• Off Topic

  • How to purchase a Pixel phone for GrapheneOS?

I've decided that I'm going to get a Pixel 6a to start using GrapheneOS. However, I was hoping for feedback on how to purchase the phone in the US and then add my existing SIM card/number to it. The simplest option would be to order it directly from Google as a factory unlocked phone (e.g., using a Privacy.com credit card). However, then Google would be able to tie the phone's IMEI with my address and name. What privacy risk does this pose? Since Google won't have access to the IMEI after the purchase, what should I expect them to do with this information? How could they use this information for marketing or other purposes? I plan on using my existing phone number, so my carrier will already be able to associate the IMEI with my identity.

I'm excited to join the GrapheneOS community soon!

    Are you OK with buying used? I used swappa because the have a good guarantee.

    sirfartsalot are there no third party brick and mortars that will carry it? If buying outright paying in cash would surely be possible?
    Buying direct from Google doesn't really pose any privacy risk beyond Google knowing your name and the IMEI.
    Personally I wouldn't have an issue with it, I mean if your device suffers an issue under warranty are you not going to send it in to them for repair etc are you going to replace the device wholesale instead of getting a faulty USB port fixed for example?

      I’ve purchased with cash from local Best Buy in the past. Often hard to find one with inventory but you can see local availability on their website before going in.

      I don’t like the idea of buying from google either where they’ll always tie my identity to the IMEI.

      To rephrase the question, why should I care about Google knowing both my identity and the IMEI? What privacy risk does this pose? My carrier will already know my identity and IMEI anyways, and I'm not familiar enough with IMEI to understand the concern.

        sirfartsalot My advise would be to go the BestBuy route. Google ships their phones via FedEX and the likelihood that your phone actually makes it to your home is slim to none. When I purchased my Pixel 6 FedEx delivered to me an empty box as my phone had been stolen en route.

        If I hadn't been there to receive it I would have been out $600.00 as from what I've heard Google and FedEX finger point and neither of them cares about resolving the actual issue.

        I got Google to refund my money based on my refusal of the delivery and went to BestBuy and bought the same device from them.

        The Google rep that refunded my money didn't even bat an eye when I told him FedEx had stolen my phone. He just sighed and processed my refund.

        I can't answer any of your privacy related questions but I would avoid the Google store at all costs.

          I bought mine from Best Buy with cash. You can then buy a SIM card pack, and phone/data plan from Tracfone from the drugstore with cash. Choose which carrier SIM you want to use, and setup a new account with Tracfone, completely anonymous (use a new free email account with protonmail, or other). If you want to keep your previous phone number, you can port that number to your new SIM. However, then your known identity to that number will still be intact. So it depends on how far you want to get away from them knowing who you are and what you are doing. For me, I really just want my activity on my phone to be private. So I will be porting my phone number to the new SIM. You can use an independent VPN to encrypt your traffic in transit, and use the FOSS apps to keep your business to yourself. Put GrapheneOS into 'Airplane Mode' to turn off the cell phone tower tracking.