Buying the Pixel 8a in China and China Telecom network

Heclalava

I am buying the Pixel 8a imported from the USA and not carrier locked, and I am a China Telecom user. I have heard from the supplier that the Chinese mobile networks are an issue with this device, but they have a work around with root access. They don't do the patch themselves and send the phone to somoene else to do it for them so they aren't really sure what the procedure is. Any update or factory reset and you lose the patch.

I was going to root the device anyway as I need certain apps like Adaway as root so my VPN uses the VPN slot and not Adaway, Island to isolate WeChat, Baidu Maps, etc.

So I came across a couple of guides and discussions on XDA: 1, 2 about this topic on a quick search.

So my question is this issue with Chinese mobile networks not working because of the Stock OS from Google and them placing the restrictions?

If I were to flash GrapheneOS would these restrictions be patched and no need to apply the root patches like on the Stock ROM?

Any users in China with the 8a got any feedback here on this matter?

Upstate1618

Heclalava
5g, volte and vonr do not require root. You can use Pixel IMS.
There's also no need to use Adaway along with your VPN stops. You can configure ad blocking rulesets in your VPN app.