Motorola's Signature 27 is finally bringing GrapheneOS to non-Pixel phones

Motorola Signature 27. Published Sep 24, 2026, 2:34 PM EDT Jon is a seasoned journalist who has written definitive coverage of consumer tech at publications like Engadget, Android Authority, and BetaKit. He's an expert on making tech accessible ranging from mobile and PCs to emerging platforms like wearables. When he's not writing, he's going on adventures with ihis family and is an avid photographer. Sign in to your How-To Geek account It's now clear which Motorola phone will be the first to support GrapheneOS. The development team behind GrapheneOS has confirmed that the U.S.-bound Signature 27 can run its privacy-oriented take on Android. Details of the release weren't mentioned in the brief confirmation post on X. "Wait for official news about it," the GrapheneOS creators say. They've also noted that some devices will ship with the OS pre-installed, although it's not certain if that includes Motorola's new flagship. Future Razr foldable phones are expected to support GrapheneOS. You've needed a Google Pixel to use the software until now, although the developers say they might skip the Pixel 11 due to the absence of memory tagging that limits security exploits. The Signature 27 is a high-end device that will be one of the first to ship with Qualcomm's new, faster Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chip. You'll also find a 200-megapixel telephoto camera, an updated 50-megapixel main camera, and Bang & Olufsen-tuned audio. Motorola hasn't set a U.S. release date or price beyond promising a debut in the "coming months." Why should I use GrapheneOS? It's better for privacy, but not for everyone GrapheneOS is focused chiefly on privacy and security. App permissions are restricted compared to standard Android, and you can block all networking on a per-app basis. As it's based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), it doesn't include proprietary Google apps and relies on third-party app stores like F-Droid. Even software updates don't require an online connection, making it harder for attackers to compromise your phone through direct hacks or malware. While GrapheneOS can extend the lifespan of some phones, that won't necessarily be the case with the Signature 27. Motorola has already committed to seven years of Android updates. There's a good chance you'll replace the phone before the included OS is obsolete. However, this might be helpful if you're determined to use the phone as part of a home lab or otherwise keep it running well after official updates are unavailable.