The Google Pixel 7 Pro is the best Android phone when it comes to security. Google builds its phones to be secure from the start, and its monthly security patches guarantee you won’t be left behind on future exploits. Some of the most secure Android phones available to date are on this list to keep your mind at ease while staying safely connected.
These are the most secure Android phones
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The Pixel 7 Pro is a phenomenal device that highlights the best that Google has to offer right now. The phone has a gorgeous design and comes with upgraded hardware that excels at AI-based workloads that Google is increasingly adding on its devices, and you get standout cameras and a large battery with wireless charging and other extras.
A big selling point for the Pixel 7 Pro is that it is constantly updated directly from Google with the latest version of Android. Outside of any new features that may come with it, the device security model has been updated and strengthened by a dedicated team that regularly audits and enhances the code used to build Android.
Equally necessary but often overlooked is transparency. You shouldn’t have to trust a company when it says something is secure or updated, and the Android code for both the platform version and all updates is available for anyone to take a look at. Plenty of people do, and despite any opinions to the contrary, Android, as written, has proven to be a very secure platform.
And with Google rolling out monthly security updates along with quarterly content updates that introduce new features to the Pixel 7 Pro, this is the ideal device if you want to safeguard your security.
Samsung used to have a poor reputation regarding Android security, but the company has done a complete turn-around and is now regularly updating and patching its phones. What’s that much more interesting is that the brand now guarantees four Android OS updates along with five years of security patches — more than Google!
That makes devices like the Galaxy S22 Ultra that much more enticing. The phone has all the features you need in a flagship, including a sublime 120Hz AMOLED screen that’s outstanding for streaming videos, powerful internal hardware, strong cameras at the back that take standout photos in challenging situations, and a huge battery with fast wired and wireless charging.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra launched at the start of 2022 with Android 12 out of the box, and the phone picked up the One UI 5 stable update based on Android 13 just under a month of its official launch by Google. Samsung is now the brand to beat for software updates on Android, and with four guaranteed Android OS updates, the Galaxy S22 Ultra will make the switch to Android 16.
The phone also has Samsung Knox, which adds an extra layer of security that can separate business and personal data and allow you to hide sensitive information behind a password. This can mean the difference between personal and corporate security.
Google transformed the mid-range category with the Pixel 6a, delivering outstanding hardware combined with great cameras and a clean software with zero bloatware. While earlier launches in the Pixel A series had a lot to offer, they didn’t measure up on the hardware front.
That’s changing with the Pixel 6a, with the phone featuring the same great Tensor platform as the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, allowing it to handle demanding games and multitask with ease.
The software situation is just as enticing as the Pixel 7 series, with the Pixel 6a slated to pick up three guaranteed Android OS updates along with monthly security updates for five years. The phone launched with Android 12 and got the Android 13 update on launch day, and Google has done a magnificent job ensuring the software is clean and without any bloat.
You can’t talk about a Pixel without mentioning the cameras, and the Pixel 6a takes fabulous photos on par with the Pixel 5 series in any scenario. Honestly, for what you’re paying here, the Pixel 6a is the best choice by a long margin.
Nearly a year after its launch, the Galaxy S21 FE continues to be a great overall choice if you’re in the market for value. The hardware is still going strong, the design holds up just fine, and the cameras are still great. The 120Hz AMOLED screen is the same as that on the S22, and the battery life is phenomenal.
Samsung nailed the fundamentals here, and the fact that the S21 FE will get four Android OS updates — the same as the Galaxy S22 series — makes it a stellar choice if you want to maximize value.
The Zenfone 9 is my favorite small phone. ASUS did a magnificent job shrinking the phone without removing any of the features, and as a result the Zenfone 9 offers the same caliber of hardware as the Galaxy S22 Ultra and other high-end phones.
You also get stellar cameras with gimbal stabilization tech, a clean software that’s a delight to use, a vibrant 120Hz AMOLED screen, and a battery that somehow manages to last a full day without breaking a sweat.
But the best thing about the Zenfone 9 is the size; it is ideally suited for one-handed use, and I can’t say that for most other Android phones I’ve used.
What secure phone should you buy?
If you need the absolute best phone that money can buy, then you should get the Pixel 7 Pro. Google nailed the feature-set and the cameras here, and the Pixel 7 Pro takes fantastic photos unerringly. But it’s best trait is the software; there’s no other phone that will get updates as fast.
If you want a lot of features, then the Galaxy S22 Ultra may be the ideal phone for you. It is my second-favorite phone right now (behind the Pixel), and it combines a gorgeous design with the best set of hardware features you’ll find today. There’s also the fact that Samsung will roll out more updates to the S22 Ultra, making it a clear winner.
Looking for the best value? The Pixel 6a is the way to go here. The phone has reliable hardware, takes amazing shots in any situation, and you get a clean software.
I’ll also have to mention the Zenfone 9 here. ASUS deserves a lot of credit for making a small phone without sacrificing any of the hardware features, and the fact that you get a clean software with zero bloatware and stellar cameras makes the Zenfone 9 a brilliant overall package.