few / answers
Which Pixel should I buy for GrapheneOS?
Short answerA Pixel 8 or newer, including the 8a, 9a and 10a. They get at least 7 years of updates from launch. Buy it unlocked, not from a phone carrier.
Steps
- Buying new: any Pixel 8, 9 or 10, including the cheaper “a” models.
- On a budget: a used Pixel 8 or 8a still has years of support left.
- Skip the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. GrapheneOS support ends this month (October 2026).
- Pixel 6a, 7 and 7 Pro still work, but support ends between July and October 2027.
- Buy unlocked. Carrier phones, mostly in the US, often can’t be unlocked.
FAQ
- Why only Pixels?
- GrapheneOS needs a phone that lets you re-lock the bootloader with your own system and gets fast security updates. Today only Pixels meet its rules.
- Can I buy one with GrapheneOS already on it?
- The project says to install it yourself. It takes about an hour with the official web installer.
- Does my bitcoin wallet still work?
- Most wallet apps install fine from their official source. Google’s tap-to-pay won’t work, and some banking apps may refuse to run.