Bloatware Bust: iPhone Flips the Script on Android's Openness Myth

For years, the narrative has been clear: Apple’s iPhone, with its tightly controlled iOS ecosystem, represents the “walled garden,” while Android devices stand as the bastion of user freedom and openness. This perception has often guided consumers in their choice, especially those seeking greater command over their digital experience. However, new research suggests that when it comes to the pervasive issue of pre-installed applications—or bloatware—this conventional wisdom may be entirely backward.

A recent study by cybersecurity firm Surfshark has thrown a significant wrench into the discussion, revealing a surprising truth: iPhone users can remove a higher percentage of pre-installed apps from their devices than owners of phones from major Android manufacturers like Samsung and Google. This finding isn't just a technical detail; it's a fundamental shift in understanding which platform truly empowers users to manage what's on their device, directly impacting privacy and digital hygiene.

The Illusion of Android Openness

The Surfshark report, highlighted by Mashable, indicates a stark contrast in control. While iPhones come with up to 50 pre-installed apps, users in the EU can delete an impressive 48 of them, or 96 percent, leaving only the Phone and Settings apps as undeletable. In the U.S., the figure remains high, with 44 apps or 88 percent removable. This level of user agency is remarkable considering Apple's reputation for a closed system.

Contrast this with the leading Android players. Samsung devices ship with a hefty 88 pre-installed apps, yet only 50 of them, or 57 percent, were marked safe to remove. Google's own Android devices fare even worse, with just 27 of their 71 pre-installed apps—a mere 38 percent—marked as removable. This data paints a clear picture: despite its reputation for flexibility, the average Android user may find their device far more cluttered with undeletable software than an iPhone user. The study further notes that while the average smartphone user installs between 60 and 90 apps, they typically use only about 10 daily and 30 monthly, leaving a significant portion of pre-installed software as unused digital baggage.

Bloatware: A Silent Privacy Threat

Pre-installed apps are not merely inconvenient clutter taking up space; they pose a tangible privacy risk. Unlike apps downloaded from an app store, pre-installed software often benefits from elevated permissions and can operate silently in the background, collecting personal data without explicit user consent. These applications can bypass standard review paths and may expose capabilities users do not expect, effectively widening a device's attack surface and reducing a user's ability to enforce privacy. This means the problem extends far beyond simple storage consumption.

The Surfshark study delved into the types of data collected by these pre-installed applications. Apple apps collected an average of 8 data types per pre-installed app, including location and behavioral data. However, Google and Samsung devices showed a higher average, with their pre-installed apps collecting around 13 data types each. Some apps were particularly egregious: Apple Music and the Apple Store app collected 17 and 18 data types, respectively. On Google devices, Google Gemini and the Google app each listed 29 data types. Perhaps most concerning, the Samsung dataset included Facebook and Instagram, which disclosed a staggering 37 out of 38 data types, making them the worst offenders in the report.

As Surfshark's Chief Security Officer Tomas Stamulis stated,