seeking advice on whether GrapheneOS is right for me

DeletedUser1132

I currently use GrapheneOS on a Pixel 10 Pro Fold. I'm not a journalist or activist and probably won't ever be subject to a targeted attack.

I install all apps except for Beautyxt, Auxio and LibreTube from Google Play. I use Gmail for my personal email, although I don't use the full G-suite of apps (Keep, Docs, etc), I also use Google Health with a Fitbit Air. Health has the following (required) permissions:

Health, Fitness and wellness
Location (always)
Nearby Devices
Network
Notifications
Physical Activity
Sensors

other apps that could be classified as "privacy invasive" which I use are:

Gmail
Pixel Weather
Google Contacts
Gboard
Pixel Camera
Recorder
Google Maps ( I also use comaps for offline nav but Google maps when I have internet)
banking apps
transport apps

Benefits of GrapheneOS for me are:

Storage Scopes (I don't need them, but they could be useful)
Exploit protections
Network permission
security preview releases (faster patches)
Vanadium's built-in AdBlock (although there is the third party build of it available on play store)

Benefits of Stock would be:

Google Pay (this is important to me)
the ease-of-use and QoL features stock has (some of the features like nausea prevention using dots on the screen are important to me)
Apps not breaking suddenly because of Play integrity API (this happened with my bank's app and is something I want to absolutely avoid)

When using stock, I would be using APP for the device (I already do for the account). I would have to install the apps I use that aren't on the Play Store and update before enabling APP for the device.

I want to be clear that I fully understand that GrapheneOS is far more secure than the stock OS and will always be the better choice because of the huge amount of under-the-hood improvements, however I am very torn between being constantly reminded of the lack of features I'd like to have and knowing that I would have quire a bit worse security. Privacy from Google isn't something relevant to my case obviously.
After reading other threads on the forum about the same topic, I'm still unsure and would love to hear what other people think. Please just keep in mind that I will not be switching from using Google services like Health and my goal is not to maximize security, however I do prefer to choose the more secure option if possible.
Currently I am leaning towards switching to stock.

For My "Desktop" I use ChromeOS Flex.

VanDerKarbargenbok

DeletedUser1132 Google Pay (this is important to me)

Contactless payments with Google Pay do not work on GrapheneOS. If this is essential to you, then GOS is not the right choice for you.

DeletedUser1132 nausea prevention using dots on the screen

What???

Novaliss

DeletedUser1132 breaking suddenly because of Play integrity API (this happened with my bank's app and is something I want to absolutely avoid)

So, you cannot use your bank as of now? If this is the case, and a different bank isn't an option, then yes, you can't use your bank and likely need stock pixel. Which bank is it?

DeletedUser1132

VanDerKarbargenbok
"Motion Assist"
https://support.google.com/android/answer/18105165?hl=en

DeletedUser1132

Novaliss
No my bank's E-Banking app works, it was a banking app I used previously.

Novaliss

DeletedUser1132 like this one?
https://github.com/DavidVentura/motion-sickness-app/releases/download/v0.0.3/motion-sickness-release.apk

I'm not sure if it performs as the one you mentioned, but maybe?

If you want light dots, go:
Settings > Accessibility > Colour and motion > Dark theme > Expanded ,tap the cogwheel. Untoggle 'Motion cues'

Novaliss

DeletedUser1132 Got it.

erikfritzek

You can always switch back, so try gos. As you're not going to drop Google services, the switch back should not be that difficult (data is in the cloud)

DeletedUser1132 Google Pay (this is important to me)

Check if you're:
1) eligible for Curve pay https://www.curve.com/
2) lucky and your bank offers in-app nfc https://privsec.dev/posts/android/banking-applications-compatibility-with-grapheneos/#international-banking-apps

the ease-of-use and QoL features stock has (some of the features like nausea prevention using dots on the screen are important to me)

Find a Foss app

Apps not breaking suddenly because of Play integrity API (this happened with my bank's app and is something I want to absolutely avoid)

It's not that many, primarily government/fin, so check them here or on https://github.com/PrivSec-dev/banking-apps-compat-report/issues/

DeletedUser1132

erikfritzek

You can always switch back, so try gos.

I have, for 2 years. This was something that hasn't ever truly went away, although my enthusiasm for using GrapheneOS died down more and more over time.

erikfritzek Find a Foss app

that was one example, I mean all the QoL features which even 10% of can't be replaced with Foss apps. Also I don't want to hunt around.

erikfritzek Check if you're:
1) eligible for Curve pay https://www.curve.com/
2) lucky and your bank offers in-app nfc https://privsec.dev/posts/android/banking-applications-compatibility-with-grapheneos/#international-banking-apps

nope, unfortunately not... (this was a major pain point for me from the very beginning)

I would like to clarify, since I wasn't clear enough in my first post: I'm not looking for "workarounds", I'm asking whether GrapheneOS or Stock would fit my use better, because I'm still unsure.

Cellobright

DeletedUser1132 if you are a low risk individual and you prefer comfort and usability, I would say stock is the better choice. It has better integration with the hardware and allows you to fully utilize proprietary functions such as adaptive charging (charging up to a certain amount then stop until you almost wake up), on-device AI, and potentially exclusive feature drops. GrapheneOS is indeed more secure but stock Pixel is not insecure either.

Novaliss

DeletedUser1132 all the QoL features which even 10% of can't be replaced with Foss apps. Also I don't want to hunt around.

List the ones missing, we'll try our best hunting them down for you.

Carrousel7956

DeletedUser1132 the ease-of-use and QoL features stock has (some of the features like nausea prevention using dots on the screen are important to me)

Kinestop or foss apps are available and actually work better than stock.

erikfritzek

DeletedUser1132 I have, for 2 years

Right, if it's 2 years and you're not into being ascetic or the constant fun of finding foss app, sacrifice usability, watch it becoming abandonware, find replacement... rinse and repeat, then yes, stock is the way.

I would only add RethinkDNS to the stock for system-wide 3rd party trackers supression and, maybe, AppManager with it's new declared feature to remove network permission (that so far can't survive reboots, afaik)

Novaliss

erikfritzek would only add RethinkDNS to the stock for system-wide 3rd party trackers supression and, maybe, AppManager

Yees, and Activitymanager, and LibChecker. Let's fork Gos together.😉

DeletedUser1135

OP here, after flashing stock and using it for almost a full day, I realized that I prefer GrapheneOS after all. While as I stated previously, I do not plan on stopping using Google services, on stock they are far too integrated for my taste. The damn search bar can't even be removed on the launcher and Gemini can't be disabled fully without bricking basic QoL functionality like the thing at the top of the launcher which shows info and AI is completely impossible to disable in Gboard.

TL;DR: Google services are more usable on GrapheneOS somehow.

I will definitely will miss tap to pay and the more polished experience overall, but there's just as many if not more little annoyances, although they are of a different kind.

For anyone who is reading this who was in the same situation as me, I'd recommend asking a friend with a pixel to try some stuff out. Or if you live in a place where pixels are sold in physical stores, I guess that would also be possible.

PS: I can't really prove that I'm OP, but this post can be marked as resolved.