Motorola partners with GrapheneOS for future phones
- Reference: 1772480711
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2026/03/02/motorola_grapheneos/
- Source link:
Motorola unveiled the partnership at the Mobile World Congress on March 2, [1]claiming it would "bring cutting-edge security to everyday users across the globe."
GrapheneOS currently has [2]production support for devices including the Google Pixel 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Motorola’s future flagship devices are expected to join the list. "It will initially be flagships similar to the current generation Motorola Signature, Motorola razr fold and Motorola razr ultra since those will be the 2027 devices meeting our requirements including the expected updates and hardware memory tagging but it can expand over time," GrapheneOS [3]posted on X (formerly Twitter).
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GrapheneOS also [5]noted that, in addition to upcoming smartphones running the operating system, Motorola will "integrate some GrapheneOS features/concepts into their regular OS too but that's a separate thing from GrapheneOS."
[6]
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GrapheneOS is a privacy and security-focused mobile operating system compatible with Android apps. "It's focused on the research and development of privacy and security technology including substantial improvements to sandboxing, exploit mitigations and the permission model," the organization says.
[8]Rogue devs of sideloaded Android apps beg for freedom from Google's verification regime
[9]GrapheneOS bails on OVHcloud over France's privacy stance
[10]Canadian data order risks blowing a hole in EU sovereignty
[11]'Keep Android Open' movement fights back against Google sideloading restrictions
According to Motorola, the plan is for the two companies to "work to strengthen smartphone security and collaborate on future devices engineered with GrapheneOS compatibility."
Motorola's phone division, Motorola Mobility, [12]was snapped up by Google for $12.5 billion, and the company's handset business was [13]later sold to Lenovo in 2014 for $2.91 billion. The company's current lineup of smartphones, while impressive, does not meet GrapheneOS's hardware requirements. [14]According to the OS project, "Motorola is actively working on their next gen devices meeting our requirements."
Readers might be forgiven for feeling a sense of [15]déjà vu . Just over a decade ago, smartphone maker OnePlus parted ways with the team behind Android-based CyanogenMod, which ran on its devices. CyanogenMod was later forked, and its successor was named LineageOS.
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Now here we are with GrapheneOS coming soon to a Motorola handset near you. The circumstances of the partnership are very different this time around, but the relationship will still be watched closely. ®
Get our [17]Tech Resources
[1] https://motorolanews.com/motorola-three-new-b2b-solutions-at-mwc-2026/
[2] https://grapheneos.org/faq#supported-devices
[3] https://x.com/GrapheneOS/status/2028483890998845532
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aaYWkKxbUv_Prdd_0PQudgAAA8k&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[5] https://x.com/GrapheneOS/status/2028484613564248443
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aaYWkKxbUv_Prdd_0PQudgAAA8k&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aaYWkKxbUv_Prdd_0PQudgAAA8k&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/24/google_android_developer_verification_plan/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/28/grapheneos_ovhcloud/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/27/canada_court_ovh/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/29/keep_android_open_movement/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2011/08/15/google_buys_motorola_mobility_wtf/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2014/10/30/lenovo_completes_motorola_purchase_for_29bn_10bn_less_than_google_paid_for_it/
[14] https://x.com/GrapheneOS/status/2028448871374803007
[15] https://www.theregister.com/2015/02/13/oneplus_oxygenos_team/
[16] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aaYWkKxbUv_Prdd_0PQudgAAA8k&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[17] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Any GrapheneOS users here?
I use it, but not as a daily driver. I like it, and it's definitely the best version of Android for the privacy paranoid.
Re: Any GrapheneOS users here?
I used it as my primary phone OS for a little while, and it's fine. I switched from Lineage to Graphene and then back to Lineage. I think Graphene is great if you really want to nail down your privacy, but it's demands for the newest hardware are a dealbreaker for me. Using Lineage with several modifications gives me the privacy and security I want, and some of the added quality of life features that Graphene can't offer.
I've just replaced my Moto g54 5G as it was continuously downloading and installing apps without permission. I assume they will get even worse with GrapheneOS.
GrapheneOS lets you lock everything down, so very doubtful.
Look, I know you *think* you don't want the live lockscreen and Motorola AI to be updated and re-enabled with every single Android security update, but Motorola know exactly what you really want, and it's whatever makes them most money short term.
This is great news!
My favorite phone I ever owned was a tiny Motorola that I flashed to run Lineage OS.
The battery, even though small, would last over a week without needing a charge.
Sadly, the phone no longer functions since 3G became obsolete in my area.
But I must admit I am a bit concerned that Motorola is now owned by Lenovo based on their many controversies.
Kind of surprised to see this news coming from Motorola, but it is promising. I think I'm biased since I've never owned one of their flagship phones, but I have intermittently primaried MotoG Plays as work phones and getting them to allow me to unlock the bootloader was challenging to say the least. They've never seen like the type who would want anyone to actually access the hardware they paid for.
There is no Motorola
There is only Lenovo. And you can expect them to be exactly as privacy focused as the rest of the CCP.
Sarcasm aside the move makes sense, as this will interrupt the data flow to what they (probably correctly) view as a foreign intelligence operation. The real question is how this will serve their own intelligence apparatus.
Any GrapheneOS users here?
I took a quick look at the GrapheneOS project, and it does seem interesting. I'd be curious to know if any commentards have used it and have an opinion.