GrapheneOS for Pixel 10 vs. GrapheneOS for Pixel 9, 8, 7, 6

Graphner

I have been unable to find an answer to my question among the vast number of messages about GrapheneOS for Google Pixel 10.

I saw that a month ago, a version of GrapheneOS for all versions of Google Pixel 10 called “experimental” was released. I wanted to know if the difficulties that Google has created really mean that it is better to buy a model prior to Google Pixel 10 to ensure that GrapheneOS works perfectly. What concerns me most is whether GrapheneOS for Google Pixel 10 will have any limitations compared to GrapheneOS for Google Pixel 9, 8, 7, or 6. I imagine it will, due to the aforementioned changes that Google has made to make things difficult for GrapheneOS.

All I want is for GrapheneOS to work the same as on any other Google Pixel, regardless of the phone, but I prefer something that still has as many years of updates ahead of it as possible. I hope that one day GrapheneOS will be available on other brands.

On the other hand, will a final version for Google Pixel 10 see the light of day? When can we expect it?

wizoatk

Graphner will a final version for Google Pixel 10 see the light of day? When can we expect it?

The short answers are: Yes. No ETA. The rough guidance has been not this year and maybe months. It is expected that all Pixel 10 series phones will have full support. It's just taking more work, testing, fixing for <reasons>.

Your implied questions have been discussed multiple times and followup is probably best done there as this is not really a development issue.
https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/25099-pixel-10-experimental-support-for-grapheneos-is-now-available

Murcielago

Graphner

I wanted to know if the difficulties that Google has created really mean that it is better to buy a model prior to Google Pixel 10 to ensure that GrapheneOS works perfectly.

Right now it doesn't work perfect but it's also not what you'd expect from something being experimental:

You might as well install GrapheneOS on it and set it up now. It's marked experimental because there are USB connectivity issues and some occasional crashes to resolve. You might not want to fully depend on it as a daily driver yet but it's fairly reliable already other than USB. You're treating it as if it's not supported when it is, it's just not production quality yet.

source: https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/25099-pixel-10-experimental-support-for-grapheneos-is-now-available/642

Maybe you'll also find the GrapheneOS project's recommendations helpful:

We strongly recommend only purchasing one of the following devices for GrapheneOS due to better security and a long minimum support guarantee from launch for full security updates and other improvements:

Pixel 10 Pro Fold (experimental)
Pixel 10 Pro XL (experimental)
Pixel 10 Pro (experimental)
Pixel 10 (experimental)
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. GrapheneOS uses hardware memory tagging by default to protect the base OS and known compatible user installed apps against exploitation, with the option to use it for all apps and opt-out on a case-by-case basis for the few incompatible with it.

source: https://grapheneos.org/faq#recommended-devices

Choosing a device depends on a number of factors (budget, software support, camera, battery, display, and other features, to name just a few coming to my mind), so it's difficult to give you specific advice.

Purely anecdotal and personal: My Pixel 9 Pro was stolen and I needed a replacement quickly. I wanted a 9 Pro, but was able to buy a lightly used 10 Pro for less money – I installed experimental build from day 1, had only minor issues and haven't regretted it so far. If i wouldn't care so much about cameras, I personally would daily drive a 9a.

secrec

They always label newly supported devices as "experimental" for the first little while. My wife's P7P met an unfortunate end by being dropped, so she bought a new P10PXL. Its working beautifully on grapheneos.

dc32f0cfe84def651e0e

Murcielago 8th/9th generation Pixels provide a minimum guarantee of 7 years of support from launch instead of the previous 5 year minimum guarantee.

I doubt the built-in battery will keep up this long :(

MrH1325

Have some fam with new 10 Pros today. I'll warn them of experimental status. I'm assuming issues will be naturally phased out with regular updates and the regular updates will flow without the need for another full wipe and install when the OS leaves experimental status.

de0u

MrH1325 I'm assuming issues will be naturally phased out with regular updates and the regular updates will flow without the need for another full wipe and install when the OS leaves experimental status.

That is the strong expectation.

secrec

MrH1325 I'll warn them of experimental status.

I wouldn't make it a "warning". Just tell them its new and could have the odd bug.

EndoPlant

I have personally had no issues on my 10 pro xl since one of the most recent updates. It's been as stable as my 7 pro has been over the past 3 years in the past week or so.

Previously I had full system crash-reboots around once every day or two. I'd been running it since day 1 of experimental availability.

Vincent96

My Pixel 10 Pro XL doesn't do USB file transfer without some convincing, and I've had a few crashes. Other then that is working great.

Psyonico

FWIW I've been running the "experimental" version since December 9th and have had no crashes or USB connectivity issues, so my experience says it is pretty darn stable.

From the pinned thread about the P10, the bugs that exist are apparently pretty deep in the code, so it will likely take a little while for "experimental" to drop off, but I do expect it will drop off and P10s will be like any other pixel when it comes to GOS support.

Graphner

Thank you very much for all your answers.

I see that some users in the thread you showed me believe that the stable version of GrapheneOS could be released in March. I really think that perhaps it would be best to wait until then to decide whether to buy a Google Pixel 10 (any version) or not, and see if everything works perfectly by then, as is the case with the 8th/9th generation Pixels.

I imagine that the stable release will solve all the problems mentioned in that other thread, such as:

-USB connectivity issues.
-Some occasional crashes.

It's clear that if I need to connect a power bank or an external SSD, those USB connectivity issues are a major problem for me.

I hope Google hasn't made or isn't going to make things so difficult with the 10th generation Pixels that using GrapheneOS on those phones becomes an almost constant problem in some respects. I think that's the fear we all have here. That's why I still think it might be a better decision to buy an 8th/9th generation Pixel, even if it has fewer years of support. But I'm still unsure what to do. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that GrapheneOS will be available on other devices sooner or later.

wizoatk

dc32f0cfe84def651e0e I doubt the built-in battery will keep up this long :(

A replacement battery might.