# Android Open Source Project 23 Hacker News commenters recommended Android Open Source Project and 45 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 10 of 13 months. **Verdict:** Recommended as the mature open source base for privacy-focused phone systems like GrapheneOS, with a strong security model; the main caveat is Google's control over its development and source releases. ## Why people recommend it - Strong security and privacy model (9 comments): "They're not serious alternatives to an iPhone from a privacy and security perspective as an AOSP-based OS on decent hardware can be." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48766235)) "AOSP respects and empowers users much more than traditional Linux due to the proper security and privacy model" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50268809)) "AOSP provides far better privacy and security than a traditional desktop Linux distribution." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49364220)) - Solid base for building alternatives (6 comments): "It can only be cheaper than making it from scratch, since it has alot of work already done on it" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47216540)) "It will still be far less work than bootstrapping a viable open source alternative from scratch." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50052729)) "AOSP is the foundation of GrapheneOS, LineageOS and dozens of other patently non-Google systems." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45946169)) - Mature and working today (6 comments): "You get to skip the many years that Sailfish OS will still need in user testing." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47313897)) "So fork AOSP today. You actually have a working stack, working systems" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50052917)) "The best open source mobile OS you can get nowadays is based on AOSP" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49127855)) - Open and free to fork (4 comments): "AOSP can be forked and it will still be leagues ahead of non-Android Linux phones" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50052225)) "Android is at least somewhat open and Google free Android actually exists." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47449227)) "AOSP is open source. Anyone can fork it." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47314638)) ## What people warn about - Google controls its direction (3 comments): "as long as Google is in control of AOSP, it controls the direction in which AOSP and all downstream projects are headed" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49403104)) "It is controlled by Google so it not. As long as Google is setting the roadmap for android it is not a viable option." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47716553)) "AOSP is being developed behind close doors and controlled by a single company which wields way too much power" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47046965)) - Source releases slowed and closed (4 comments): "They're trying to limit how many devices can be sold with GrapheneOS by Android OEMs, reduced the number of AOSP releases from 12 to 2 per year" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49947321)) "AOSP made it increasingly difficult to contribute without being an Android partner and it's nearly impossible now." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48773053)) "It explains why AOSP is now private/closed source and embargos are being used to get around the laws requirements." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45914692)) - Drivers and device trees withheld (2 comments): "they used to publish the source code for the drivers as part of AOSP. Now they no longer publish the device trees" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46175779)) "Google decided Pixels would no longer be supported by AOSP which is why they stopped pushing the kernel drivers" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49369407)) - Depends on Google services (2 comments): "AOSP is basically useless at this point, it can't do much of anything without Google Play Services." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46179086)) "But you have no guarantee what happens tomorrow with it, depending on what Google feels like." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50052524)) ## Alternatives hackers recommend - [Android](https://hackerapproved.com/p/android.md): 372 recommend - [Apple iOS](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ios.md): 308 recommend - [LineageOS](https://hackerapproved.com/p/lineageos.md): 186 recommend - [/e/OS](https://hackerapproved.com/p/e-os.md): 89 recommend - [Sailfish OS](https://hackerapproved.com/p/sailfish-os.md): 80 recommend ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "Android Open Source Project", https://hackerapproved.com/p/android-open-source-project/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).