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Before installing everyday apps on a new Android phone, review five privacy controls: Usage & diagnostics, ad privacy, app permissions, camera and microphone access, and lock-screen notification content. You do not need to turn every control off. Choose settings based on what you want to share and which features you rely on; menu names and paths vary by Android version and phone maker.
At a glance: what each setting controls
| Setting | What it controls | Scope and trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Usage & diagnostics | Device-use and performance information sent to Google | A device-level choice; turning it off does not stop apps from collecting their own information. |
| Ad privacy | Ad topics, app-suggested ads, and ad measurement | Controls participation in these features; it does not guarantee fewer ads or remove all ad personalization. |
| App permissions | Individual apps’ access to sensitive data and features, including location | App-specific choices let you limit access without disabling a feature for the whole phone. |
| Camera and microphone access | Apps’ ability to use the camera and microphone | Review individual app permissions; system-wide controls are available on Android 12 and later, with device differences. |
| Lock-screen notification content | What notifications reveal while the phone is locked | A visibility choice; hiding sensitive content can make messages less convenient to preview. |
1. Usage & diagnostics
Review this setting if you do not want your phone to send Google device-use and performance information. Google says this information can include battery level, how often apps are used, and the quality and length of network connections. The company says it uses the data to improve products and services, including battery life and reliability. See Google’s Usage & diagnostics guidance.
On many phones, look under Settings → Google for Usage & diagnostics. On Pixel phones, Google documents a path under Settings → Security & privacy → More security & privacy. The exact placement varies, so search Settings for “Usage & diagnostics” if you do not see it.
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#1 Best Overall
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
2. Android ad privacy controls
Android’s ad privacy area groups three controls: Ad topics, App suggested ads, and Ad measurement. They relate to topics inferred from apps you use, ad suggestions apps may store, and limited data apps may share to measure advertising performance. Review and switch off the controls you do not want to participate in, where available.
Google documents this path: Settings → Google → All services → Privacy & security → Ads → Ads privacy. The menu wording and availability can differ across devices. Details are in Google’s guide to managing ad privacy settings on Android.
Rank #2
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
These controls are not an ad blocker: turning them off does not promise that you will see no ads or no ads related to your interests. Apps and other settings can affect what ads appear.
3. App permissions, especially location
Rather than shutting off a useful feature for every app, inspect permissions app by app. Use Permission Manager or the Privacy Dashboard to see which apps can access sensitive information and, on supported versions, when access occurred. Google’s instructions for changing app permissions and using the Privacy Dashboard cover the available controls; features and the period of access history shown vary by Android version and device.
Rank #3
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Review location access app by app
For each app, ask whether it needs location while you are not using it. If it does not, consider removing All the time access or selecting a more limited option. Where your device and app support it, choose approximate rather than precise location if that is enough for the task.
Location can also help with local search and nearby services, finding a lost device, location sharing, and earthquake alerts. Turning location off for an app—or for the whole phone—can affect those features. Google outlines the device-level options in its Android location settings guide.
Rank #4
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
4. Camera and microphone access
Check which apps have permission to use the camera and microphone, and remove access from apps that have no clear need for it. For an app that needs a sensor only occasionally, you can restore permission when you want to use that feature.
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On Android 12 and later, Google documents system-wide camera and microphone controls, along with an indicator when either is in use. Device menus may differ. A global block is useful when you want to stop sensor access broadly, but apps that legitimately rely on the camera or microphone will not work as expected until access is restored. See Google’s camera and microphone controls guidance.
Best Value
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- ACTIVATION Promotion: Includes 1500 min, 1500 texts & 1500 MB Data + add more as you need it
- CAMERA SYSTEM: 50MP Quad Pixel camera. Capture sharper, more vibrant photos day or night with 4x the light sensitivity.
- PERFORMANCE: Blazing-fast Qualcomm performance. Get the speed you need for great entertainment with a Snapdragon 680 processor and 4GB of RAM.
- 64GB built-in storage. Get plenty of room for photos, movies, songs, and apps. Made for US
5. Sensitive lock-screen notification content
If other people might see your phone while it is locked, consider hiding sensitive notification content on the lock screen. This lets you keep notifications while reducing what someone can read at a glance; choose the option that balances privacy with the convenience of previews.
Google documents lock-screen notification privacy for Pixel phones in its Pixel security and privacy settings guide. On other Android phones, look in Settings for lock-screen or notification settings and check the equivalent option for that manufacturer.
Find the equivalent settings on your phone
Android menu paths are not universal. Google notes that manufacturers may customize Android, so a setting may appear under a different name or section, or may not be present on every device. If a path above does not match your screen, use Settings search for terms such as “permissions,” “camera access,” or “lock screen notifications,” and consult your phone maker’s help for its Android version. Google’s overview of Android security and privacy settings also explains that settings vary.
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