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A recent study by cybersecurity firm Surfshark has revealed that iPhone users can remove more pre-installed apps compared to users of some leading Android devices. The iPhone, with its closed ecosystem and walled garden, allows for the removal of up to 48 pre-installed apps or 96 percent of them in the EU. In the U.S., iPhone users can delete 44 pre-installed apps or 88 percent.

Samsung devices, on the other hand, come with 88 pre-installed apps, only 57 percent of which are marked safe to remove. Google's Android devices have 71 pre-installed apps, but only 38 percent of them, or 27 apps, are deemed safe to remove. The report highlights that these pre-installed apps, regardless of the device, can collect personal data in the background, posing a privacy risk.

Apple apps collect an average of 8 data types per pre-installed app, while Google's average is 13 data types. Samsung's average data collection per app is also 13. While some data collection is necessary for basic functionality, the study suggests that third-party, privacy-focused alternatives can help minimize data collection and reduce unwanted targeted ads.