What carriers are compatible with Graphene OS?

mrpringles

Hey, I'm new to Graphene OS, and I'm looking to get a new phone and install Graphene OS. I just want to be 100% sure of everything before I start the process. I plan on getting a Google Pixel 7 and buying it through Amazon. Now I really don't know how SIM cards work, and this is the part I'm confused about. Any time I've gotten a phone, the carrier part of it was already setup. This is the first time I am buying my own phone and putting a lot of thought into what phone I am getting and how to go about it. Is there a specific phone carrier I should go with? Are all phone carriers compatible? If they aren't, which ones are? Also, last thing I was wondering, why are Google Pixels the recommended phone? What makes them so good for Graphene OS?

titaniumtown

mrpringles AFAIK, all carriers that work with the Pixel, work with GrapheneOS. I can personally attest to Verizon working and using an international plan oversees in Europe on my pixel 7. No issues.

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mrpringles

Hi and welcome!

If you spend 30 - 40 minutes reading through GOS official site https://grapheneos.org it will answer so much of what you'd like to know about. Also, check out this channel (this particular video answers one of your questions): https://yewtu.be/watch?v=1nj3vnHvn84

Some quick answers:

It's better to get Pixel 7a or later. Support lasts for 5 years since release and P7 is already a one year old device.
Some carriers lock their phones to only function on their networks. If you don't get such locked device, it should work with any SIM, anywhere. So basically don't acquire your Pixel from a carrier or their affiliate.
You can buy 10 SIMs from 10 carriers and they will all work. Modern devices are carrier-agnostic unless above.
Pixels have a set of features that make them uniquely suitable for GOS purpose/goals. It's basically the best, and the reason they don't offer other brands is because GOS doesn't want to compromise on that (best bar none, you could say).

Hope this helps!

de0u

[deleted] You can buy 10 SIMs from 10 carriers and they will all work.

Well, 9 of them, probably. There have been recent reports on this forum involving, if I remember, Cellcom in Wisconsin not working w/o the stock OS, and 5G not working in some countries in Europe.

mrpringles Is there a specific phone carrier I should go with? Are all phone carriers compatible?

It would help if you could say which carriers you are considering, or at least which country you're in.

mrpringles

titaniumtown Thank you! I was also wondering why are Google Pixel phones the recommended phone for Graphene OS? What makes them so good for Graphene OS?

mrpringles

[deleted] Thank you so much for the help!

mrpringles

de0u My options are Verizon, T-Mobile, At&t, and sprint

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de0u

Genuinely surprised to learn that. Thanks for pointing it out.

de0u

mrpringles My options are Verizon, T-Mobile, At&t, and sprint

I have been using GrapheneOS on Verizon since some time in 2020. Before that AOSP suport for VoLTE was dodgy, and Verizon was very pushy about VoLTE. But it has worked well since. I have not tried visual voicemail.

Isn't Sprint being merged into somebody? If so that seems like maybe something to skip. I suspect people will chime in saying AT&T and T-Mobile will be fine.

Make sure you have a completely unlocked phone!

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mrpringles Don't assume everybody on this board lives in the USA. Maybe you should have specified your country of origin at the start. Thanks.