A custom ROM allows you to extend the life of your Android phone, but does it come with risks in 2024 and why isn't it more popular?

I am surprised that Google spends so much time tackling custom ROMs via it’s Play Integrity API. If only they paid that much attention to say, curating the Play Store more, it had be much better for everyone

  • NoxyEnglish
    7•1 month ago

    I do, yes. First on a Pixel 5 and then (and currently) on a Pixel 8 Pro.

    The purely emotional icky feeling of giving Google money is far less important than the tangible security, privacy, and usability upsides of GrapheneOS on a supported device. But if that’s important to you, just buy a Pixel secondhand, Google gets no money from that.

    I wish more devices were supported too, but my understanding is that only Google makes devices that are both secure and open enough.

    Article in German, but the relevant points from the GrapheneOS lead are all in english: https://www.kuketz-blog.de/weshalb-grapheneos-aktuell-nur-google-pixel-geraete-unterstuetzt/

    One point about Samsung:

    Samsung takes security almost as seriously as Google, but they deliberately cripple their devices when you unlock them to install another OS and don’t allow an alternate OS to use important security features

    • @ouchEnglish
      3•1 month ago

      Samsung takes security almost as seriously as Google, but they deliberately cripple their devices when you unlock them to install another OS and don’t allow an alternate OS to use important security features

      What does the crippling and security features refer to?

      • NoxyEnglish
        3•1 month ago

        Seems like you can’t re-lock the bootloader after installing an alternative OS, for one

      • NoxyEnglish
        2•1 month ago

        I know exactly as much as you do about it. Just quoting the lead dev.

    • @ObsidianZedEnglish
      3•30 days ago

      I did not know most of that. Very informative, thanks!