The Privacy Phone Hierarchy
A practical, opinionated ranking. Not about perfection — about reducing risk and choosing tradeoffs consciously.
S Tier — Best overall
S TierStrong security model, fast updates, and excellent day-to-day compatibility.
Pixel 9 Pro / 9 / 8a are strong picks.
A Tier — Great choices
A TierPrivacy-forward defaults with broader device options; tradeoffs vary by model and update pipeline.
Good mainstream UX; less hardening than GrapheneOS.
Good built-in trackers blocking; verify update cadence per device.
B Tier — Niche, depends on your workflow
B TierCan be good for certain users, but ecosystem, price, or long-term support may be less clear.
C Tier — Compromises / different category
C TierOften less compelling as a primary privacy choice; may still fit specific needs.
Minimal phone category; privacy benefits are indirect.
Linux-first; daily-driver compromises are significant.
Dead — Avoid for new setups
Dead TierDiscontinued or not recommended for new users due to support/security concerns.
How we think about tiers
- Security update pipeline and exploit mitigations matter more than marketing.
- Usability affects privacy: if it's painful, people bypass it.
- Threat models vary — the best phone for a journalist differs from the best phone for a casual user.