Newbie here, potentially looking to switch to GrapheneOS - some questions first

CherryPi

Hello everyone. I'm currently considering getting a new phone and installing GrapheneOS onto it, but I have some basic questions that I need to ask before spending the money. I'm semi-tech literate, but not as up to speed as I'm sure a lot of you here are, so I hope you'll be able to bare with me - I have a few questions about using GrapheneOS that I need to ask about before I can really make a plan.

Firstly - the most recent phone I can really afford is the Pixel 8, at the very latest... but if it doesn't work out as my daily driver, then I really should get the Pixel 7 instead. I usually keep my phone for at least 5 years, is it worth it?

Secondly, if my GrapheneOS becomes outdated on my device, what should I do? Do I just have to scrap the phone? I can't really afford to lose that much money, as I'm of pretty limited financial means.

I'm also aware that the only device that can be secure enough to run GrapheneOS are the Google Pixel line of phones, which is unfortunate because the two features I always look for in my phone are a headphone jack (as I prefer wired headphones, guess I can forget that) and expandable storage via an SD card. As a result I might have to use an old phone for media related stuff and carry two devices (the second as a portable media player), because of where I live: In my area, phone connectivity and 4G/5G internet signal isn't very reliable, so what I do currently is download all my favorite videos and music and play it from local storage, which at 256GB will fill up relatively quickly.

One thing I have thought about though, is using a portable SSD and plugging it into the Pixel via a USB-C data cable, and streaming the stuff from there if needs be. Is it possible to do that while using GrapheneOS?

Lastly - I don't use Tor currently, but at some point very soon I may have no other option for secure browsing, as my country is trying to make it a legal requirement to submit photo ID to use a VPN service (currently, I use Mullvad). I saw "What kind of VPN and Tor support is available?" mentioned on the FAQs page, but the answer doesn't include any specific mention of using Tor. Is there something I'm missing?

I hope I'm not asking any stupid questions here, I just really wanna know a few things before I lay down some money for a refurbed Pixel phone. Thanks for reading!

Cherry

NoahRaketic

CherryPi the most recent phone I can really afford is the Pixel 8, at the very latest... but if it doesn't work out as my daily driver, then I really should get the Pixel 7 instead

You should not get a Pixel 7 for GrapheneOS. It does not support MTE and will only be supported until October 2027. The pixel 8 is supported until October 2030, and the Pixel 8a (cheaper) is supported until May 2031--over five years from now. See: https://grapheneos.org/faq#device-lifetime

CherryPi if my GrapheneOS becomes outdated on my device, what should I do

If you care about your security, then you will want to update your phone once it goes EOL. The stock Pixel OS, which will be the second most secure OS to use on your phone, will stop giving updates to the Pixel 7 on October 2027 as well. This means your only option for having a device with any security patches will be installing LineageOS, which is a massive security degradation from GrapheneOS and the stock Pixel OS.

CherryPi the answer doesn't include any specific mention of using Tor

Are you talking about the Tor Browser or the Tor network? The browser is supported on Android, and GrapheneOS by extension. To use the Tor network for apps, you can use Tor VPN (still not a stable release) or Orbot. These are both supported by GrapheneOS.

One thing to note--your concept of "secure browsing" is not correct here; there is nothing about the Tor Browser that is inherently secure, and it is considerably less secure than Chromium-based browsers because it is based on Firefox. If security is your concern, you should use Vanadium.

RandByte

CherryPi I'm also aware that the only device that can be secure enough to run GrapheneOS are the Google Pixel line of phones, which is unfortunate because the two features I always look for in my phone are a headphone jack (as I prefer wired headphones, guess I can forget that)

I'm also fond of wire headphones but there are various solutions to accommodate the lack of a native jack plug. As an example, I'm using the UGreen USB-C to Jack adapter which is cheap, universal and it works perfectly well. Any headphones, plain or with a mic, work without issue in my experience.

The only (small) issue is my GOS is configured to ignore any USB device except chargers when locked. So I can't just plug the adapter + headphones and start music as it won't work. I must unlock the device first which allows the adapter to be properly recognized and used.

CherryPi

NoahRaketic Okay, so if my only affordable option was a Pixel 7, I should just forget it and look at something else. Good to know. Also - thank you for the tip about the Pixel 8a - I had no idea it was cheaper, so thank you for letting me know (prior to this, the Pixel line of phones was always very unappealing to me, but given how bad things are getting with censorship, the potential forced downloading of apps and government control in my country, I'm willing to bite the bullet and switch for my own peace of mind, if nothing else.)

In regards to the Tor network thing - yes, I meant as a network, in place of a VPN - I should of clarified, my bad.

Also - I do apologise, "secure browsing" was a misnomer and probably not the right term at all. My main priorities are being able to bypass geoblocked content despite increasing government crackdowns and avoiding tracking from Google, Meta, etc. (This is another reason why I tend to download most of my media and enjoy it offline from an SD card, or I would guess in the case of GrapheneOS, an external SSD).

AcclaimSublevel19

RandByte I just got myself some USB-C headphones and they do the job perfectly. Won't work if you have to use a power bank at the same time, but they're still an option. If you're really into HiFi headphones it may be harder to find what you want with a USB-C connector, so an adapter is a good, cheap solution. I miss my headphone jack too...

schweizer

AcclaimSublevel19 No and no. If you use a power bank you will need a docking station imbetween. And the very best sound you get out of a mobile is through a usb audio interface. The audio interface may cost more than your phone but do not say the quality is lower with usb compared to internal headphones. The opposite is true.

Given that the majority of users do not care about security I recommend selling a Pixel once it gets older. Pixels are rather cheap if you divide the price by the number of supported years. If you plan to keep a phone for many years it is usually the best way to buy the second newest and keep it as long as you can. That would be the 9 series today.

CherryPi

AcclaimSublevel19 I am honestly considering just digging out my old MP3 player and using that again, not gonna lie, hah

Johnnyloans

CherryPi my only affordable option was a Pixel 7

With any phone you get--grapheneOS or not--older phones will be end of life sooner. E.g. if a 3 year old phone gets 4 years of security updates, then you have 1 year to use the phone and buy another.

The pixel 7 has 1yr 7 months left. Google could extend it out of the goodness of their hearts

End of life list for pixels

CherryPi

Johnnyloans Welp, I think what I'm starting to realise here is that I've been using EOL phones for most of my adult life, as I've never bought a handset for any more than about 200 dollars and they've usually all been out for at least 3 or 4 years by the point I get them, and I sometimes keep them for about 5 years or so... there's a sobering thought. When switching to GrapheneOS is the first time I've ever had to consider/think about this (not saying that's anything to do with GrapheneOS, just a reality I hadn't ever considered).

subwoofer

My daily driver is a pixel 8 and I am really happy with it. I don't know what your budget is but I got mine for £160 from ebay, ex display its in fantastic condition.
Contrary to some of the posts above I haven't found the 8a to be cheaper on the second hand market.