GrapheneOS lets you choose whether you want to have a sandboxed google play installation. This way apps such as Maps work. Basically you are in control (except for Google Pay).

I have never used an eSIM, but I'd like to know about them. Can anyone explain what are some reasons to use it?

Your comment made me happy

Aren't almost all (at least photo editing ones) new Pixel 8 & Pixel 8 Pro features in the cloud? What things do you mean when you say Google is moving to local processing?

Thanks everyone for your comments and opinions. I ordered the Pixel 8.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. In fact here there are shops for second hand devices, but considering I need the phone to last for at least 5 years (for the uni degree), I don't think a second hand option seems very appealing to me, as probably the battery life of the device would be reduced and I don't know if it could be unlockable.

In any case, I could buy a new 7 series but the shop where the discount is offered only has the 7a and the 8 and 8 pro. The discount for the 7a is only 50€ because it is a different offer instead of the 11/11 one (the store says it's a black friday offer, not the 11/11), so it is 459€.

Google says it'll get guaranteed Android updates until at least March 2026, and security updates until May 2028. The 8 series get both Android and security updates until October 2030.

I have seen what you said that Graphene hinted that the 7 series will probably get Android updates until their end of life, which is good to hear.

I have been struggling with this decision for some months, and you're right that nowadays phones are too overpowered and have processors that are better than needed. So the decision is to either get the 7a for 459€ and have 5 years of support or the 8 for 623€ and have 7 years.

I'm indeed very sensitive to the price. However, here in the EU the prices are much higher and a Pixel 7a costs 509€ in Google store and the 6a 349€.

I've been using my phone for almost 6 years now and now that I started uni I need a phone that doesn't crash when opening Gmail or takes too long to do any thing. I'm sure the 7, 7a or 6a can do this fine but I'm trying to get the 8 because of the 7 years support so I can flash graphene and forget, while the others have less than 5 years if I buy them now.

And yes it is a huge amount of cash for me, I never had a phone that expensive, but I feel like I need a phone like this one and its original price is almost 200€ more expensive so that's why I'm asking here. Can't even consider iPhone as they're literally unaffordable for me.

You can install touchegg to customise touchpad gestures, I learnt it because I also needed it!

Oh I see! I didn't know Cromite had a desktop version! Thanks for sharing your thoughts :)

What do you think would be the best ~not the simplest~ option?

The prices are really high, I hope it gets better when Black Friday arrives. Else I guess I'll have to get the 7.

why? (not from the US)