Motorola Signature 27 to Become First Non-Pixel Phone Supported by GrapheneOS

GrapheneOS, a security-focused Android fork, will soon support the Motorola Signature 27. This marks the first time a Motorola device, and the first non-Pixel phone, will run GrapheneOS. The official GrapheneOS account confirmed the news, though a full announcement is pending as the team finalizes details.

Key Highlights

•  GrapheneOS confirms the Motorola Signature 27 will be its first officially supported non-Pixel, non-Google phone, ending years of Pixel-only compatibility
•  50MP main camera (sensor model unconfirmed) and a 200MP periscope camera
•  Motorola is backing the Signature 27 with seven years of OS upgrades and security patches, meeting GrapheneOS's long-term support requirement
•  The device's Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset supports Memory Tagging Extension (MTE), GrapheneOS's key security bar (notably, Google's own Pixel 11/Tensor G6 has MTE disabled in hardware and may miss out)
•  GrapheneOS confirmed the news via X but says a full rollout announcement, including exact support timing, is still being finalized

GrapheneOS Expands Device Support

GrapheneOS is known for its strict security and privacy standards. It only supports devices with essential hardware features for security. Until now, only Google Pixel devices from the Pixel 6 to the Pixel 10, including their 'a' models, have been compatible with GrapheneOS.

There was uncertainty about the newPixel 11 models due to concerns over the Tensor G6 chip's support for Memory Tagging Extension (MTE). MTE is considered vital by the GrapheneOS team for catching memory safety bugs. Although the Tensor G6 technically supports MTE, the feature is disabled in hardware, making the Pixel 11 ineligible for GrapheneOS support at this time.

Motorola Signature 27 Hardware and Features

The Motorola Signature 27 is powered by the latest chipset, which supports MTE. This hardware compliance allows it to meet GrapheneOS’s strict requirements. The phone has not been fully unveiled yet, but some specifications are known. It will feature a 50MP main camera with a 1/1.28-inch Sony Lytia 910 sensor. Additionally, it will have a 200MP periscope camera and a speaker system developed by Bang & Olufsen. Motorola plans to provide seven years of operating system updates for the Signature 27.

GrapheneOS sandboxes Google Play services to enhance privacy and security. Most applications run normally under this system. The addition of the Signature 27 broadens the range of devices available to users who prioritize security.

Future Device Support

Other Motorola phones may receive GrapheneOS support in the future. However, only devices that meet the necessary hardware security requirements will qualify. The GrapheneOS team has not confirmed which additional Motorola models, if any, will be supported next.