GrapheneOS offers 7 years of software support for new Motorola phones

I’ve been using GrapheneOS for several months on my Google Pixel 6 Pro. There are many benefits to running the operating system, but I’ve switched because the Pixel 6 Pro and other Pixel phones will soon no longer have software support. And as someone who is security-focused and doesn’t like spending money unnecessarily, GrapheneOS is a real lifesaver.

Although the operating system has worked on various Google Pixel devices in the past, Motorola fans will have access to it next year. GrapheneOS is coming to the new Motorola Razr Fold and Razr Ultra phones, and the announcement also says that these devices will get 7 years of support, meaning you can continue using your favorite foldable for almost a decade.

What’s refreshing is that the Graphene team says that Motorola does the heavy lifting to get the operating system up and running on its devices. It’s great to see a partnership like this come to fruition, as it means more options for consumers and helps more devices stay in use and out of landfills.

Graphene has been in the news a lot in recent months, particularly regarding how seriously GrapheneOS takes user privacy. And even though interest in the operating system has increased, not everyone can take advantage of it. Unfortunately, GrapheneOS is currently only available on Google Pixel devices, from the Google Pixel 5 to the Google Pixel 10.

This is not because the GrapheneOS team doesn’t like other Android devices, but because only Google Pixel devices currently meet the stated hardware security requirements. To date, only Google Pixel devices support the operating system, with Motorola being the first company to officially offer support with the upcoming Motorola Razr Fold, Razr Ultra, and an as-yet-undisclosed non-foldable device.

While GrapheneOS may be irrelevant for most Android users, that doesn’t mean you don’t have other options. If you own an Android device, you may want to consider alternative operating systems such as /e/OS, or purchase a Fairphone 6 that natively supports the alternative operating system. Other options, such as LineageOS and CalyxOS, are also available and often offer broader compatibility with more Android phones and devices.