Most secure Android phone 2023

The Google Pixel 8 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. Samsung's S23 series of smartphones are just as secure, promising years of regular software updates and the brand's propriety Knox security.

Aside from Google and Samsung's best, there are quite a few of the most secure Android phones available on this list. Pick one of these excellent Android phones to keep your mind at ease while staying safely connected.

At a glance

Best overall

The Pixel 8 Pro is a phenomenal device that highlights the best that Google has to offer right now, including the new Google Tensor G3 processor. The phone has a gorgeous design and comes with upgraded hardware that excels at AI-based workloads that Google is increasingly adding to its devices, and you get standout cameras and a large battery with wireless charging and other extras.

A big selling point for the Pixel 8 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 8 Pro, this is the ideal device if you want to safeguard your security.

Best premium

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 S23 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 S23 Ultra launched at the start of 2023 with Android 13 out of the box along with One UI 5.1. Samsung is now the brand to beat for software updates on Android, and with four guaranteed Android OS updates, the Galaxy S23 Ultra will make the switch to Android 17.

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.

Best mid-range

Google transformed the mid-range category with the Pixel 7a, 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 Google Pixel 7a, with the phone featuring the same great Tensor G2 platform as the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, allowing it to handle demanding games and multitask with ease. Then there are other flagship features to consider, such as wireless charging and a 90Hz OLED display.

The software situation is just as enticing as the Pixel 7 series, with the Pixel 7a slated to pick up three guaranteed Android OS updates along with monthly security updates for five years. The phone launched with Android 13 and is slated to get as far as Android 16 in the future. 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 7a takes fabulous photos on par with the Pixel 7 series in any scenario. Honestly, for what you're paying here, the Pixel 7a is the best choice by a long margin.

Best budget

Fresh out of the oven, the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is a great overall choice if you're in the market for value. The hardware is pretty decent, the design holds up just fine, and the cameras are really great. While the 120Hz AMOLED screen isn't the same as that on the S23, it gets plenty bright enough and the battery life is phenomenal. 

Samsung nailed the fundamentals here, and the fact that the A54 5G will get four Android OS updates — the same as the Galaxy S23 series — makes it a stellar choice if you want to maximize value. Since the device comes with Android 13 pre-installed, you'll be good all the way up until Android 17.

Let's also not forget that the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is extremely affordable. An Android phone of such caliber and with Samsung Knox security doesn't usually cost this less. This is one of the many reasons why the Galaxy A54 5G is the best budget phone for anyone.

Best small

The Zenfone 10 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 10 offers the same caliber of hardware as the Galaxy S23 Ultra and other high-end phones. 

You also get stellar cameras with gimbal stabilization tech, 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. It even comes with 15W wireless charging capabilities. But the best thing about the Zenfone 10 is the size; it is ideally suited for one-handed use, and I can't say that for most other smartphones I've used.

Most of the other small Android phones with such beefy internals are budget buys like the Pixel 7a or lacking in some areas like the baby S23 and its lackluster battery life. The Zenfone 10 is a fully capable flagship without such troubles, though it doesn't have a zoom lens and you only get two years of OS updates.

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What secure phone should you buy?

If you need the absolute best phone that money can buy, then you should get the Pixel 8 Pro. Google nailed the feature-set and the cameras here, and the Pixel 8 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 S23 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 S23 Ultra, making it a clear winner. 

Looking for the best value? The Pixel 7a is the way to go here. The phone has reliable hardware, takes amazing shots in any situation, and you get a clean software experience.

I'll also have to mention the Zenfone 10 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 such light and smooth software with zero bloatware and stellar cameras makes the Zenfone 10 a brilliant overall package.