PixelOS(pixelos.net)
31 pointsby emilburzo3 hours ago5 comments
  • Fred2714 minutes ago
    I struggled to work out what it was for and why I might want to install it on my Pixel 10 Fold - until it I went to the download page and dawned on me that it's to make non-Pixel phones look like Pixel ones.

    It might be worth mentioning the whole reason for this to exist on the site somewhere.

    • pdrmky11 minutes ago
      "PixelOS is an AOSP based ROM, with Google apps included and all Pixel goodies. We aim to provide an experience similar to Google Pixel phones with numerous performance enhancements and a small amount of useful additional features."

      Was this not on the front page when you looked?

      • boomlinde7 minutes ago
        Yes, but it doesn't really make that clear. I first thought that it was a replacement OS for Google Pixel phone which replicates the functionality of the original OS but adds enhancements and features.
      • Lerc6 minutes ago
        At no point do they specify for whom they intend to provide this experience.
  • petargyurov42 minutes ago
    Practically nothing useful on the About page. Can anyone chime in what this is exactly?
    • whyredfire28 minutes ago
      one of the devs here, and yeah fair, the about page says nothing. it's a custom rom that makes non-pixel phones run like a pixel: aosp + gapps + the pixel exclusive features

      put simpler, this replaces the stock android your manufacturer ships

      • jnkl17 minutes ago
        Has the project any affiliation with Google?
        • whyredfire13 minutes ago
          Nope, no affiliation at all, we're an independent community project. If anything, google makes life harder for us lol, play integrity is a constant cat and mouse thing for every custom rom
          • brnt5 minutes ago
            What changes do you make to improve Play Integrity?
        • rc114 minutes ago
          [flagged]
      • ollybee14 minutes ago
        what are some pixel exclusive features ?
        • whyredfirea minute ago
          pixel launcher, at a glance, circle to search, the pixel wallpapers and theming plus a bunch of small stuff like the fonts, icons, boot animation etc
  • chrysopracean hour ago
    So I guess the point of this is to provide a Pixel-like experience to non-Pixel phones? It's a cool idea but I think I'll personally stick with GrapheneOS for my next phone.
  • coolnessan hour ago
    There is no way Google will let this live right?
    • qmarchian hour ago
      Project has been around for a while, so it's got some resiliency built in.
    • the4anonian hour ago
      Such projects existed for long time, I think Pixel Experience ROM was first.
    • teekertan hour ago
      Or it's an uphill battle (which is still being fought relatively well imho), like with GrapheneOS.
    • preisschild32 minutes ago
      It sounds like they include all the Google Spyware anyways, so I doubt they have a problem with that...
  • xx_nsan hour ago
    It's always surprising how many people who like to tinker with their devices also deliberately want to tie themselves more into the Google ecosystem. I would've guessed that the Venn diagram of these two types of people wouldn't have much overlap, but the ROM's popularity kind of speaks for itself.
    • eadmund20 minutes ago
      > It's always surprising how many people who like to tinker with their devices also deliberately want to tie themselves more into the Google ecosystem.

      I don’t believe that there’s a realistic alternative. The Apple ecosystem is even more restrictive, while even in 2026 the non-Android Linux phone market appears to still be pretty uncompelling.

      • xx_ns17 minutes ago
        I meant more like installing LineageOS (which exists for most of the devices that PixelOS is ported for) and managing Google apps yourself - whether just installing a regular minimal GApps, or using MicroG. PixelOS is like a "give me Google everything" nuclear option.
    • preisschild30 minutes ago
      Tbf I (degoogled Graphene/ex-LOS user for more than a decade) can definitely see why you would rather have the mostly-AOSP-native Pixel experience on your smartphones than completely enshittified UIs that Samsung or Huawei provide...
      • hurfdurf9 minutes ago

          mostly-AOSP-native Pixel experience
        Pixel is as far away from AOSP as any other Android OEM.
    • Zetobalan hour ago
      [dead]