GrapheneOS for Pixel 11 is almost here, and there's encouraging news for performance

GrapheneOS is arguably the best Android fork if you value security and privacy. The software originally missed Pixel 11 phones because they lacked support for the Memory Tagging Extensions (MTE) feature. However, MTE is shipping to Pixel 11 devices with Android 17 QPR2, and the team has now revealed more details about the port.

The GrapheneOS team announced on social media that GrapheneOS for Pixel 11 phones was nearly complete. Furthermore, the group said that GrapheneOS based on Android 17 QPR2 indeed supports MTE functionality. There’s no specific release window just yet, but the team explains that Pixel 11 support will “soon” be added after the Motorola Signature 27 gets the OS and following the completion of GrapheneOS based on Android 17 QPR2.

There’s also good news if you’re worried about performance on Pixel 11 devices. The GrapheneOS team describes performance as “acceptable” and “more than good enough,” adding that MTE’s overhead was similar to that seen on other Pixels. MTE is a security feature designed to thwart memory bugs and vulnerabilities, but enabling it does entail a performance penalty. Nevertheless, we’re glad to hear that there won’t be a gigantic penalty on the Pixel 11.

However, the group adds that performance will be much better on the Motorola Signature 27. This isn’t a surprise given the phone’s significantly more powerful processor, as well as the official partnership between Motorola and GrapheneOS.

I’m just happy to hear that the Pixel 11 series will finally get this secure Android fork. Until the Motorola partnership, Pixels were the only devices officially supported by GrapheneOS. So it would’ve been a shame if the latest Pixels lacked this support altogether.