Samsung Phones Ship with 88 Apps; iPhone Allows Most Deletions

Most smartphone owners assume a fresh device starts with a clean slate, but new data suggests otherwise. A recent study by cybersecurity firm Surfshark, reported by androidheadlines.com, details how many apps arrive preloaded on major brands and how many of them users can actually remove. The findings show a significant gap between the number of apps installed and the freedom to delete them.

The research highlights that unused software often remains in the background, consuming resources and potentially collecting personal data. While some brands allow users to clean up their devices extensively, others lock a large portion of the software ecosystem in place, limiting user control over what runs on their hardware.

Samsung ships the most preloaded software

The volume of pre-installed applications varies drastically by manufacturer. Samsung tops the list with 88 user-facing apps preloaded on new devices. Google follows with 71, while Xiaomi includes 61. Apple ships with the lowest count among these major brands, preloading 50 applications. This disparity means that a new Samsung phone starts with nearly double the amount of third-party software compared to an iPhone.

However, the number of apps is only part of the story. The critical factor for many users is whether these applications can be permanently removed. The study indicates that while high app counts may clutter the interface, the real trade-off lies in the ability to maintain a minimalistic and secure environment without relying on workarounds.

iPhone users have the highest deletion rate

In terms of user freedom, Apple leads the pack significantly. In the European Union, iPhone owners can safely delete up to 98% of their pre-installed apps. In other regions, this figure is slightly lower at 88%, but it still represents the highest level of control among the major brands. This flexibility allows users to strip their devices down to only the essential functions they actually use.

Android manufacturers show more mixed results. Samsung and Xiaomi allow users to remove about 57% of their preloaded software without breaking core system functions. In contrast, Google Pixel devices offer the least flexibility, with only 38% of their 71 built-in apps flagged as safe to remove. This means that on a Pixel phone, nearly two-thirds of the pre-installed ecosystem remains locked onto the device, limiting the user's ability to declutter.

Hidden apps gather extensive personal data

Keeping unused apps installed is not just a storage issue; it is a privacy concern. The study found that pre-installed applications collect surprising amounts of personal data, ranging from approximate location to exact GPS coordinates. On Samsung devices, third-party apps like Facebook and Instagram gather the most data, collecting 37 out of 38 standard data types listed on Google Play.

Xiaomi’s preloaded apps harvest an average of 16 data types per app, compared to 13 on Google and Samsung devices. Apple’s built-in iOS apps collect the least, averaging eight data types. Even apps that are never opened can track information and link it back to the device. This underscores the importance of auditing software permissions and removing unnecessary apps to protect personal data.