The phone in question is Unplugged’s UP Phone, currently listed by the company at $989. Its maker advertises privacy features and security testing, but those claims do not by themselves establish that the device is broadly or independently proven secure. The available independent reporting also leaves a key buyer question unanswered: how long the phone receives software support.
What phone is the headline about?
It is the UP Phone, sold by Unplugged. MIT Technology Review published an article with the headline “Erik Prince wants to sell you a ‘secure’ smartphone that’s too good to be true” on August 19, 2022. The full article could not be reviewed for this assessment, so its specific reporting about the company’s origins, investors, technical staff, or claims cannot be responsibly repeated here. The product currently relevant to buyers is Unplugged’s UP Phone.
Unplugged announced a major UP Phone update and named Joe Weil CEO on August 12, 2025. The announcement describes the phone’s firewall and battery-disconnect switch in the company’s own terms; it is not independent validation of their effectiveness. Unplugged’s 2025 announcement
What does Unplugged say the UP Phone includes?
The company’s product page lists the UP Phone for $989 and publishes the following specifications. These are manufacturer-listed details, not independently measured results. Unplugged UP Phone product page
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- Revolutionary 50MP Quad Camera System: This smartphone is equipped with All 50MP four camera system: Including a Main Camera, a Periscope, an Ultra-wide Camera, and a ultra-clear Front Camera; this cell phone support Ultra XDR 4K video, Auto Tone, Portrait Optimiser, Motion Capture Mode, Night Mode; Whether you're a photographer, vlogger, or social media enthusiast, with the pro-grade camera system and AI enhancements, this Nothing phone can ensure every shot is masterpiece-ready.
- One-Touch Control, AI-Powered Organization：ESSENTIAL KEY: A new button on the side of your device.Press once to capture your screen, long-press to record voice and ideas, and double-press to access Essential Space; ESSENTIAL SPACE: Everything in one place, organised the way you want it to be，AI mobile phones helps organise your captures, generating suggestions, and staying on top of what matters; Explore more AI features, Let AI enrich your life
- GLYPH INTERFACE: Where Light Speaks; The Glyph Matrix transforms your phone into an interactive playground—smart animations turn notifications, tools, and games into living light experiences; NFC: An animation comes to life when NFC is triggered; Glyph Button: Quick-tap to browse Glyph Toys, long-press to launch—from utilities to games; Smarter Alerts: Notifications now speak in light and sound, blending visuals with meaning; Beyond illumination; This is interaction, redefined.
- Larger and Brighter FHD Display: 6.67" FHD+ 1.5K AMOLED flex screen with 1.07B colors & 120Hz adaptive refresh for ultra-smooth visuals; Vs Nothing Phone (2)/(3a): Phone (3) boasts 181.2% brighter (4500 nits), 16.7% sharper (460 PPI), and 316% faster touch response (1000Hz); IP68-rated—tough enough for any adventure.
| Item | Manufacturer-listed detail |
|---|---|
| Storage | 256GB internal, expandable to 1TB+ |
| Memory | 8GB RAM |
| Display | 6.67-inch AMOLED |
| Battery | 4,300mAh |
| Rear cameras | 108MP main, 8MP wide, and 5MP macro |
| Connectivity | Nano-SIM and eSIM; 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G support listed |
| Privacy controls | Customizable privacy button and a battery-disconnect switch |
The company also describes an on-device firewall and privacy controls. A physical switch or firewall may be useful design elements, but a feature list does not establish how completely they work, what they protect against, or whether they remain effective as software and apps change.
Do the security claims prove that the phone is secure?
No. Unplugged’s product page claims the UP Phone blocked third-party trackers in a comparison and reports third-party security testing. It presents a 45-minute tracker comparison; that is the company’s stated test duration, not a general measure of security. The available material does not establish the underlying report, device and software version, test setup, scope, or methodology.
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Without those details, a tracker result cannot show that every tracker is blocked, that the same result applies across apps and networks, or that a phone is secure against other threats. Nor does the existence of third-party testing tell a buyer what was tested or what the results mean. No regulator, standards body, or court finding about this phone was established in the cited material, and it does not support describing the UP Phone as certified by an independent lab.
“Secure” is broader than any single privacy feature or test. A practical assessment also depends on whether the operating system receives security updates, whether users can obtain needed apps safely, and how well the device works with their carrier. Those questions should be answered before treating a privacy-focused feature set as a complete security case.
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What is known about its operating system and updates?
In its August 12, 2025 coverage, TechRadar described UnpluggedOS as derived from the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and said it does not include Google Mobile Services (GMS). Without GMS, app availability and compatibility may differ from a conventional Android phone; buyers should check that the apps and services they rely on work on the UP Phone. TechRadar’s August 2025 report
TechRadar also reported that the CEO did not confirm the length of software support to the reporter at that time. That is a dated disclosure, not proof of the UP Phone’s update status in October 2026. The available sources do not establish its current support end date or update cadence. Buyers should get those specifics directly from Unplugged before purchase; a phone’s security depends in part on continued updates, not only its launch features.
Rank #4
- Ultra-high Performance Chipset: This cell phone is equipped with a powerful and efficient Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip, using 4nm technology and a full-core 3.2GHz CPU, supporting 24GB LPDDR5X memory + UFS 4.0 flash memory, and equipped with an AI engine, with comprehensive performance upgrades.
- Revolutionary 50MP Quad Camera System: This smartphone is equipped with All 50MP four camera system: Including a Main Camera, a Periscope, an Ultra-wide Camera, and a ultra-clear Front Camera; this cell phone support Ultra XDR 4K video, Auto Tone, Portrait Optimiser, Motion Capture Mode, Night Mode; Whether you're a photographer, vlogger, or social media enthusiast, with the pro-grade camera system and AI enhancements, this Nothing phone can ensure every shot is masterpiece-ready.
- One-Touch Control, AI-Powered Organization：ESSENTIAL KEY: A new button on the side of your device.Press once to capture your screen, long-press to record voice and ideas, and double-press to access Essential Space; ESSENTIAL SPACE: Everything in one place, organised the way you want it to be，AI mobile phones helps organise your captures, generating suggestions, and staying on top of what matters; Explore more AI features, Let AI enrich your life
- GLYPH INTERFACE: Where Light Speaks; The Glyph Matrix transforms your phone into an interactive playground—smart animations turn notifications, tools, and games into living light experiences; NFC: An animation comes to life when NFC is triggered; Glyph Button: Quick-tap to browse Glyph Toys, long-press to launch—from utilities to games; Smarter Alerts: Notifications now speak in light and sound, blending visuals with meaning; Beyond illumination; This is interaction, redefined.
- Larger and Brighter FHD Display: 6.67" FHD+ 1.5K AMOLED flex screen with 1.07B colors & 120Hz adaptive refresh for ultra-smooth visuals; Vs Nothing Phone (2)/(3a): Phone (3) boasts 181.2% brighter (4500 nits), 16.7% sharper (460 PPI), and 316% faster touch response (1000Hz); IP68-rated—tough enough for any adventure.
Where can you buy it, and what should you check first?
As listed on October 5, 2026, Unplugged’s product page showed a $989 price and US and Canadian purchase and shipping availability, with carrier compatibility information for those markets. It advertised a 30-day return period subject to terms and said international shipping, including to the UK and EU, was temporarily unavailable. These are changeable seller details, so confirm the current listing and terms before ordering.
The page lists cases, screen protectors, a USB-C charger, and a USB-C cable. It does not establish current Amazon availability or an affiliate program.
Best Value
- Compatible with Unplugged Phone / UP Phone 6.67" SmartPhone leather wallet phone case.
- Universal Retro Design Premium leather wallet case with credit card holder slots and movable clip, high quality and good protection for your phone.
- 3 Card holder & ID slots design, convenient slots to store your card, making the shopping and paying more convenient.
- Move up and down clip design, does not affect the phone's camera and charging function.
- Full body protection for your phone against any scratch, bump, finger marks, and dirt, all ports, buttons and speakers have precision cut-outs for easy access.
- Updates: Ask for the supported period, update cadence, and process for delivering security fixes.
- Testing: Request the security and tracker-test reports, including the tested software version, methodology, scope, and results.
- Apps: Confirm that essential apps and services work without Google Mobile Services.
- Carrier: Check the company’s compatibility details against your carrier and location; listed cellular generations alone do not guarantee service on a specific network.
- Returns and warranty: Read the current terms, including conditions and any applicable limits, before paying.
So, is it too good to be true?
The evidence supports a measured answer, not a blanket verdict. The UP Phone is a real product with published hardware specifications and privacy features, and Unplugged makes security and tracker-blocking claims. The cited sources do not provide enough detail to independently assess those test claims, and the available reporting leaves current software-support duration unresolved. That is not proof the phone is insecure; it is a reason not to treat “secure” as established fact.
At $989 on the company’s October 5, 2026 listing, the most consequential questions are whether the phone will receive dependable security updates, whether its apps and carrier support fit your needs, and whether Unplugged can provide test evidence with enough detail to evaluate. Until those points are clear, weigh its advertised privacy controls as features to investigate—not as proof of comprehensive protection.
Quick Recap
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