technology

Motorola partners with grapheneos to offer privacy-focused android os

Published on 02/03/2026 22:10 in technology • Abdullah Saad

Motorola has announced a long-term partnership with GrapheneOS, a privacy and security-focused Android operating system, at the ongoing MWC 2026. As a result, the Lenovo-owned company will soon launch a phone that will come with GrapheneOS pre-installed.

Grapheneos makes its debut on non-pixel devices

GrapheneOS has been exclusive to Google Pixel smartphones until now. However, the custom OS will now be available on Motorola devices. This development comes after an image from a Motorola presentation slide surfaced online, hinting at a potential partnership.

Initially, GrapheneOS officials had teased that the OS would soon support another Android OEM. While the exact brand name wasn't disclosed, a hint suggested it's a well-known non-European brand ranking in the top 10 in terms of smartphone sales. The OS requires the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, which Motorola phones will feature.

Motorola

Motorola's new flagship not compatible with grapheneos

The company's latest flagship, the Motorola Signature, is not compatible with the OS as it lacks the required Snapdragon processor. According to OS officials, the current flagship is the closest compatible smartphone, but it still doesn't meet all the necessary requirements.

GrapheneOS's features include sandboxed Google Play services, disabling network access per app, restricting access to camera, mic, Bluetooth, and USB, a hardware kill switch, and private screenshots. While it's unclear which specific Motorola device will get the OS initially, certain features will be made available to other Motorola devices as well.

GrapheneOS's decision to partner with Motorola over other brands stems from the latter's more open bootloader policies and use of Qualcomm chips in its phones, fulfilling the OS's processor requirements.

Although the exact launch date of the GrapheneOS-powered Motorola phone is still unknown, officials have confirmed it could arrive sometime in 2027. The initial plan was for a 2026 launch, but Motorola wasn't able to meet all the necessary hardware requirements.