You still get much better privacy with GrapheneOS even if you install Google apps since they are sandboxed; they don't have access to unique device identifiers and you can control what Google can access by adjusting its permissions, as opposed to having full reign to do whatever it wants. Also you don't have to use all the Google apps, plenty of open source and/or privacy respecting alternatives out there. Pixel Camera only needs Google Photos for the photo previewer, everything else works without it or you can install gcam services provider to use any gallery you want

> Pixel Camera (which forces you to use Google Photos for basic functionality)

I disabled Google Photos but I didn't notice any issues with Camera except for not being able to open the photo just taken from the camera interface. Am I missing something else?

You can install this to fix it, btw

https://github.com/lukaspieper/Gcam-Services-Provider

That's basic functionality?

JFYI, Pixel Camera works without a Google Account. Contacts and Calendar work fine through CalDav and Fossify Calendar.

I avoid RCS like a plague, so I can't comment about that.

> If I have to install Google Messages for RCS, Google Calendar, Google Contacts, Pixel Camera (which forces you to use Google Photos for basic functionality), … where is the benefit?

I am not sure why would you have to install messages has nobody uses RCS these days.

As for calendars and contacts, I am struggling to see the added value over the fossify alternatives, hence I don't have them anymore on my smartphones.

Pixel camera and google photos are nice to get the most out of tye pixel camera but thanksfully grapheneOS lets you use them without access to network. Stock Pixel rom doesn't allow you to do that. That is a major difference imho.

I replace Google Messages with a FOSS version precisely because it doesn't bug me about RCS.

Which one if I may ask? I'm looking for one to get out of RCS reminders and also to avoid receiving emergency messages which come through even if I turn them off in Google messages. The local authorities overuse it, I get several per month now.

I think it's because they got blamed for not warning everyone with the Valencia floods last year but it's really ridiculous now. Now they blow up everyone's phone just when there's going to be a bit of wind.

I like org.fossify.messages from F-Droid, but there are other good SMS apps over there.

Benefit is in sandboxing gapps. Less data to collect and more battery to save.