alt Hacker NewsJust nitpicking: unlockable bootloaders. The bootloader is locked by default. But you can unlock it without needing Google.
Additionally, Pixels support a Linux VM and has a desktop mode (I'm running GrapheneOS, it may still be that these features have to be enabled through the developer settings).
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why_at • yesterday at 9:45 PM
And even with this there are still apps which require hardware attestation and won't work on alternative operating systems.
> But you can unlock it without needing Google.
Well akshually.... the bootloader is initially not unlockable. You must connect the phone to the internet. Within a few minutes a background process will reach out to Google servers to check whether it was purchased outright or with a payment plan. It will only enable the bootloader unlocking toggle after this step. Phones bought with a carrier contract won't be unlockable until paid off.
In those initial few minutes (/ before you connect it to the interwebs), the bootloader unlock option in the developer settings & fastboot will be disabled.