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In terms of user experience, it's pretty obvious that GrapheneOS suffers by comparison. For example, the camera app isn't as amazing as it is on Pixel with full Google Android, and it probably never will be. You can install apps from the Google pay store with Aurora -- even things like Google maps and Gboard for swipe typing, but you will probably prefer them to be more secure and so you'll lock them down as much as possible, lessening their utility. So, in "practical", non-privacy/non-security terms, it's crazy to want something like this instead of the "real" Pixel 6 Pro experience (or Samsung S21 Ultra, or iPhone 13 Pro Max, etc), or perhaps until you read e.g. the shockingly bad Samsung privacy policy. However, there are some other benefits derived from the privacy aspects that aren't strictly privacy benefits themselves: * Hobby enjoyment * Trusting (to a degree) your device But, for me, I love my GrapheneOS phone and it's all of the above. I can live with the limitations, for the most part, and I've also purchased a wonderful Fujifilm camera when I really want to take amazing photos, which of course blows away any phone camera system anyway. The Pixel itself is still a really great smart phone experience, and way beyond my Pine phone (current generation) in terms of both security and usability, even without the few things that are taken out when you switch from Google to open source Android. |
GrapheneOS recently added our own modern Camera app replacing the legacy AOSP Camera. You can also use the Google Camera app included in the stock OS on GrapheneOS if you want more features. It only depends on GSF which can be installed alongside it as another fully sandboxed app. They work the same way as any other apps. There's a guide on the camera at https://grapheneos.org/usage#camera. GrapheneOS has the same camera quality and features as the stock OS. It's the apps which are different, and you can use the stock OS camera app.
It's also possible to use Play services (GMS) and the Play Store as fully sandboxed apps due to the sandboxed Play services compatibility layer on GrapheneOS. You might be choosing to use it without that but it does have broad app compatibility for users who want it. You don't have to give up much to use GrapheneOS anymore. Not every Play services feature is available but the functionality that's available is steadily expanding as we make extensions to the compatibility layer.
https://grapheneos.org/usage#sandboxed-play-services
The compatibility layer enables using GSF, GMS and the Play Store as fully sandboxed apps with exactly the same restrictions and permission model as any other user installed app. That includes the improvements offered by GrapheneOS such as the Sensors toggle, Network toggle, stronger sandbox and other privacy/security improvements protecting the OS from apps.