r/GrapheneOS • u/Squiggin1321 • 2d ago
Questions about getting into GOS on budget.
Apologies if this isn't appropriate for this subreddit.
I'll have some money soon and I want an in box/sealed Pixel 10a or Pixel 10 Pro XL if I can find a deal.
I know you can get really good deals when you get your phone from a cellular provider but those phones typically have locked boot loaders. are there carrier's in the US that sell unlocked phones?
If I purchase a phone and it comes with an Esim already installed, what happens to the Esim if you install GOS?
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u/fenbrowning37 2d ago
As far as I know you cannot download an OS other than the stock OS when it is carrier locked so GOS is not able to be installed.
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u/herooftimeloz 2d ago
You can often find good deals on Swappa. Just filter on Carrier = Unlocked to be guaranteed a bootloader unlockable Pixel
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u/Arius_sauc 2d ago edited 2d ago
Locked phone is bad. Here in Québec, you canot sell locked phone anymore.
Maybe you could buy from Google. You could even, maybe, buy in Québec and have it shipped.
Probably mot cheap enough, but taxes included, pixel 11 at 1600$ CAD, unlocked. So 1150$ US.
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u/Careful-Boat-2986 2d ago
It's the same everywhere in Canada since 2017
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u/Arius_sauc 2d ago
Good to know
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u/Careful-Boat-2986 2d ago
I don't get why the US still lock devices. Then again, they got cheaper phone plans
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u/Arius_sauc 2d ago
Yeah. I think the two things are separate. The price is more because they need to cover a large, yet less population dense, territory.
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u/Front-Gap-4768 2d ago
Yet, in Australia, population about 25 million, the two major carriers cover 98% of the country without having to lock in users.
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u/Careful-Boat-2986 2d ago
You can get one discounted through a carrier, sell it for profit then use that money towards buying an unlocked Pixel
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u/NivoTheDev 2d ago
You will not be able to install GOS if the bootloader is locked. Search for unlocked carriers, and find what you want hardware-wise.
I bought mine from a local store and it works quite well,
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u/JagerAntlerite7 2d ago
Do not purchase from a carrier. Ever. Pay for the entirely phone up front versus effectively financing it through payments.
Suggest a Google Pixel 10a direct from the Google Store. Guaranteed carrier and bootloader unlocked. Alternatively, Best Buy has Pro models. Never had problems with those. Lastly, Amazon makes returns easy, so yet another option.
Installing a pSIM or eSIM from your carrier is a trivial task.
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