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this post was submitted on 21 Feb 2026
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Privacy
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I ran graphene on a Pixel 4A 5G for a while until that phone inexplicably died.
I now have a Pixel 8 Pro, and I haven't installed Graphene on it. Why? Google wallet.
That shit is so convenient. That I can leave my own wallet at home and tap to get on transit, tap my work's virtual credit card, etc is holding me back from a second install.
If you leave your wallet at home, you won't:
There are many reasons to have your wallet with you.
I've never lost my wallet once.
When my phone got to be about 10 years old the battery was dying any time it got too cold.
I'm sure there are, but thus far you haven't made compelling/relevant ones.
There's also
IDs are on phones now in a bunch of states and i haven't carried cash in 20 years. Half the places around here don't even take cash anymore.
Ive never had my phone die on me either.
If we want adoption this needs a solution.
"I'd rather give up all of my data to Google so that I don't have to... have the awful burden of carrying a wallet" lol
On the one hand, I admit this is kind of objectively silly behavior.
On the other, I think it’s valuable to consider these things and the role they play in consumer/user behavior. Convenience is undeniably a major/the primary reason many users don’t do what’s best for them.
There are always trade offs.
I would love to main a Linux phone, as I'm sure many here would. But the present trade offs are too great.
NFC payments are extremely convenient, especially when managing multiple cards - some of which are virtual. It's a service I had, then went without for awhile, and then appreciate having back again.
I understand my initial comment makes it seem like I never carry a wallet true - which is not true - and liking Google Wallet is akin to saying "but I just like smoking" (in this community).
It's great that you don't find it as convenient, which means the trade off isn't as substantial for you. However for my 5 days a week commuting it's a load off.
I just carry physical cards. I don't really understand this "every step away from google must be painless" attitude.
No one said it did? It's a service that I find great value in, and one that I had given up for a time and enjoy having access to again.
Everyone has their limit, this one is presently mine.
Sure, it is a step away that carries friction for me.
But you're speaking in absolutes and blanketing "every step".
I've taken many steps away from Google that were not "painless".
Looks like they have a link talking about this, and someone commented that they use a service mentioned for contactless payments.
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/06/contactless-payments-with-grapheneos/
I haven't reviewed this myself as it's not a concern for me.
Thanks, I had seen this but Curve is UK specific.
It's in the whole EU as far as I know.
Ah fair. All I get is "not available in my region".
Tape it to the back of the phone. Or get a case for the phone and slip the card inside.
Or, like, sew it into a feathered hat.
I have a p8p as well and am a sucker for contactless pay.
I have a samsung android watch which costs like $50 second hand to get around the wallet not working on graphene.
I dont really care anymore about gathered metadata that much. I was more black and white earlier, but nowadays I just try to minimize the cloudification instead of being completely against it.
I choose my battles, and being against google wallet isnt really worth some effort from my side.
Same here: I pay contactless with a Garmin vivoactive3. It cost $30 on Craigslist, runs for ~3 days without charging. My thought was that Garmin has less "ecosystem" and is less likely to be monetizing purchase history, vs. Samsung... but I don't have any inside info.
I have the GarminConnect app in my "Google Crapola" profile, and for a few months I even deleted the app, and tap-to-pay on the watch kept working.
Oh, that's a hot tip. I didn't know the watches could handle tap to pay independent of the phone.
... Though I'm awaiting a new pebble, not sure I'd like to dual wield watches.