Moving Another Pixel to GrapheneOS
"It's alive!"
~Dr. Frankenkatt
It was one of those stormy weekends where the rain tapped against the windows and the sky looked like it was in a bad mood. Staying inside felt like the only sensible plan. Lucky for me, it was the perfect time to tinker with a tech project I’d been excited about: transforming my new Google Pixel 9 with GrapheneOS, a system that boosts privacy and security.
My old Pixel 7 had been with me for almost four years. It was like a loyal friend, but lately, it reminded me of an old pair of sneakers - still wearable, but definitely past its prime. The battery wasn’t holding up as well as it used to. Honestly, I could relate. My brain still thinks I’m 18, ready to take on the world, but my body disagrees most mornings until I’ve had my coffee. It was time for something new.
Here’s the thing about Pixels: they come with a pure version of Android, straight from Google, without all the extra stuff phone companies sometimes add. That’s great for someone like me who works with tech, but there’s a catch. It also means Google collects a lot of data about what I do. I wanted a phone that felt more like mine, not a tracker in my pocket. That’s why I turned to GrapheneOS. It’s like a privacy shield, cutting down on data collection and making the phone more secure.
I’d been dreaming of the Pixel 9, and when I spotted it on sale, it felt like fate. I picked it over the cheaper Pixel 9a for one big reason: the fingerprint reader. The Pixel 9 has a better one that works smoothly with privacy screens - you know, those covers that stop nosy people from glancing at your phone. Usually, I’d grab the budget model, but this time, I wanted that extra privacy edge.
That rainy Saturday morning, I got to work. Switching the Pixel 9 to GrapheneOS was fast and simple. Then I added my go-to apps. This time, I noticed something neat: more of them came from F-Droid, a store for apps that don’t need Google Play to run. Apps like Brave for browsing, Proton Pass and VPN for security, Ente for photos and authentication, Notesnook for secure note taking, and Futo Keyboard were all there. It felt good knowing I wasn’t tied to Google’s world.
So, what’s the payoff with GrapheneOS? For starters, it slashes the number of apps your phone has to carry. My old Pixel 7 had 107 apps, including a bunch I never used and couldn’t delete. On the Pixel 9 with GrapheneOS, that dropped to 47 - all apps I actually picked. Fewer apps mean less battery drain and less data about me floating around. Plus, GrapheneOS is built tough, like a locked safe, keeping out snoops and troublemakers. It’s peace of mind in your pocket.
This fits into something bigger called the deGoogle movement. People are stepping back from Google’s reach, wanting more control over their info. It’s not about hiding - it’s about choosing who gets to know you.
By the end of that rainy weekend, my Pixel 9 was running GrapheneOS, and I was estatic. It’s my phone now, not Google’s. Sometimes, a stormy day indoors sparks the best changes. Dr. Frankenkatt approves!
