Does it make sense to have both a non-Pixel Android and a Pixel simultaneously?

NatureFriends

Hi everyone.

So, I already have a recent, really powerful non-Pixel Android that I got at a good price brand new given the specs, but I do really value privacy and have been looking at some refurbished Pixel 7 Pro/8 Pro/9 Pro XL‘s that I’ve found on eBay at pretty decent prices.

But I’m wondering if it defeats the purpose of privacy if I still have a non-Pixel Android with stock Android OS at the same time?

For the record, I have installed lots of alternative apps to enhance privacy on this non-Pixel Android (like Signal, Ente Photos, Brave browser, Rethink, many Fossify open source apps, etc.) and deleted some pre-installed invasive apps via Canta/Shizuku.

I don’t do a lot on this non-Android Pixel (like banking) as I mostly use my iPad/Mac for my daily life, but I know that even the most powerful Pixels aren’t great at gaming and this phone I have excels at the most demanding games at high frame rates and it has phenomenal battery life and charging speeds, which Pixels don’t have either, which is largely why I bought it.

What do you think? Is it pointless to privacy having both phones?

Blastoidea

NatureFriends

I did it for a year or so, and found it to be a throbbing pain in the ass.

You may have a different experience.

subwoofer

NatureFriends my original plan was to have a stock android daily driver and a back office graphene os but now I've seen how good GOS is I want both devices on it.
I currently run an iphone11 for the few problematic apps (hang your head in shame revolut) but once they are irradicated I will be fully graphened.

DeletedUser616

Why would it be pointless to privacy? It isn't black-or-white.

nei

There are many aspects to privacy. There are also many threats where every technological piece is trying to undermine it, hardware or software. Having a stock Android, Pixel or not, exposes you to some of them even without any other apps installed, unless the phone never connects to any network. If you carry with you this phone that doesn't respect your privacy and install apps that don't either, there's going to be some exposure there. Can the exposure be made worse if you, for example, allow location? Yes.

What do you hope to get by having GrapheneOS on another phone while carrying both around?

hello-gos

nei one scenario where you have to carry two is when phone is provided by work and using separate personal phone.

nei

hello-gos Yes, and it's better not to use the work phone for anything personal in such cases, but this doesn't look to be the case here.