When browsing through all the smartphone options, if you want something outside of Apple that gives you peace of mind, isn't bloated with strange apps, and takes security seriously, the Pixel is pretty much your only choice.

Personally, I’d suggest avoiding Chinese smartphones as much as possible. Setting aside the cybersecurity risks for a moment, just look at how they cheat and manipulate benchmark scores—they will do whatever it takes just to look good on paper.

Also, consider how phones in China can't use GMS (Google Mobile Services), so they build in countless "workaround" backdoors. Do you really think buying the global version makes it safe? As a software developer, let me tell you: we rarely maintain two completely different codebases for what is essentially the same OS. Those backdoors are still there—they're just disabled. That alone should set off alarm bells.

If anyone is interested in diving deeper into the software issues behind Chinese phones, I can talk about that next time.

Pixel’s raw performance is honestly terrible. But if you don't game, its day-to-day fluidity easily blows other brands—including Samsung—out of the water. It’s a phone you can actually use with peace of mind: practically no backdoors, near-stock Android, timely security updates, and an advanced OS. It really is the best option for daily use.

That said, Google, I’m begging you: can you please take your hardware seriously? The current performance and overall state of Pixel phones are just embarrassing.