Usually, I have a spare Pixel on hand to test things out with, but the power button broke off of my 2XL.
Anyway, I’ve had a 10a for a couple of weeks now after my 9a was stolen, and I’m finding it really difficult to get jazzed about starting from scratch.
As such, this seems like the perfect time to say “fuck it, I’m giving GrapheneOS a try.”
So, my questions are:
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Does my eSIM remain intact on the device?
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How do I get apps without Google Play?
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Can I still attach a Gmail account for notifications without going all in?
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What about contacts and message history?
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Is there a good way to get my password keychain transferred?
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What is the status of NFC payments?
This whole experience has been hell (I last had to set up from scratch with my 2XL, and as I’m on a 10a now, seems like that was eight years ago), but it’s not even done, and I have no interest in finishing.
This said, as a homeless single guy, having a phone is important, and while I’ve rooted some lesser phones in the past via ADB, I have no margin for error here.
ETA: Without NFC, it can’t be done. My physical card was canceled because my phone was stolen, so my only form of payment is NFC. That’s a shame.
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Writing this on GrapheneOS right now:
- I think esims remain on your device, but I’m not 100% sure. Most providers allow you to, fairly easily, request a new esim though, just make sure you go through necessary verification steps before you switch -You can install Google Play, it’s just not pre installed. I unfortunately have a few Apps that don’t have a FOSS replacement, so I just have those running as normal
- Yup, I have my Google account set up as I would have on any other android phone, with Gmail, google messages, … all working as expected
- If you had them synced to your Google account through individual apps in the past, they’ll be synced here too. Just be aware that Stock Android full OS backups can’t be restored on GrapheneOS. Worst case, there are apps that’ll backup your messages and calls to a file, and you can simply copy that off your phone, and put it back on again after the conversion
- If they’re saved in Chrome, they should also sync over. But as others have mentioned, you can also just get a proper password manager like bitwarden and have them in there. That’s what I did, and I don’t regret it. And yes, they’ll still autofill in apps and stuff
- That depends entirely on your bank. If your bank issues its own cards through its own app, they’ll most likely work, see the list other people have posted. If your bank relies on Google Pay, it won’t work.
I think that should answer everything? The installation itself is super easy and painless, their online installer works like a charm, so in that regard it’s probably the easiest custom tom I’ve ever installed
You will not be able to use NFC for payments. In my case, it didn’t work for public transit cards either. That’s the only thing stopping me from switching.
Not exactly true.
I run GrapheneOS and can use NFC payments. You just need the right app and provider.
In the UK there’s Curve and in Europe there are a number of banks that have apps that can provide the requisite functionality.
Be aware that if you fail the ID check for Curve (which I somehow managed to do) they’ll essentially just ghost you without offering the opportunity to try again. I’ve tried a few times to get someone from their customer service to help me sort it out, but it always fizzles out after a couple of messages.
As an alternative, I use Monzo with a Garmin watch. It’s not perfect because I have to transfer any money I want available from my bank to Monzo, but once I’ve done that it’s easy enough to access on my watch. All in all, I mostly carry my bank card in a magsafe wallet, but it’s handy to have payments on my watch in a pinch.
Damn. Well, thus ends this excursion. At least I didn’t end up in Iran first.
Is it really that big of a sacrifice to carry a few cards?
After ten years of being able to only carry my iPhone, it felt like quite a regression going back to carrying my wallet after I got a Pixel and put Graphene on it. That and not having face unlock any more made me feel like maybe I’d made a mistake. But I got over it soon enough.
Some “cards” are NFC-only
Yes and?
Personally, I could do without Google Wallet. I usually carry my credit card and ID around with me. However, Chicago’s CTA system has a pretty good mobile app and it’s easier to manage your passes and fare that way.
You can use google play services and google apps on graphene, it sandboxes google from the rest of your device. If you don’t want it, you install alternative app stores but apps depending on google services won’t work
Contacts and message history in what apps? Export them if you can
What’s a password keychain? Most people use a password manager you’d just log into on graphene
Google allows you to save passwords across apps, whereas a password manager remains in the browser.
Password managers like bitwarden also function across apps and are not limited to browsers
You can have 3rd party password managers, like bitwarden, that works across apps too.
I’m curious about dual boot on an Android device
Does my eSIM remain intact on the device?
Define “intact”?
How do I get apps without Google Play?
Aurora Store, Drodify, Accrescent, Obtainium, etc.
Can I still attach a Gmail account for notifications without going all in?
If your admin settings allow you yo use a third party app, yes.
What about contacts and message history?
What about them?
Is there a good way to get my password keychain transferred?
I dunno what a “password keychain” is.
What is the status of NFC payments?
Can’t do it. Carry a credit card.
NFC payments are possible.
Blanket statements like this are harmful to GrapheneOS adoption.
