# iPhone vs Android: Bloatware Privacy Study

> iPhone users can remove more pre-installed apps than Android users, per a privacy study.
- Title: iPhone vs Android: Bloatware Privacy Study · Mashable
- Summary: iPhone users can remove more pre-installed apps than Android users, per a privacy study. A Surfshark study shows iPhone users can delete 88% of pre-installed…
- Keywords: iphone, android, bloatware, pre-installed apps, privacy, surfshark, data types, app removal, technology, culture, Study, Mashable
- Source: Mashable — https://mashable.com/tech/iphone-vs-android-bloatware-pre-installed-app-privacy-study
- Author: Matt Binder
- Published: 2026-10-07T20:19:56+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: iphone, android, bloatware, pre-installed apps, privacy, surfshark, data types, app removal, technology, culture
## Pre-installed apps
Pre-installed apps can invade your privacy but some smartphones let users remove more than others.
## Apple's closed ecosystem
Apple has long been criticized for the iPhone's 'walled garden' closed ecosystem that gives tight control over apps and services.
## iPhone bloatware removal
iPhone users can remove 44 of 50 pre-installed apps in the U.S. or 96 percent in the EU.
## Samsung bloatware removal
Samsung devices come with 88 pre-installed apps and only 57 percent are marked safe to remove.
## Google bloatware removal
Google devices have 71 pre-installed apps with only 27 marked safe to remove.
## Privacy risks of bloatware
Pre-installed apps collect personal data in the background, making bloatware a privacy risk.
## Key takeaway

A Surfshark study shows iPhone users can delete 88% of pre-installed apps in the U.S. versus 57% for Samsung and 27% for Google devices, highlighting privacy differences.