TL;DR
- Efforts like Graphene OS face increasing pressure from apps that refuse to run on non-standard Android.
- The custom ROM project characterizes Google’s approach to device attestation as incomplete and flawed.
- Graphene OS is prepared to take legal action if Google won’t let it pass Play Integrity checks.
At the price of the Pixel 8a, I would suggest getting the Pixel 8 instead.
Personally I’m fine with 8as’ specs and don’t need any of the extra features of the Pixel 8 so I’d prefer to save the money and get an 8a. Plus 8as are supported for longer. Nothing wrong with getting an 8 instead if that’s what you want though
All of the 8th are VERY expensive now. Only the 7th Pixels are approaching sane prices.
I got a 7a even though 7 was only a little bit pricier, because it is smaller - already on the edge of what I can use with one hand, 7 would probably cross that invisible boundary. And, just as importantly - has a plastic back instead of glass.