So these mysterious Moto phones will presumably be well over a grand. Motorola didn’t bother releasing new versions of its non-folding Edge phones in 2026, and if that trend continues, the 2027 devices may be foldables. That would help explain the high prices, and the ongoing AI-driven component price increases can’t be helping either.
While Motorola makes plenty of budget devices in the Moto G line, those devices aren’t a viable option. GrapheneOS has supported Pixels because Google’s Tensor chips provide the necessary security features, but not all Qualcomm chips offer the same capabilities. Only Qualcomm’s most expensive 8-series processors are comparable from a security standpoint, and those only go in expensive flagship smartphones.
Most of Moto’s recent flagships have been foldables, so that may be the next stop for GrapheneOS.
Credit:
Ryan Whitwam
It’s possible that cheaper Moto phones could eventually get GrapheneOS support, but the developers don’t see that happening any time soon. Qualcomm’s mid-range chips don’t get the same level of support unless OEMs pay more, so Motorola would have to commit to that on a wider range of products. As it stands, Motorola only offers update support for a couple of years on budget phones, which isn’t sufficient for GrapheneOS.
Motorola hasn’t confirmed a release timeline for these devices, but GrapheneOS should be available for them at launch. The installation process does require some technical expertise, but the project has a web-based USB installer for Pixel phones. It will probably offer similar resources when the Motorola devices arrive.