Short answer
The short answer
No. GrapheneOS’s FAQ lists the devices it supports, and they are Pixel phones, from the Pixel 6 to the Pixel 10a, plus the Pixel Tablet. An iPhone isn’t on that list, and the FAQ doesn’t mention iPhone.
This guide says what GrapheneOS and Apple each say about their own features. None of the pages cited here compares GrapheneOS with iPhone, and this guide doesn’t either. It then covers what an iPhone owner can turn on.
More guides: how to see which apps on your iPhone use the internet, and how to lock or hide any app on your iPhone.
What it is
What GrapheneOS is
The GrapheneOS FAQ says: “GrapheneOS aims to provide reasonably private and secure devices.” It also says: “Like the Android Open Source Project, GrapheneOS doesn’t include Google apps and services.”
On which phones it runs, the FAQ says: “Devices are carefully chosen based on their merits rather than the project aiming to have broad device support.” The phones it lists as supported are the Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, Fold, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold, 9a, 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL, 10 Pro Fold and 10a, and the Pixel Tablet.
The FAQ also says: “Many other devices are supported by GrapheneOS at a source level, and it can be built for them without modifications to the existing GrapheneOS source tree.” It adds: “In most cases, substantial work beyond that will be needed to bring the support up to the same standards.” It names no iPhone model.
Lockdown Mode
Lockdown Mode
Apple says: “Lockdown Mode is an optional, extreme protection that’s designed for the very few individuals who, because of who they are or what they do, might be personally targeted by some of the most sophisticated digital threats. Most people are never targeted by attacks of this nature.”
It limits what your iPhone does. Apple says: “When Lockdown Mode is enabled, your device won’t function like it typically does.” Apple’s examples include Messages, where “Most message attachment types are blocked, other than certain images, video, and audio.”, and web browsing, where “Certain complex web technologies are blocked, which might cause some websites to load more slowly or not operate correctly.”
Apple’s steps on iPhone are: open Settings, tap Privacy & Security, scroll down and tap Lockdown Mode, then tap Turn On Lockdown Mode. Then tap Turn On & Restart and enter your device passcode.
iCloud
Advanced Data Protection for iCloud
Apple describes it as an optional setting. It says: “If you choose to enable Advanced Data Protection, the majority of your iCloud data — including iCloud Backup, Photos, Notes, and more — is protected using end-to-end encryption.” Apple adds: “No one else can access your end-to-end encrypted data, not even Apple”.
Before you turn it on, Apple says you are guided to set up at least one recovery method, a recovery contact or a recovery key. Apple says: “With Advanced Data Protection turned on, Apple doesn’t have the encryption keys needed to help you recover your end-to-end encrypted data.”
Apple’s steps on iPhone are: open Settings, tap your name, tap iCloud, scroll down, tap Advanced Data Protection, then tap Turn on Advanced Data Protection and follow the onscreen instructions. Apple says you need an Apple Account with two-factor authentication, a passcode set for your device, and updated software on every device where you’re signed in to your Apple Account, which for an iPhone means iOS 16.2 or later. Apple also says that when you turn it on, “access to your iCloud data on the web at iCloud.com is disabled”.
Also on iPhone
App Privacy Report, and locking or hiding apps
Two of our guides cover other iPhone settings. Apple’s App Privacy Report lets you see which domains your apps contact: see how to see which apps on your iPhone use the internet. Apple also lets you lock an iPhone app behind Face ID or hide it in a Hidden folder: see how to lock or hide any app on your iPhone.
