bananas.
Point being that after Google starts cutting down on the ability to de-Google their phones, the older degoogled devices will become more valuable/more expensive, harder to acquire and easier to sell.
Caution: Google Will Restrict 3rd Party Apps next Year and Graphene Devs Are Mad
“This requires everyone making Android apps to satisfy Google’s requirements before virtually anyone will be able to install their apps”
So Google announced they’re going to run ID checks on any dev offering Android apps even not on Google Play.
So, how does this impact the future of Graphene?
Rooting Pixel Devices How-to
warninga about may 2025 firmware cld lead to bricking without additional.steps
This is a catch-all thread for all 6 and 8 series Pixels, intended to prevent users from bricking those Pixels due to the May 2025 firmware update which has an anti-rollback bootloader, so both slots must be updated properly in order to avoid being permanently bricked.
https://xdaforums.com/f/google-pixel-8-pro.12801/
1. Unlock Bootloader
https://krispitech.com/how-to-unlock-the-google-pixel-8-bootloader/
2. Download Magisk on Your Linux Machine and Follow Root Instructions
https://github.com/topjohnwu/Magisk
https://krispitech.com/how-to-root-google-pixel-8-and-pixel-8-pro-with-magisk/
For the Pixel Watch
https://xdaforums.com/t/how-to-root-google-pixel-watch-using-pixelflasher-and-magisk.4592737/
https://krispitech.com/how-to-root-google-pixel-watch-with-magisk/
Unlocking Google Device Resources
https://github.com/melontini/bootloader-unlock-wall-of-shame/blob/main/misc/generic-unlock.md
Pixel Esim Troubleshooting
Before installing an eSIM to a Google Pixel phone, or if your Pixel loses any network connection, it might be necessary to check DSDS (Dual SIM Dual Standby) option in your phone. Dial the code:
* # * # 4 6 3 6 # * # *
select Phone information, scroll down to Enable DSDS and turn it ON.
https://silent.link/faq#HowsilentlinkCanImproveMySecurity
Alternatives to Google Pixel and Graphene
$799 Purism Libre 5, Physical cell/wifi/microphone/gps Kill Switches, Open Source PureOS W Option to Install Your Own Linux Variant. Can Buy Phone Plan as Well
Expensive, but a lot of great features.
Physical kill switches
removeable battery
all code open source and auditable
can buy phone/data plan
https://puri.sm/products/librem-awesim/
3GB RAM
32 GB storage (expandable up to 2 TB w SD card)
The hardware specs seem minimal, but it doesn’t have the million pieces of bloatware so it balances out.
Cool but no Cellular Compatibility W US: €238 Jolla Phone Running SailfishOS, Privacy-focused Pure Linux with Android App Compatibility
https://commerce.jolla.com/products/jolla-community-phone
Upsides: Pure Linux but still compatible with Android apps via their degoogled/privacy respecting app store
Cons: Very little specs on what bands are supported. Would have to use an international parcel forwarder as they only ship within EU and UK. But as long as you avoid Finland, the price is €238 not €299
https://forum.sailfishos.org/t/c2-jolla-community-phone-4g-lte-bands-channels-frequencies/18738
Fairphone 5 - deGoogled Android OS
https://shop.fairphone.com/fairphone-5-e-operating-system
Dual SIM (nano-SIM + eSIM, both 5G enabled)
Bands and Band-Combinations:
4G B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/20/28/32/38/40/41/42/48/66/71
5G n1/2/3/5/7/8/20/28/38/41/48/66/71/77/78
Lumo:
All major LTE bands (B1‑B71) are present on the Fairphone, so you’ll get full 4G coverage everywhere the carrier has service.
5G sub‑6 GHz (n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n20, n28, n38, n41, n48, n66) are all supported, which includes every carrier’s low‑ and mid‑band 5G spectrum.
mmWave (high‑band 5G, e.g., n260, n261) is not supported, but those bands are optional and primarily used for ultra‑dense urban hotspots. You’ll still have robust 5G speeds via the sub‑6 GHz bands.
€564 Volla S23 Running Ubuntu Touch, no U.S. Cellular Compatibility
https://volla.online/en/volla-phone-x23/
GSM / 2G: 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
UMTS / 3G: B1(2100) / B8(900)
TDD / LTE / 4G: B38(2600) / B40(2300)
FDD / LTE / 4G: B1(2100) / B3(1800) / B5(850) / B7(2600) / B8(900) / B20(800) / B28AB(700)
Cellular not compatible with U.S. carriers. Might actually be a great option for a no-cellular spy phone in US. Just use an esim to activate then burn.
€719 Volla Phone Quintus Running Ubuntu Touch, Supports 5G but not US Bands
https://volla.online/de/shop/volla-phone-quintus/
Calling over VoLTE is not supported, please check that this is not a requirement in your country.
Alright so no WiFi calling or US cellular bands. Not worth the extra money versus Volla S23
Backlinks
Lumo Checking for Pegasus malware and analyzing silent SMS attack vectors
Lumo Syncthing Kopia Setup for Admins Part 1
Lumo Syncthing Kopia Setup for Admins Part 2 - Building a syncnet with SyncThing
Lumo Orbic hotspot Rayhunter setup
Notesnook Github Vercel project private wiki