GrapheneOS expands beyond Google with 2027 Motorola rollout
The open-source Android alternative will officially support Motorola flagships and foldables next year, while acknowledging rising complexity in supporting Google’s Pixel devices.
GrapheneOS, the open-source version of Android known for its focus on security and privacy, has detailed plans to officially support Motorola smartphones starting in 2027. The rollout will begin with traditional flagship devices before expanding to Motorola’s foldable range, including the Razr Fold and Razr Ultra. The Razr Ultra is set to become the first flip phone to officially run the operating system, marking a significant milestone for the platform.
The GrapheneOS Foundation stated that current Motorola hardware is very close to meeting its stringent security requirements. However, the organisation noted that existing devices lack mature support for hardware memory tagging and secure element integration. These gaps are expected to be resolved by the next generation of Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chips, which will power Motorola’s 2027 models.
Motorola is handling a significant portion of the work to port GrapheneOS to its devices. The collaboration, first announced in March, aims to strengthen smartphone security. The Foundation confirmed that its initial Motorola devices will be flagships with higher-end hardware than Google’s Pixels, though at a higher price point.
More affordable Motorola devices are on the roadmap, but they face additional hurdles. Supporting these models would require better security features from Qualcomm’s cheaper chips and a commitment from Motorola to provide seven years of software support. For comparison, this year’s $499.99 Moto G Stylus only promised two major operating system upgrades and three years of security updates.
Despite the expansion to Motorola, GrapheneOS has confirmed it will continue to support Google’s Pixel phones, including the upcoming Pixel 11 series. However, the Foundation noted that recent changes to the Android Open Source Project’s support for Pixel devices have made them harder to properly support than many other devices.
This development marks a shift for GrapheneOS, which has previously only officially supported Google’s Pixel phones. The move to include Motorola provides users with more options for a de-Googled Android experience, particularly among flagship and foldable devices.
