Recent years have shown us how insecure our smartphones can be. They pose a risk if we misplace them, as all our confidential data is stored on the device, but they also represent an enormous privacy risk.
Google and Apple monitor a lot of what you do on your smartphone, and then manufacturers will add their own invasive software into the mix. The situation can seem bleak for the privacy enthusiast.
Fortunately, you do have options if you're after the most private phone. Let's take a look at the top choices.
Choosing the Most Secure Phone
Before diving into the recommendations, it's important to note the unique considerations of choosing a phone for privacy. The smartphone experience is based on data collection and personalization.
First-party apps like Google Photos or Apple Maps, and third-party options like Instagram and WhatsApp, rely on capturing your personal information and user metadata, which are valuable for building an advertising profile. Although you're aware of this, these apps have become so integral in the way you use your phones that you choose to ignore the background mining.
Opting for a privacy-focused smartphone will mean that you lose out on some of the features and services that make online life convenient. Of course, you may be able to work around these app-based restrictions. However, this also applies to the operating system as a whole.
Generally, privacy-friendly smartphones are less intuitive and more complicated thanks to the inclusion of encrypted software, fewer social platforms, and a lack of personalization.
This doesn't mean that they are unusable, though. But you need to be aware of the significant differences between a regular iPhone, an Android device, and a secure smartphone with a different OS before your purchase.
1. Purism Librem 5
Purism, a social purpose corporation, has been producing privacy-friendly Linux-based laptops and computers since 2014. The Purism Librem 5 is the company's first smartphone and was designed with privacy in mind. The device was launched as a crowd-funded project in 2017, with the first batch of phones shipping in late 2019. The Librem 5 is the best option in the list of smartphones that don't track you.
The phone runs PureOS, Purism's privacy-focused Linux operating system which is not based on Android or iOS. PureOS is open-source and comes with free and open-source software (FOSS) pre-installed.
Yet, in the true spirit of freedom, Purism does not force you to use its operating system (OS). You can choose to install any compatible GNU/Linux OS instead. As a result, there is no access to the Google Play Store or other mainstream app stores. The default web-browser uses DuckDuckGo as the default search engine.
Crucially, the phone also has three hardware-based kill switches that can shut down all network connectivity, including GPS. There are also kill switches for the microphone, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, cameras, and cellular baseband. As for the remaining hardware, the Librem 5 has a 4,500mAh removable battery, a 13MP primary camera, and 32GB of onboard storage, expandable up to 2TB via microSD.
Purism has committed to continuous updates for the Librem 5, which means you don't have to change your phone every couple of years because it's lost support or cannot run new features. This is in stark contrast to Google and Apple, who typically support a phone for two or three years. The Librem phone charges via USB-C, and supports wireless Bluetooth connectivity.
On paper, the Librem 5 makes a convincing case as the best phone for privacy. However, before you buy it, take a look at whether the Librem 5 actually meets your needs. The trade-off between privacy and usability is evident here, and the phone has some notable flaws. But if your primary goal is improved smartphone privacy, the Librem 5 is still a good option.
2. Google Pixel 6
Android OS has decent security, especially when a phone running the OS has developer support. The security of the Pixel lineup is not only due to the architecture of the OS itself but also due to the numerous security updates Android developers release. Some of these patches can even happen monthly, which guarantees your phone stays updated.
Google created a multi-layered approach to security for Pixel models. The Pixel 6 is equipped with Tensor System on a Chip (SoC) and TrustZone technology, which will store your sensitive data in a specifically designated secure area of the phone.
Furthermore, the Pixel 6 has anti-phishing protection and built-in spam detection that regularly and automatically scans for potential threats from phone calls, text messages, emails, and links sent to you. The phone will automatically notify you if it thinks the message, phone call, or notification is a scam.
Additionally, the Pixel 6 will get three years of major general updates (it will theoretically receive Android 15) and five years of security updates to keep up to date with all the latest threats. That doesn't mean you're done after your device is out of Google developer support. You can choose to run privacy-focused custom ROMs like GrapheneOS or CalyxOS that only support Pixels.
3. Pine64 PinePhone Pro
The Pine64 PinePhone Pro is a Linux-based alternative to the Purism Librem 5. However, the PinePhone Pro isn't specially adapted for increased security and privacy. Instead, its strength comes from the fact that the phone runs an open-source operating system and relies solely on open-source software.
The PinePhone is designed to run a variety of Linux operating systems. There are pre-configured variants of the phone available like the PinePhone Beta Edition, which runs a mobile edition of Plasma, available to buy directly from Pine64. However, once you've got the physical device in your hands, you can install any of the 20 currently supported operating systems.
The PinePhone Pro uses the Allwinner A64 quad-core system-on-a-chip (SoC), has 4GB of RAM, and 128GB eMMC flash storage. It is powered by a Samsung J7 form-factor 3000mAh, which can be recharged via USB-C. There is a 13MP primary camera and a 5MP selfie camera too.
There are privacy hardware DIP-switches, hidden under a rear cover to cut access to both cameras, the microphone, the LTE modem and GPS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and headphone jack. The phone is easily repairable—the components are conveniently accessible with just a screwdriver—and will have a production lifespan of five years.
4. Apple iPhone 13
Two of the smartphones listed so far are not mainstream options and only appeal to a small subset of users. However, not everyone has the time or resources to invest in these options. As a result, it is worth considering a readily available option too.
In a move that some people may find controversial, our final choice for the most secure and private phone available today is the Apple iPhone 13. Although you may question whether Apple is truly a privacy-friendly company, these devices are regarded as more private than Android smartphones.
The main reason for this is the difference in the business model between Apple and Google. Apple devices are, on the whole, quite expensive and tend to encourage vendor lock-in. So, once you have an iPhone, you'll consider purchasing a MacBook, Apple Watch, AirPods, and so on. In effect, Apple is a hardware business.
On the other hand, Google provides Android (mostly) for free to manufacturers who then produce a wide variety of smartphones that use the OS. Google recoups its investment by capturing your personal data. This data is used to inform the ads you see across the apps you use, the websites you visit, and wherever you are signed in to a Google account.
However, that's not to say that Apple is perfect for privacy enthusiasts. The company still gathers data about you and your habits, but the data collected is used to customize your experience with Apple products, rather than create an advertisement profile. Much of the data is stored locally on your device rather than synced to the cloud and shared with marketing partners.
The main thing to keep in consideration while using an iPhone is sharing user analytics data with Apple and third-party apps. Disabling personalized ads and opting out of sharing analytics data with Apple will make your iPhone fairly private. For third-party apps, limit the apps you install on your device directly. Instead, use the web version of an app if available and only install apps when you really need them.
The iPhone 13 is the latest smartphone from Apple and runs the most recent edition of its iOS mobile operating system. The device features a 6.1-inch Retina display, is IP68-rated for water and dust resistance, and uses Face ID for biometric authentication.
The Best Phone for Privacy
In the wake of the Edward Snowden leaks in 2013, public interest in privacy grew, eventually leading to a new wave of privacy-focused products. While there are sometimes trade-offs, this is inevitable as the mainstream options rely on data collection to function.
We've rounded up some of the most private phones available today, but many of them run Linux operating systems rather than Android or iOS. If you haven't made the switch to Linux on desktop, there are plenty of great reasons to consider switching from Windows 10 to Ubuntu.