TL;DR: The Google Pixel 1 remains useful in 2026 as a hobby phone, Android test device and original-quality Google Photos uploader. It is not safe enough for sensitive daily use. Official security support ended in 2019. LineageOS 22.2 adds Android 15, but installation wipes the phone and cannot update its ageing hardware.
By the PrivacyPortal team
Last updated October 2026
The first-generation Pixel can still run modern apps and a current community operating system. Its small size, simple design and unlockable variants also make it a good learning device. However, the Google Pixel 1 should not hold your only authenticator, password vault or banking access. Back up every important file first. Unlocking its bootloader erases all user data. It can also affect app compatibility, over-the-air updates, warranty support and Play Integrity results.
Is the Google Pixel 1 still useful in 2026?
Yes, within clear limits. The Pixel and larger Pixel XL are inexpensive devices for testing Android, learning fastboot or running a low-risk secondary phone. They can also upload eligible media through Google Photos under the original Pixel offer.
They are poor choices for security-sensitive daily use. Google stopped official operating system and security support in 2019. A community ROM can update Android itself, but it cannot modernise every closed-source firmware component. The battery, storage and USB port may also be ten years old.
Google’s official support schedule placed the Pixel and Pixel XL outside guaranteed Android and security updates in October 2019.
A sensible 2026 role is therefore narrow: media uploader, lab phone, music player or spare handset. Anyone wanting a maintained primary phone should choose newer hardware. Our guide to de-Googled Android phones explains the safer options.
Caption: The original Pixel remains compact and repairable, but its security support has long since ended.
Google Pixel 1 hardware and software at a glance
Google launched two first-generation models in 2016. The smaller Pixel uses the codename sailfish. The Pixel XL is marlin. Both use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 821 processor and have 4GB of RAM.
| Feature | Pixel | Pixel XL |
|---|---|---|
| Codename | sailfish | marlin |
| Display | 5-inch, 1080p OLED | 5.5-inch, 1440p OLED |
| Processor | Snapdragon 821 | Snapdragon 821 |
| Memory | 4GB RAM | 4GB RAM |
| Final official Android release | Android 10 | Android 10 |
| Current community option | LineageOS 22.2 | LineageOS 22.2 |
Storage was sold in 32GB and 128GB versions. There is no microSD slot. Both models have USB-C, a rear fingerprint reader and a 3.5mm headphone socket.
What LineageOS changes and what it cannot fix
LineageOS provides Android 15 through official LineageOS 22.2 builds for sailfish and marlin. It replaces the obsolete stock system with maintained Android code and newer platform security patches.
Official LineageOS device support listed LineageOS 22.2, based on Android 15, for both sailfish and marlin on 13 October 2026.
This is valuable, but it does not make the hardware equivalent to a current Pixel. Some vendor firmware and hardware interfaces remain tied to the old platform. The Snapdragon 821 also lacks newer security features found in modern phones.
An unlocked bootloader changes the trust model. It permits modified software to start and displays a warning during boot. Do not assume LineageOS restores every protection supplied by current stock firmware.
LineageOS does not include root access by default. Adding Magisk or similar tools creates more attack surface and more app-detection problems. Keep the setup simple if privacy and reliability matter more than experimentation.
Check the device before downloading anything
Confirm the exact model, bootloader status and physical condition first. Selecting a marlin image for sailfish, or the reverse, can leave the phone unable to boot.
- Open Settings, About phone and confirm whether it is a Pixel or Pixel XL.
- Check that OEM unlocking is available under Developer options.
- Test the USB-C port with both charging and data transfer.
- Inspect the battery for swelling, heat or sudden shutdowns.
- Remove every Google account before selling or transferring the phone.
Some carrier variants, especially certain US Verizon units, cannot be bootloader-unlocked through the normal supported process. A greyed-out OEM unlocking switch may indicate a carrier restriction. Do not use an old exploit from an unknown forum post merely to bypass this limit.
The bootloader screen reports the product codename. Use that value as the final check before flashing.
How to install LineageOS 22.2 on a Google Pixel 1
Use the official device-specific instructions and keep the phone connected to reliable power throughout the process.
- Back up photos, downloads, messages, authenticator exports and recovery codes. Bootloader unlocking will wipe the phone.
- Install the current Android SDK Platform-Tools package and the Google USB driver if Windows needs it.
- Download the LineageOS 22.2 build and matching Lineage Recovery for sailfish or marlin. Check each published SHA-256 digest.
- Enable Developer options, USB debugging and OEM unlocking. Approve the computer’s debugging key on the phone.
- Run adb reboot bootloader. Confirm that fastboot shows the correct product and device serial.
- Run fastboot flashing unlock. Approve the warning on the phone; this factory-resets all user data.
- Complete the current official LineageOS repartition step if the device guide requires it. Use only the package made for the exact model.
- Flash the matching recovery image to the boot partition. Reboot directly into recovery without starting the old Android system.
- Use Lineage Recovery to format data, then choose Apply update, Apply from ADB. Run adb sideload with the LineageOS ZIP.
- Install any chosen add-on before the first system boot, then reboot. Allow several minutes and verify the build details.
Prerequisites and files
You need a dependable USB data cable, a charged phone and a Windows, macOS or Linux computer. Use Google’s official Android SDK Platform-Tools, not a years-old “minimal ADB” bundle.
The downloads listed in the accompanying Modules, apps & files to try section should include the relevant LineageOS build and recovery image. Match every file to sailfish or marlin. Never rename files to make a command appear to fit.
The Pixel uses an A/B partition layout. A failed flash may affect the active slot while leaving another slot present. That is not a guarantee of recovery. Do not manually flash vbmeta partitions or disable Android Verified Boot unless the official guide for this exact installation tells you to do so.
How to verify the installation
Open Settings, About phone, Android version. Check that the device reports LineageOS 22.2 and Android 15. Then test calls, mobile data, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, the camera, microphone and fingerprint reader.
Open the LineageOS Updater and confirm that it can check for updates. Reboot once more to prove that both startup and encryption work. Keep the downloaded recovery files until the phone has passed these checks.
If the device returns to recovery or reports no operating system, stop. Recheck the codename, ZIP digest and official installation page before flashing anything else.
Caption: Verify the Android build, radio functions and encryption before trusting the restored phone.
The repartition step is the main danger
Modern Android builds need more system space than the original partition layout provides. The official installation process may therefore include a repartition package. This changes the device’s storage map and is more destructive than an ordinary factory reset.
A loss of power, wrong model package or interrupted USB connection can leave recovery unable to mount partitions. In practice, this is where careful users slow down. Read the complete official LineageOS device guide before entering the first command.
- Do not improvise partition sizes from another Pixel model.
- Do not disconnect the cable while a repartition operation is running.
- Do not flash sailfish files to marlin, or marlin files to sailfish.
- Do not relock the bootloader while an unofficial operating system is installed.
- Do not continue after an unexpected fastboot or recovery error.
Relocking against an incompatible build can make recovery much harder and may brick the phone. Leaving the bootloader unlocked has security costs, so the device should stay in a low-risk role.
Google Photos unlimited original-quality uploads
The original Pixel has a genuine Google Photos benefit. Google’s published policy grants first-generation Pixel devices unlimited uploads at Original quality. This differs from fingerprint spoofing on unrelated hardware.
Google Photos Help states that Pixel (1st generation) devices receive unlimited Original-quality storage at no charge for eligible uploads from the device.
The offer concerns media uploaded from the original Pixel. It does not make all files in an account free. Transfer a small test image to the phone, upload it and check its backup details before moving a large library.
Do not keep the Pixel as the only copy of any photo. Old flash storage can fail without warning. Maintain at least one separate local backup and another independent copy.
A custom ROM or future service change may affect how the benefit appears. Verify the account’s storage result after every major system or Google Photos update. Avoid fingerprint-spoofing modules, leaked keyboxes or altered Play Integrity profiles. They add risk and are unnecessary on genuine hardware.
Caption: A genuine first-generation Pixel can serve as an uploader, but every photo still needs an independent backup.
Banking apps, Play Integrity and daily reliability
An unlocked or modified Pixel may fail Google Play Integrity checks. Some banking, payment, streaming and workplace apps use those results alongside their own signals. Behaviour can change after an app or server update.
No root-hiding module can guarantee that a specific bank will work. A passing test today does not promise access tomorrow. Keep another approved way to reach important accounts.
| Use case | Practical verdict | Main concern |
|---|---|---|
| Learning ADB and fastboot | Good fit | Destructive flashing mistakes |
| Google Photos uploader | Useful with testing | Ageing storage and policy changes |
| Secondary media phone | Reasonable | Battery condition |
| Banking or password vault | Not recommended | Unsupported firmware and app checks |
| Primary security-focused phone | Poor fit | Legacy hardware and unlocked bootloader |
For a supported daily device, compare newer models in our Android bootloader and privacy guide. PrivacyPortal also offers privacy-focused Android phones for readers who prefer a prepared device.
Common failure modes and practical fixes
The computer cannot see the phone
Run an ADB or fastboot device check before flashing. If no serial appears, change the cable, USB port or driver. Avoid hubs and front-panel ports. A charging-only cable cannot carry fastboot data.
OEM unlocking is unavailable
Connect stock Android to the internet and check again after setup. If the option remains disabled, the handset may be a carrier-locked variant. Do not proceed unless the official unlock route becomes available.
Sideload appears stuck at 47%
ADB sideload can stop displaying progress on the computer while recovery continues processing the package. Read the recovery screen. Do not unplug the device simply because the host percentage pauses.
The first boot takes several minutes
A long first boot is normal after formatting data. A repeated return to recovery is not. Check the installed filename, model codename and recovery messages before retrying.
Frequently asked questions
Can the Google Pixel 1 run Android 15?
Yes. Official LineageOS 22.2 builds bring Android 15 to the Pixel and Pixel XL. This updates the Android platform but cannot replace every old hardware firmware component.
Does unlocking the bootloader erase the phone?
Yes. The supported bootloader-unlock process performs a factory reset. Back up files, authenticator data and recovery codes before issuing the unlock command.
Can I relock the bootloader after installing LineageOS?
Do not relock it unless the operating system’s official documentation explicitly supports that exact action. Relocking with an incompatible image can prevent the phone from booting or recovering.
Will banking apps work on LineageOS?
Some may work and others may refuse. Results depend on Play Integrity, bootloader state and each app’s own checks. No configuration can promise compatibility with a named bank.
Is the original Pixel safe as a primary phone?
Not for security-sensitive use. Android 15 through LineageOS improves software currency, but the phone still has legacy hardware and firmware. Use a supported modern device for banking, authentication and confidential work.
Does unlimited Google Photos storage still work?
The original Pixel remains covered by Google’s published Original-quality upload benefit as of October 2026. Test a small upload and inspect its storage details. Keep independent backups because service terms and device behaviour can change.
Final verdict
The Google Pixel 1 still earns a place on a tinkerer’s desk. It is compact, inexpensive and supported by LineageOS 22.2. Its authentic Google Photos benefit also gives it a rare practical role.
Its limits matter more than its novelty. Official support ended in 2019. Installation involves a full wipe and potentially destructive repartitioning. An unlocked bootloader can affect security, updates and app access.
Back up first, identify sailfish or marlin, verify every download and follow the current official device guide exactly. Used as a lab phone or carefully monitored uploader, the original Pixel remains worthwhile. Used as the sole gateway to important accounts, it is an avoidable risk.
PrivacyPortal sells ready-to-use, de-Googled GrapheneOS Pixels — hardened, kept updated, and shipped with our encrypted Graphite messenger. Browse privacy phones →
