Having used Android phones on stock OS for many years, I bought a Pixel 6 in 2022 with the express intention of flashing it to Grapheneos.

After flashing it and using Grapheneos for 2 years, I had had no problems, so I bought a Pixel tablet in 2024 with the express intention of flashing it to Grapheneos.

After flashing it and using Grapheneos for a year, I had had no problems. However, security updates for the Pixel 6 that I had bought run out in a year. I have, therefore, bought a Pixel 9 Pro XL with the express intention of flashing it to Grapheneos.

I have flashed it to Grapheneos and this is the point. This, RIGHT HERE, is the point where you discover why you’ve moved from stock OS to Grapheneos. You are now essentially just upgrading your hardware.

Other people are buying new phones so that they get access to whatever fancy new software or apps come pre-installed on that phone. I am buying a new phone so that I have access to the extra years of security updates for the hardware and firmware but I can still use, or not use, whatever apps I want on that phone.

My partner, who uses stock android or an iphone depending on which shiny new thing they want asked me how I was getting on with my new phone and was very confused when I said “it works fine, I currently have it set the same as my old one”. Lol.