I have been convinced to switch from apple, and i am soon purchasing a pixel 7 pro. I would then like to put a custom rom on it because i would:
- like to use foss more
- like to maintain better privacy than apple offers
- would enjoy the control over the system
- not like to ever touch google chrome
There are some limitations to what i can choose though, as i need the following to work:
- google apps like sheets/docs/classroom/youtube
- banking app (usaa specifically)
- play store (could be replaced)
Additionally i would like to keep the flashy camera stuff google talks about with the camera as i use the camera a fair bit. I have also heard that androids can have different UIs, so i would appreciate a nice looking one (i use gnome on my desktop for this reason alone). What ROMs would you guys recommend i choose?
I mean, I’m always gonna recommend GrapheneOS. With sandboxed Google Play Services available in a work profile using Island, I’ve not yet found an app I can’t run.
Something worth mentioning is that android auto will not work for graphene. I was so on board until that. It’s understandable why that’s the case though.
This is exactly my dilemma. I’m trying to completely degoogle, but not having android-auto kinda screws me with my cars current audio unit.
Tap to pay too. I was on Graphene and I tried to set up GPay, which is the point I realized Graphene couldn’t do that (something something Google security services not compatible something something)
if youve already got a pixel, then grapheneos is hard to beat.
- google services (for maps, drive, docs, etc) can be used (not installed by default tho)
- youtube can be replaced with revanced (using microG) even without google services
- google play can be replaced with aurora store (alternative frontend only)
- afaik most banking apps should work, as phone is not rooted, tho i may be wrong
except for limited hardware support (pixels only really), grapheneos is definitely the best imo
Everyone else has mentioned the aurora store as an afterthought, almost as if it wasn’t really a recommendation and more so a mention. Why might they not recommend it?
Additionally do I need a google account to use grapheneOS?
i think most people would prefer foss apps, which arent common on aurora store, becuse it only shows apps from google play. if you need a proprietry app, like banking or something, aurora store is your best bet. it is debatable where you should get an app, if it is on both aurora and fdroid, but i personally would say go with fdroid if it is on there, because you know its foss, and theres less tracking. technically, you shouldnt need a google account to use aurora store, but i have had problems with the anonymous login, so im not sure. other than that, grapheneos does not need a google account connected to anything, by default. if you want to run google apps, like drive or docs, i believe they rely on ‘google play services’, which can certainly be set up on grapheneos, but you will need a google account, so its best avoided imo. also: the ‘droid-ify’ app is a nicer frontend to ‘f-droid’, and they use the same main app repository. some apps, like signal, are only available through aroura/play or downloading an .apk, but one installed, i think it automatically updates itself. hope this helps
Let me just add, if you for some reason like the UI of Aurora Store, there’s a FOSS equivalent called Aurora Droid, which includes on the same repositories as F-Droid and Droid-ify instead of Google Play.
On a sidenote, if you want to keep single apps up-to-date from a github repo, or even F-Droid, IzzyOnDroid etc. without installing an actual app store, use Obtainium.
Someone correct me if I’m wrong here, but GrapheneOS should meet all those requirements.
I haven’t done it yet as I’m still shamefully dependent on NFC payments, but most Pixel owners who have installed a custom ROM seem to prefer GrapheneOS. It’s literally made for Pixel phones:
GrapheneOS has official production support for the following devices:
- Pixel Fold (felix)
- Pixel Tablet (tangorpro)
- Pixel 7a (lynx)
- Pixel 7 Pro (cheetah)
- Pixel 7 (panther)
- Pixel 6a (bluejay)
- Pixel 6 Pro (raven)
- Pixel 6 (oriole)
- Pixel 5a (barbet)
- Pixel 5 (redfin)
- Pixel 4a (5G) (bramble)
- Pixel 4a (sunfish)
The following devices are end-of-life, no longer receive full security updates and are supported via extended support releases of GrapheneOS:
- Pixel 4 XL (coral)
- Pixel 4 (flame)
We provide extended support releases as a stopgap for users to transition to the far more secure current generation devices.
LineageOS is always a good bet, but using a custom ROM will require you to root, which breaks most banking apps.
From what you are looking for, I would say you might not need a custom ROM, as you have much greater control over your system compared to an iPhone already, and unlike iPhone where all browsers are variations of Safari, Firefox is available as an alternative without using a custom ROM.
UIs (called launchers) in Android are a matter of personal preference, a lot of people do like Pixel experience though.
I’d say get the P7P and use it as is for a couple of days before you decide if you want to use a custom ROM instead.
This is good advice, i will wait a few days. That being said, if i can get all my apps working and i do decide to go for it, how would lineageOS compare to something like GrapheneOS for example? what other kinds of things might i lose if i choose to use a custom ROM?
I’ve been using Lineage since it was called CyanogenMod (was maintainer for Samsung Tab S2). It is the cleanest rom I found. You’ll need a gapps (google apps) source, but there is Nickgapps that gives a core set that only gives google store and the required services, so you can add whatever you want from the store.
I don’t know GrpahenOS, but the only one even less bloated I know is AOSP, on which Lineage is based. You can add whatever you want, root is available via Magisk, which gives even more options. (Ad blocking via LSposed and MinMinGuard spring to mind)
lineages is focused more on customisability and features and device longevity
grapheneos is focused on security and privacy
many features implemented in grapheneos has been upstreamed in aosp(base) android
one disadvantage of grapheneos’ approach is it stops updating after vendor(google) stops updating the firmware as it considers the device depricated
Will it receive updates after reflashing the stock ROM? Or is there another way? Through updating GrapheneOS?
but using a custom ROM will require you to root, which breaks most banking apps.
this is misinformation
installing a custom rom doesn’t require root in fact, some custom roms advice you against it like divestos, grapheneos, calyxos and some more
Sorry if this is really basic, but what is rooting? What are the positives and negatives of it?
rooting means gaining root access of android device
in Linux file systems, root is the base folder called / and then comes other folders
like(simplified) /Downloads/boku_no_pico means boku_no_pico is in downloads folder which is inside root
so now, in traditional android based os, there are some folders which are not permitted to be accessed like system folder and rooting means gaining access to that folder, which gives you access to modifying any property of the system
some negatives are that there are some crappy services who think rooting is only/mostly done by bad actors who are trying to abuse their services (basically Netflix, bank apps) so they try to block rooted users from using their services
but these dumb big tech employees can’t even do one thing properly, hiding root is really easy once you get used to it, so now bad actors can still abuse their system and honest users suffer
Oops. You’re right, my mistake, guess my information is a bit out of date.
