How to buy an OEM-unlockable Pixel from AliExpress?

Justineweres

I'm still struggling....

So, I can only buy from AliExpress and few unpopular websites to get pixel phone

The phone i want is p7p but i can only get the NO OEM version

Should i go for it ?

raccoondad

Justineweres Should i go for it ?

We can't verify if it will have OEM unlocking. There is no real way to tell. With aliexpress it may not even be a pixel device.

Kamika242

Justineweres Should i go for it ?

Under no circumstances. I love AliExpress, it's great for me for inexpensive home automation devices, but I would never buy high priced items, incl. smartphones there, even when AliExpress has, at least here in Germany, an excellent return policy.

Notme

I never used AliExpress, so take others advice.

Google Pixel 7 Pro OEM minimum supports ends on October 2027

P7p has a little more than a year left. And since you don't have a lot of ways to get the phone, I would buy the one which have more time.

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 10a, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel 10 Pro XL, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10, Pixel 9a, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9, Pixel 8a, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8
8th generation and later Pixels provide a minimum guarantee of 7 years of support from launch instead of the previous 5 year minimum guarantee. 8th generation and later Pixels also have 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. Pointer authentication, branch target identification and other ARM security features were also introduced at the same time as hardware memory tagging.

Source: GrapheneOS FAQ

Foggy

I'm assuming Pixels are not sold in your country. Could you use a 'parcel forwarding' service to order on from a reliable retailer in the US (I hear Best Buy is good for known unlocked phones, others can confirm). You get it delivered to your mailbox at the forwarding service (usually in some sales tax free US state), then they send it by international courier to your country.

There are many such services - I use MyUS who have been fine. There are also similar services in other countries - eg if you used one in Europe where phones aren't OEM locked then you could buy used phones from marketplaces like eBay and Back Market.

Justineweres

Notme

I think I'll go with 8 Pro but as i just said, almost the only place where i could buy that phone from is AliExpress

Still trying to understand the whole carrier variant and oem thing to make sure everything goes well

Carrousel7956

Kamika242 do you take steps to prevent your home becoming a residential proxy?

phonenotworking

Justineweres
I would buy at least an pixel 8 and after, check your country popular second hand smart phone market, like facebook marketplatz or whatever you have, in europe its more popular, check for a phone, ask the guy if he bought it from a cellur company, he says no, buy it. good luck

Kamika242

Carrousel7956

Everything is in my hands and local, no cloud, only Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi 5, only Zigbee devices.
The "smart" home devices on the local market here are also manufactured exclusively in China, in the same factories, no matter which brand stays behind, but are 2-3 times more expensive. You can get a device for 30€ on Amazon and the same device for 10-20€ on AliExpress. My LED-bulbs are an exception, they are all from Ikea, not expensive and better than any bulb I tried from AliExpress.