GrapheneOS could break Pixel exclusivity in 2026 with "major OEM" partnership

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Update 15/10/25 – 01:05 pm (IST): GrapheneOS also provided additional clarification about their upcoming OEM partnership, addressing concerns about driver licensing and device requirements.

The team confirmed there won’t be licensing issues with the partnership, as this is an official collaboration where the OEM will provide official GrapheneOS support. According to GrapheneOS moderators on Reddit, they can likely obtain source code access to Snapdragon firmware and userspace components, though this isn’t a hard requirement for the initial device launch. The source access would enable additional security hardening in future updates.

Regarding Play Integrity API compatibility, GrapheneOS clarified that device and strong integrity levels aren’t actual security checks. The OEM partnership won’t change Google’s stance on permitting non-Google Mobile Services operating systems to pass these integrity checks, as GrapheneOS doesn’t license or integrate GMS with privileged access.

The team also noted that future support will likely remain focused on flagship models due to required security features and support costs involved.

Update 14/10/25 – 03:10 pm (IST): The GrapheneOS team has ruled out Fairphone as a possible OEM to which it will extend support. Responding to a query on Bluesky about the potential extension of GrapheneOS to Fairphone devices, the team said:

"No, those aren’t not secure devices meeting our requirements. Fairphone lags far behind on support for current Android versions and providing important privacy/security patches for drivers/firmware. Important hardware-based security features are also missing."

They followed up with an example, noting:

"Pixel 6 and Fairphone 4 were both released in October 2021. Pixel 6 launched with Android 12 and received each monthly, quarterly and yearly release. It has Android 16 QPR1 and moved to Linux 6.1. Fairphone 4 is on the initial yearly release of Android 13, which is end-of-life soon. Pixel 6 launched with the Linux 5.10 LTS branch and then moved to the Linux 6.1 LTS branch. Pixel 8 and later have 7 years of support from launch so they’ll update to new kernel branches multiple times rather than once. Pixel 8 went from 5.15 to 6.1 but will need to move to newer kernels."

So well, there goes one OEM plenty of people assumed would be the “major OEM” the team was going to partner with.

 

FOLLOW THE LINK TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE WHICH IS BELOW THE UPDATED SECTION I POSTED: HTTPS://PIUNIKAWEB.COM/2025/10/13/GRAPHENEOS-ENDING-PIXEL-EXCLUSIVITY-NEW-OEM/