This was a very comprehensive overview. Kudos to the author. But it also made me think I'll stick to lineageOS.
I'm getting my first Pixel soon (the 9), mainly for the small size and years of upgrades.
Thought about trying graphene, but it just protects against a huge amount of things that don't matter for my threat model. If an adversary gets access to my phone, they'll almost certainly wipe and sell it, not hack into it.
I've used LineageOS for many years (on One Plus 6T). Recently switched to GrapheneOS for a new Pixel 9. Couldn't be happier with the change - especially Sandboxed Google Play.
GrapheneOS offers so much privacy features. And is always up-to-date.
There's single thing missing: option to turn on flashlight while screen is off using the power button gesture. But installing the "FlashDim" app does that (with no permissions except accessibility).
Yeah, I’m on GrapheneOS with the 9 as well now. Wanted to give Google a chance, lasted 2 hours ;)
I do sorely miss two LineageOS customization features, though.
* Keyboard navigation settings, GrapheneOS is super AOSP barebones there, which indeed makes gestures superior, but with LineageOS I’m far faster with the buttons.
* A feature that IMO should be in the base version of android, but somehow is not: Volume buttons for moving the cursor in a text field. Using touch for that is many times harder and slower when it’s stupidly simple to do so with the volume rocker.
I'm getting my first Pixel soon (the 9), mainly for the small size and years of upgrades.
Thought about trying graphene, but it just protects against a huge amount of things that don't matter for my threat model. If an adversary gets access to my phone, they'll almost certainly wipe and sell it, not hack into it.