No Gapps, no problem?
Previously, the thought had come into my head to run Android without Google apps but due to a variety of factors I opted not to. Fast forward ~8 years and now it is very viable to run Android without Gapps. Google apps are the pieces of Android that Google places in the operating system in order to get the Play store to function as well as most of the core behind the scenes stuff that goes on.
Why?
Privacy and Security
Also, my Son completely destroyed the screen on my Oneplus 10 pro and I need something to replace it.
How?
After installing many custom roms, I am familiar with the tools and tasks in order to get off running. GrapheneOS takes all of that out of the equation and makes it the easiest and most seamless experience I have ever had. The install takes place over a web browser and takes around 10 minutes.
Results?
Honestly, I think that this experiment has been a great success over the past 3 months. I have found myself not using my phone as much in the normal time wasting ways I have previously.
Cons?
Well, I would be lying if I said that the experience didn’t have a couple of things that were bumps in the road. The device itself feels slower and doing things often takes more time. I am unsure if this is a baseband issue with my carrier or not but prior to updating to Graphene the phone’s cellular network felt much faster. Installing apps takes longer through Aurora or F-Droid. The maps alternatives aren’t as good as google maps. Losing the ability to use my banking applications on my phone (pro and a con). No access to Android Auto
Resolution.
The cell phone is a tool and eventually the needle can get moved to where the tool is using you. Not having Gapps has been a great exercise in critical thinking, work arounds and optimization. That being said, I have reinstalled stock PixelOS after I saw a friend of mine screen a call through the google automated screening tool. Mobile computing on pocket screens where you don’t own the hardware is only as private as you believe it to me without getting something like a Pinephone. Even then, you are using cellular service which connects to a tower that you don’t own.
Future-
It looks like Android Auto got patched into GrapheneOS via some additional functionality. This might make me revisit it and reflash my phone once I take an accurate inventory of all apps installed but I will circle back on that likely in Q2 2024