Above Phone, Nitrokey NitroPhone, and Privacy Phone Resellers: Are They Worth It?

TL;DR: Privacy phone resellers like Above Phone, Nitrokey, Liberate Your Tech, and iodé sell pre-configured degoogled phones at a premium over retail hardware. They aren’t scams — they provide genuine convenience, support, and pre-configuration. But GrapheneOS’s web installer takes about 10 minutes, making DIY viable for most people. The markup is a convenience tax that’s worth it for non-technical users but unnecessary for anyone comfortable following a guide.

The privacy phone market has grown from a niche curiosity into a legitimate product category. A handful of companies now sell pre-configured smartphones running privacy-focused operating systems like GrapheneOS, iodéOS, and LineageOS — saving buyers the trouble of installing these systems themselves. But with markups ranging from modest to eye-watering, a fair question emerges: are these resellers worth the premium, or should you just do it yourself?

We examined four of the most prominent privacy phone resellers to help you decide.

The DIY Baseline: What You’re Comparing Against

Before evaluating any reseller, it’s important to understand what the DIY option actually looks like in 2026.

GrapheneOS — the gold standard for mobile privacy and security — has a web-based installer that works in any Chromium-based browser. You plug in a supported Google Pixel, click through a handful of prompts, and the installer handles the rest. Community reports consistently describe the process as taking under 10 minutes. You don’t need to use a command line. You don’t need technical expertise. You need a computer, a USB cable, and a Pixel phone.

This is worth emphasizing because it’s the single most important factor in evaluating resellers. The installation barrier that once justified premium pricing has largely evaporated. The question isn’t whether resellers provide any value — it’s whether they provide enough value to justify the cost.

For reference, here’s what Google charges for Pixel 9 series hardware at retail (US MSRP):

Device	Google Retail Price
Pixel 9 (128GB)	$799
Pixel 9 Pro (128GB)	$999
Pixel 9 Pro XL (128GB)	$1,099
Pixel 9a (128GB)	$499

In Europe, the Pixel 9 starts at €899 (128GB) and the Pixel 9 Pro at €1,099.

With those numbers in mind, let’s look at what each reseller offers.

1. Above Phone

Website: abovephone.com
Based in: United States
OS: GrapheneOS (exclusively, as of 2026)
Devices: Google Pixel phones and tablet

What They Sell

Above Phone has evolved significantly since its early days when it also offered CalyxOS and /e/OS Murena devices. Today, the company has streamlined around GrapheneOS on Pixel hardware, selling models from the Pixel 8 through the current Pixel 9 series. They also sell a GrapheneOS Pixel Tablet (from $799), Linux laptops (from $799), and data-only eSIM plans (from $19/month).

Each device ships with GrapheneOS pre-installed and a curated suite of privacy-friendly apps: Signal, Brave Browser, Proton Mail, F-Droid, Aurora Store, NewPipe, Magic Earth navigation, and more.

Pricing and Markup

Above Phone’s pricing starts at $599 for their entry-level models, with their flagship Pixel 9 Pro configurations reaching $1,799 or more (as seen with their 512GB bundle pricing). Compared to buying a Pixel directly from Google and installing GrapheneOS yourself, the premium ranges from roughly $200 to $500+ depending on the model and storage tier.

The Above Suite

Beyond hardware, Above Phone sells the Above Suite — a $100/year subscription bundling a VPN, private email (@above.im), encrypted chat, internet phone number, private calendar, video conferencing, file sharing, and a private search engine.

If you’re starting from scratch, $100/year for the bundle isn’t unreasonable. But if you already have Proton Mail, Mullvad VPN, and Signal, you’re duplicating services you don’t need.

Support

This is where Above Phone genuinely differentiates itself. Every device purchase includes a free 45-minute onboarding call with a support engineer, plus ongoing email and chat support. For an additional fee, they offer a 2-3 hour “Migration Session” to help transfer data and customize the phone. They maintain a knowledge base, video courses, and webinars.

For someone switching from an iPhone for the first time — and Above Phone clearly targets this demographic — having a real human walk you through the transition is genuinely valuable.

Who Should Consider Above Phone

Non-technical users making their first move away from iOS or stock Android
People who want a single vendor for device + services + support
Buyers who value a US-based company with phone support
Anyone willing to pay for the convenience of a ready-to-go experience

Concerns

The markup is substantial, particularly on higher-end models
Some of the bundled services in Above Suite are repackaged open-source tools
Their earlier promotion of CalyxOS alongside GrapheneOS raised questions about technical judgment (they’ve since moved to GrapheneOS exclusively)

2. Nitrokey NitroPhone

Website: shop.nitrokey.com
Based in: Berlin, Germany
OS: GrapheneOS
Devices: Google Pixel (rebranded as NitroPhone)

What They Sell

Nitrokey is an established German security hardware company, best known for their open-source hardware security keys. The NitroPhone line applies the same security-first philosophy to smartphones. Their current lineup — the NitroPhone 5 series — is based on the Pixel 9 family:

NitroPhone 5 (Pixel 9)
NitroPhone 5 Pro (Pixel 9 Pro)
NitroPhone 5 Pro XL (Pixel 9 Pro XL)
NitroPhone 5 Pro Fold (Pixel 9 Pro Fold)
NitroPhone 5a (Pixel 9a)

They also still list older models (NitroPhone 3a based on Pixel 7a, NitroPhone 4 Pro based on Pixel 8 Pro).

Pricing and Markup

Nitrokey has historically charged one of the highest premiums in this space. Their original NitroPhone 1 (a Pixel 4a) cost €630 — nearly double the Pixel 4a’s retail price. The NitroPhone 2 Pro (Pixel 6 Pro) was €1,255 versus Google’s €899 retail.

Current NitroPhone 5 series pricing isn’t always straightforward to find on their shop (their product pages emphasize per-day cost calculations rather than sticker prices), but historical patterns suggest a markup of €200-400 over Google’s European retail pricing. Nitrokey frames this as costing “from €0.49 per day” (for the base NitroPhone 5) to “€1.04 per day” (for the Fold) over the phone’s 7-year update lifecycle.

Unique Value: Hardware Modifications

Nitrokey offers something no other reseller does: physical hardware modifications for high-security users. For an additional fee (historically around €300), they will:

Remove all microphones
Remove cameras
Remove accelerometer and rotation sensors (which could theoretically be used as microphones)

This is a niche offering, but for journalists, activists, or executives with genuine threat models, it’s not available anywhere else as a commercial product. Phone calls remain possible via external headset.

They also ship devices in sealed, tamper-evident packaging and offer a duress PIN feature (enters a PIN that wipes the device).

Support and Warranty

Nitrokey provides standard EU consumer warranty (2 years) and technical support. Being a German company, they’re subject to strict EU consumer protection laws. Their support forum is active, though less hand-holding than Above Phone’s approach.

Who Should Consider Nitrokey

European buyers who want a local vendor with EU warranty
Users with high-security threat models who want hardware modifications
Organizations looking for a professional/enterprise privacy phone vendor
People who already trust Nitrokey’s security hardware ecosystem

Concerns

The markup has historically been among the highest of any reseller
Product pages can be confusing — they still list old models with expired or near-expired update windows (e.g., NitroPhone 2 based on Pixel 6 with updates only until 2026)
All the security features they describe are standard GrapheneOS features, not Nitrokey additions (apart from the hardware mods)

3. Liberate Your Tech

Website: liberateyourtech.com
Based in: United Kingdom
OS: GrapheneOS, LineageOS
Devices: Google Pixel (GrapheneOS), various budget/rugged phones (LineageOS)

What They Sell

Liberate Your Tech is a UK-based reseller offering GrapheneOS Pixels alongside budget-friendly LineageOS devices. Their range spans from Pixel 6a to Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel Fold with GrapheneOS, plus more affordable options like rugged “King Kong” phones and P60 budget devices running LineageOS.

They pre-install a suite of privacy apps similar to Above Phone: Signal, Brave, Proton Mail, F-Droid, Aurora Store, NewPipe, DAVx5, and more. They also set up work profiles for app separation.

Pricing

Liberate Your Tech positions itself as competitively priced, shipping from within the US, EU, and UK to avoid import duties for customers in those regions. While exact pricing requires checking their current shop (it varies by configuration), they market themselves as offering “great prices from budget to flagship.” They accept cryptocurrency payments including Bitcoin and Monero.

Unique Value: Degoogling Service

One standout offering is their “degoogle your phone” service — if you already own a compatible Pixel, you can send it to them and they’ll install GrapheneOS and configure it for you. This is a nice middle ground between buying a new phone at a premium and doing it yourself.

They also offer paid consultation sessions, privacy phone courses (introduction, intermediate, power user levels), and data migration assistance.

Support

Support includes email assistance, private consultations, and an extensive guides section. Multiple testimonials highlight responsive, knowledgeable support. They have a 30-day return policy.

Who Should Consider Liberate Your Tech

UK and EU buyers wanting local shipping and no import duties
Users who already own a Pixel and just want someone to install GrapheneOS
Budget-conscious buyers interested in LineageOS options on cheaper hardware
People who prefer to pay with cryptocurrency

Concerns

Their website still mentions CalyxOS as a service option — this is a red flag given CalyxOS’s uncertain future (see below)
Inventory may not always include the latest Pixel models
LineageOS, while good for extending old hardware, doesn’t offer GrapheneOS’s security hardening

4. iodé

Website: iode.tech / shop.iode.tech
Based in: France
OS: iodéOS (custom LineageOS fork with MicroG)
Devices: Wide range — Fairphone, Google Pixel, Samsung, Sony, SHIFT, and more

What They Sell

iodé is different from the other resellers because they develop their own operating system. iodéOS is a LineageOS fork with MicroG (an open-source reimplementation of Google Play Services) and a built-in ad/tracker blocker. As of late 2025, iodéOS supports over 50 devices officially, with a GSI (Generic System Image) for many others.

Their shop offers an impressive range:

Budget: Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 (from €153), Sony Xperia XA2 (from €183), Samsung Galaxy S9 (from €193)
Mid-range: Google Pixel 8 (from €373), Fairphone 5 (from €489)
Premium: Fairphone 6 (from €639), Sony Xperia 1 V (from €723), SHIFTphone 8 (from €839)
Tablets: Samsung Galaxy Tab S7

Many devices are refurbished, which is both an environmental selling point and a cost advantage.

The iodéOS Premium Model

iodéOS itself is free, but iodé offers a premium subscription with enhanced features:

Free tier: Degoogled OS, OTA updates, standard ad blocking, privacy-friendly apps
Premium (€3.99/month): Reinforced ad blocking, adult content blocking, social media blocking, custom block lists, 2 devices
Family (€6.99/month): Same as Premium but for up to 6 devices

Unique Value

iodé’s approach is fundamentally different from the other resellers:

Device diversity — they’re not limited to Pixels, offering Fairphones, Sony, Samsung, and SHIFT devices
Refurbished options — environmentally conscious and budget-friendly
Ongoing revenue model — their premium subscription funds continued development rather than relying solely on hardware markup
Ethical hardware partnerships — they partner with Fairphone (modular, repairable) and SHIFT (sustainable German manufacturer), and collaborated on the BraX3 privacy phone

Who Should Consider iodé

Users who want a non-Pixel privacy phone
Budget-conscious buyers who want privacy without premium prices
Environmentally conscious users interested in refurbished devices
People who prefer MicroG over GrapheneOS’s sandboxed Google Play approach
European users who want a French/EU-based vendor

Concerns

iodéOS is based on LineageOS, which doesn’t offer the same security hardening as GrapheneOS (no verified boot on most devices, less exploit mitigation)
MicroG, while functional, is an incomplete reimplementation of Google services
Some of their cheapest devices are very old (Samsung Galaxy A5 from 2017) and may have known security vulnerabilities at the firmware level
The subscription model means ongoing costs beyond the initial purchase

The CalyxOS Warning

Any discussion of privacy phone resellers in 2026 must address CalyxOS. In August 2025, the Calyx Institute published a letter announcing that CalyxOS development had been paused indefinitely. Both the founder (Nicholas Merrill) and the lead developer (Chirayu Desai) departed the project. Security updates stopped arriving, leaving CalyxOS stuck on the June 2025 patch level.

If any reseller is still selling CalyxOS devices, this is a serious red flag. An operating system without security updates is worse than stock Android, which at least receives patches. At the time of writing, some resellers still mention CalyxOS on their websites — check carefully before purchasing.

The Verdict: When Resellers Make Sense

Privacy phone resellers aren’t scams. They provide a real service: a ready-to-use device with curated apps, initial setup, and ongoing support. For someone who has never unlocked a bootloader — or who doesn’t know what a bootloader is — that has genuine value.

But the markup is, fundamentally, a convenience and support tax. Here’s our framework for deciding:

Do It Yourself If:

You can follow a step-by-step guide with screenshots
You have a computer and a USB-C cable
You’re comfortable installing apps from F-Droid and Aurora Store
You don’t need phone-based tech support
You want to save $200-500+

Consider a Reseller If:

You’ve never used Android or are switching from iPhone
You want someone to call when things go wrong
Your employer is buying phones for staff and needs warranty/support documentation
You need hardware modifications (Nitrokey’s mic/camera removal)
You want a non-Pixel device with a privacy OS (iodé)
Your time is worth more than the markup

Our Picks by Scenario:

Scenario	Best Option
Tech-savvy individual	DIY (buy Pixel + install GrapheneOS)
Non-technical user, US-based	Above Phone
High-security / enterprise, Europe	Nitrokey NitroPhone
Already own a Pixel, want help	Liberate Your Tech
Want a non-Pixel device or refurbished	iodé
Budget-conscious	iodé (refurbished) or DIY with Pixel 9a

The privacy phone market is maturing, and that’s a good thing. Competition among resellers drives better support, fairer pricing, and more options for consumers. Just go in with clear eyes about what you’re paying for — and remember that the same operating system these companies install is available to everyone, for free, with a 10-minute setup process.

Last updated: February 2026