A recent cybersecurity study by Surfshark reveals that iPhone users can delete significantly more pre-installed apps than users of top Android devices from Samsung and Google, challenging long-held assumptions about smartphone openness and bloatware control.
How Many Pre-Installed Apps Can You Actually Delete on iPhone Versus Android?
When unboxing a new phone, users find a variety of pre-loaded software that consumes storage. In the European Union, users can remove 48 of those applications, amounting to 96 percent, leaving only the Phone and Settings apps as permanent fixtures. In the United States, iPhone users can delete 44 apps, or 88 percent of the total.
Android devices tell a different story regarding deletion freedom. Samsung devices come loaded with 88 pre-installed apps, but users can safely remove only 50 of them, or 57 percent, according to Surfshark’s findings. Google Pixel devices arrive with 71 pre-installed apps, yet the database marks just 27 of them—or 38 percent—as safe to remove.
The study utilized data from the Universal Debloater Alliance Next Generation project to determine that iPhone users have the most freedom when removing software. This finding contrasts with the reputation of Android as the more open option and the iPhone’s “walled garden,” a closed ecosystem where Apple maintains tight control over the apps and services that run on the device.
What Privacy Risks Do Unused Background Apps Create?
Bloatware does more than merely occupy storage space on a device. These unused applications often operate quietly in the background, harvesting personal information and posing hidden privacy risks. Research shows that the average smartphone user installs between 60 and 90 apps, but actively uses only about 10 daily and 30 monthly.
Pre-installed software gathers extensive user metrics even when left unopened. Apple’s built-in iOS apps collect an average of 8 data types per app, with Apple Music and the Apple Store gathering 17 and 18 data types respectively out of 35 tracked categories. Meanwhile, pre-installed apps on Google devices collect an average of 13 data types, with Google Gemini and the Google app disclosing 29 out of 38 categories. Samsung devices also average 13 data types per preloaded app, though third-party inclusions like Facebook and Instagram on the Samsung dataset disclose 37 out of 38 data types.
“While certain data points are necessary for basic operational functionality, entities may harvest information for targeted advertising or may even share it with undisclosed third parties. Even never-used applications can gather personal data and link to your device.”
Surfshark Chief Security Officer Tomas Stamulis stated that the data collection habits of chatbots and social media platforms “raise privacy concerns.” He noted that apps can track information and link to a device even if they are never opened.
Frequently Asked Questions About Smartphone Bloatware and Data Collection
Which smartphone manufacturer includes the highest number of pre-installed apps?
Samsung leads major manufacturers with 88 user-facing pre-installed apps on its devices, followed by Google with 71 apps, Xiaomi with 61 apps, and Apple with 50 apps.
Why are Google Pixel devices more restrictive than iPhones regarding app deletion?
While Apple allows users in the EU to delete up to 96 percent of its pre-installed apps, Google’s Android ecosystem keeps core system features locked down, marking only 38 percent of its 71 built-in apps as safe to remove.
What specific data types do the most aggressive pre-installed apps collect?
On Samsung datasets, preloaded social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram disclose 37 out of 38 standard data types tracked on Google Play, while Google Gemini and the main Google app disclose 29 data types. Other gathered data can include exact GPS coordinates, street addresses and estimated locations.
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