Google Pixel 9
The Pixel 9 was Google’s standard flagship for 2024. It shares the Tensor G4 chip with the Pixel 9a but adds 12 GB of RAM, a Victus 2 glass front, a 48 MP ultrawide camera with autofocus and faster charging (27 W wired, up to 15 W wireless on Google’s stand). Google promises updates until August 2031, so a renewed unit bought today still has nearly five years of patches ahead of it.
It is one of the most flexible private phones you can buy. GrapheneOS, CalyxOS, LineageOS and iodéOS all list it officially, and /e/OS has a community build. GrapheneOS and CalyxOS install from a browser and relock the bootloader. Google Wallet will not work on GrapheneOS, but some bank apps and Curve Pay (UK/EEA) can still pay by tap.
The main caveat is the renewed listing itself. Amazon Renewed units come from different refurbishers, and battery wear and cosmetic condition vary. More importantly, a carrier-locked unit, especially from Verizon, may never allow OEM unlocking, which rules out every OS on this page. Check that the listing says unlocked, and test the OEM unlocking toggle as soon as it arrives.
Google Pixel 9 tech specs
| Released | August 2024 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.3-inch OLED, 1080 × 2424, 60–120 Hz, up to 2,700 nits peak |
| Chip | Google Tensor G4 |
| RAM | 12 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB or 256 GB |
| Rear cameras | 50 MP wide (f/1.68) + 48 MP ultrawide with autofocus (f/1.7) |
| Front camera | 10.5 MP with autofocus (f/2.2) |
| Battery | 4,700 mAh typical (4,558 mAh minimum) |
| Charging | Up to 27 W wired; up to 15 W wireless on Pixel Stand (2nd gen), 12 W on Qi EPP chargers |
| Water/dust rating | IP68 |
| Weight | 198 g (7.0 oz) |
| Size | 152.8 × 72.0 × 8.5 mm |
| Headphone jack / microSD | No / No |
| Security chip | Titan M2 security coprocessor |
| SIM | Nano SIM + eSIM |
| Bootloader unlock | Yes on unlocked (non-carrier) units, via OEM unlocking |
| Launch price | $799 (128 GB, US) |
| Codename | tokay (used on OS download pages) |
Strengths and drawbacks
Private operating systems for the Google Pixel 9
4 private systems officially support this exact model (codename tokay), plus one community build or port that works with less polish and slower fixes. The table compares them on the things that matter day to day; the install guides below walk through each one.
| System | Support | Privacy | Effort | Apps and Google |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GrapheneOSGrapheneOS 2026100600 (Android 17) | Official | 10/10 | Easy · web installer, ~20 min | Sandboxed Google Play, optional |
| CalyxOSCalyxOS 8.0.4.21 (Android 17) | Official | 8.5/10 | Moderate · official flasher | microG, optional |
| iodéOSiodéOS 7 (LineageOS 23, Android 16) | Official | 7.5/10 | Easy · official installer app | microG + built-in tracker blocker |
| LineageOSLineageOS 24.0 (Android 17) | Official | 7/10 | Advanced · fastboot and recovery | No Google unless you add it |
| /e/OS/e/OS Android 16 community build | Community build | 7.5/10 | Easy · installer app, or preinstalled | microG built in + App Lounge |
- GrapheneOS: Fully supported; GrapheneOS lists August 2031 as Google's minimum support end for the Pixel 9.
- CalyxOS: Listed as a modern device with updates planned to August 2031; relocks the bootloader.
- iodéOS: On iodé's official list with installer support and a relockable bootloader.
- LineageOS: Official builds are current (October 2026); bootloader stays unlocked.
- /e/OS: Listed on the /e/OS device page as a community build (userdebug); the bootloader can't be relocked.
Not available for this model
- Ubuntu Touch: Not on the Ubuntu Touch device list.
- Nura (postmarketOS): Only a 'testing' category port on the postmarketOS wiki; not a usable daily OS.
- Sailfish OS: Sailfish OS is not offered for Pixel phones.
Privacy scores and effort levels are explained in how we score each system; the feature-by-feature OS table goes deeper.
Unlocking the bootloader on the Google Pixel 9
Yes, if the renewed unit is the unlocked model. Carrier-locked Pixel 9s, especially Verizon units, often can't turn on OEM unlocking.
- Before anything else, confirm Settings > System > Developer options > OEM unlocking is not greyed out (connect to the internet first).
- Tap Settings > About phone > Build number seven times to show Developer options.
- Turn on OEM unlocking.
- Power off, hold Volume Down + Power, connect to a computer and unlock with a web installer or fastboot flashing unlock.
- After installing GrapheneOS, CalyxOS or iodéOS, relock the bootloader.
- Renewed listings sometimes ship carrier units. If OEM unlocking is greyed out after connecting to the internet, return it within the return window.
- Make sure the previous owner's Google account is removed, or Factory Reset Protection can block setup.
- Unlocking wipes the phone.
- Never relock with LineageOS or /e/OS installed.
How to install a private OS on the Google Pixel 9
Short versions of each project's official guide. Always keep the official page open while you work: it has the exact files for your model and changes faster than any summary.
Installing GrapheneOSEasy · web installer, ~20 min
What you need: A computer with a Chromium-based browser (Chrome, Edge or Brave), a good USB-C cable, about 20 minutes. Installing erases the phone, so back up first.
Apps: Sandboxed Google Play, optional: runs as an ordinary app with no special access. Bootloader: Yes, the installer relocks the bootloader.
- Update the stock Android first, then turn on OEM unlocking: Settings → About phone, tap Build number seven times, then Settings → System → Developer options → OEM unlocking (the phone needs internet once for this).
- Restart into the bootloader: turn the phone off, then hold Volume Down while pressing Power.
- Open the web installer on your computer, connect the phone, and click Unlock bootloader. Confirm on the phone with the volume keys and Power.
- Click Download release, then Flash release, and leave the cable alone until it finishes.
- Click Lock bootloader and confirm on the phone. Start it up, and turn OEM unlocking back off in Developer options.
- Optional: install sandboxed Google Play from GrapheneOS's own App Store if you need banking or other Play-only apps.
Installing CalyxOSModerate · official flasher
What you need: A Windows, macOS or Linux computer, a USB-C cable, and the CalyxOS device flasher plus the factory image for your exact model. Installing erases the phone.
Apps: microG, optional: a free re-implementation of Google services for push and maps. Bootloader: Yes on supported devices; the flasher locks it at the end.
- Download the device flasher for your computer and the factory image for your model from calyxos.org.
- On the phone, turn on Developer options and OEM unlocking (some brands need an unlock code first, see the bootloader section above).
- Restart into the bootloader (fastboot) mode and connect the phone.
- Run the flasher and follow its prompts. It unlocks the bootloader, flashes CalyxOS and locks the bootloader again.
- During setup, choose whether to turn on microG. You can change your mind later.
Installing iodéOSEasy · official installer app
What you need: A Windows, macOS or Linux computer, a USB cable and the iodé installer app. Installing erases the phone.
Apps: microG, plus a built-in tracker and ad blocker you can tune per app. Bootloader: On some devices; check iodé's device list.
- Check that your exact model is on iodé's supported device list.
- Download the iodé installer for your computer.
- Turn on Developer options, USB debugging and OEM unlocking on the phone, then connect it.
- Follow the installer step by step; it downloads the right build and flashes it.
- Set up the phone and look at the blocker settings in the iodé app.
Installing LineageOSAdvanced · fastboot and recovery
What you need: A computer with Android platform-tools (adb and fastboot) installed, a USB cable, and an evening. Follow the install page for your exact codename. Installing erases the phone.
Apps: No Google services by default; you add microG or Google apps yourself if you want them. Bootloader: Usually no: the bootloader stays unlocked on most devices.
- Find your phone's page on the LineageOS wiki by its codename and read the whole install guide once before you start.
- Make sure the stock firmware is the version the guide asks for, then unlock the bootloader the brand's official way.
- Flash the partitions the guide lists (such as boot, dtbo or vendor_boot) and boot into Lineage Recovery.
- In recovery, choose Factory reset → Format data, then Apply update → Apply from ADB, and run adb sideload with the LineageOS zip.
- Reboot. Add F-Droid for apps; skip the optional Google apps package if you want to stay degoogled.
Installing /e/OSEasy · installer app, or preinstalled
What you need: For a phone you already own: a Windows, macOS or Linux computer and a USB cable. The Easy Installer covers many models; others use a command-line guide on the device's page. Installing erases the phone.
Apps: microG built in, plus the App Lounge store that shows each app's trackers. Bootloader: stays unlocked with this build.
- Look up your exact model on the /e/OS device list and check whether it supports the Easy Installer.
- Download the Easy Installer (or the build and guide from the device page) on your computer.
- Turn on Developer options, USB debugging and OEM unlocking on the phone, and connect it.
- Follow the installer's screens: it unlocks, flashes /e/OS and, where possible, relocks the bootloader.
- Set up the phone. A Murena account is optional; you can skip it.
Who the Google Pixel 9 is for
Someone who wants a full-size Pixel with more RAM than the 9a and the widest choice of private OSes, at a lower price via the renewed market. Check the listing says 'unlocked'.
Google Pixel 9 questions, answered
Can a renewed Pixel 9 run GrapheneOS?
Yes, if it is an unlocked (non-carrier) unit. GrapheneOS officially supports the Pixel 9 (tokay); the only blocker is a carrier lock that stops OEM unlocking from being switched on.
How do I check a renewed Pixel 9 can be unlocked?
Connect it to the internet, enable Developer options, and look at the OEM unlocking toggle. If it stays greyed out, the phone is carrier-locked, and the GrapheneOS docs say carriers rarely remove that restriction.
How long will the Pixel 9 get updates?
Google's minimum is August 2031. GrapheneOS and CalyxOS both list that date for this model.
Sources
- Google Pixel Help — Pixel phone hardware tech specs (Pixel 9)
- Google Pixel Help — Pixel update schedule
- GrapheneOS FAQ — supported devices and support dates
- GrapheneOS web install guide (carrier variants)
- CalyxOS install / device list
- CalyxOS device support timelines
- LineageOS wiki — tokay
- /e/OS — tokay
- iodéOS official supported devices
- GSMArena coverage — Pixel 9 launch price $799 (fallback, Google post not retrieved)
Every fact on this page comes from the maker or the OS project's own pages, checked October 14, 2026. We don't claim hands-on testing. Found something out of date? Report a correction.
