I was lucky enough to get a like-new pixel 7 at a good price. It’s in great condition, but it turns out to be an “unlocked” Verizon variant.
Originally I wanted to try out GrapheneOS, and now I’m wondering if it would make sense to keep it anyway. I’d like to degoogle completely, but is it worth a couple hundred extra for a guaranteed oem unlock?
Yes it is worth it. Verizon is a removed for encrypting the bootloaders. Trade it for an oem unlocked Pixel. When you get a carrier locked phone the privacy issues rise even more than when you have just a stock Android Pixel becsuse now Google AND Verizon will have all yoir data. OEM unlocked Android would be just Google having all your data and GrapheneOS would obviously be just you.
It’s just frustrating because of how good the deal was. I’m really considering it though.
That’s the whole point. The reason they are even able to offer you the deal is because not only are you now locked in with Verizon only sim cards, but they can also harvest your data and sell it.
It wasn’t a Verizon deal, just third party refurbished. Maybe low likelihood to not be a Verizon model, but it’s not locked to Verizon anymore.