The Unplugged Phone REVIEW: Convenience Or Privacy?

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  • Опубліковано 31 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 151

  • @TheAndresSegovia
    @TheAndresSegovia  6 місяців тому +6

    I interviewed the CTO of Unplugged!
    ua-cam.com/video/uG_uHp7OTy4/v-deo.html

  • @ElkoJohn
    @ElkoJohn 7 місяців тому +27

    I am using an old flip-phone and have resisted getting a smartphone because of the privacy issue, and because my 77 year old brain makes learning new things very difficult. Now, with just about everything requiring a smartphone, guess I'll have to bite the bullet. Your UP Phone review in this video is well done, and I am impressed that you answer all the questions in the comments. I am going to view all 17 of your UP Phone videos before I make a decision. Much obliged for your expertise.

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  7 місяців тому +1

      Thank you for watching!

    • @Geezerelli
      @Geezerelli 7 місяців тому +8

      I got one 2 days ago and I am 78 but I am also using an iPhone!
      What a mess but I am not giving up😂

  • @TheAndresSegovia
    @TheAndresSegovia  8 місяців тому +57

    For those of you getting the Unplugged Phone, would you like to see a "First Things To Do With The UP Phone" video?

    • @Randomnamewyo
      @Randomnamewyo 8 місяців тому +2

      That would be great, have they responded to anyone asking how long they will provide support and updates for this phone?

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  8 місяців тому +3

      Yes. I did a livestream covering this and other items. Your specific question is answered around the 57:10 mark
      ua-cam.com/users/livej6qRP0k5nOM?si=7lDXuM-1RkMe2X_q

    • @danielbia333
      @danielbia333 8 місяців тому

      Yes!

    • @flyknotrancher4158
      @flyknotrancher4158 8 місяців тому +2

      Yes, just got mine. I’m not a tech user, can a pull a SIM card from and IPad and use it?

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  8 місяців тому +1

      @@flyknotrancher4158 I've done it before but it doesn't provision correctly with the carrier. I recommend getting the proper SIM.

  • @joshisanalias
    @joshisanalias 8 місяців тому +7

    I really liked this review! Thanks for all the time that went into making it. I've been considering buying one of these for the past few days.

  • @theFrostySurvivor
    @theFrostySurvivor 8 місяців тому +5

    Excellent and comprehensive review....far better (and far less biased) then other videos I have seen. Thank you for taking the time!

  • @papadeltavictor664
    @papadeltavictor664 8 місяців тому +6

    Excellent review. Sadly this phone is not available outside the US... I would immediately buy one. Greeting from France.

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  8 місяців тому +2

      Thank you for watching!

    • @ats-3693
      @ats-3693 18 днів тому +1

      You can get one outside the US but there is no guarantee it will work on your country's networks, but they are working on an international model and say it will be released soon, I'm outside the US too and on the mailing list to be notified when an international one is released.

  • @Amospully
    @Amospully 4 місяці тому +1

    This interests me very much. I am 56 and want privacy but I love my iPhone bc of ease of use
    . Lol. I guess I will wait to jump ship until it gets easier to understand. But I'm willing to do so in the future. Thank you for this video.

  • @marinebrat1888
    @marinebrat1888 8 місяців тому +6

    I actually have the up phone and from an actual up user I can tell you first hand this up phone was actually designed both the hardware and the software by the up tech team going to the up private messaging app and asking the up users what they would like to be added, I was and still am just one of many users in the up messaging data chat room, there's a lot of features that was added based on the feedback, one of the software features is the up phone can take an SD memory card up to 2 terabyte, as for the rest of your review I found it to be okay and as a user of the up phone itself I was Surprised and curious to what you would say, the up email is not a full service email it is a client

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  8 місяців тому

      I did not mean to imply UP is offering a email service. The email client is part of the UP Suite of apps that is available for free for a year with a device purchase, or 14 day trial for those using them on non-UP devices. It is still something that technically requires a subscription to use.
      And, yes. I understand that UP takes direct feedback from users as I learned from my interview with the CEO 👍:
      ua-cam.com/video/YjRgCdB-QzA/v-deo.html

    • @marinebrat1888
      @marinebrat1888 8 місяців тому

      Oh it's not a problem, the Co-founders is always in the up chat room and a tech support guy is as well as needed , I have never the great experience with any phone as I have with unplugged

  • @ralphbuschman3364
    @ralphbuschman3364 20 днів тому

    Thanks for showing me what I'm getting into if I buy a degoogled phone.

  • @MoonGoon505
    @MoonGoon505 4 місяці тому +2

    My main question is how does the messaging work? For example how would you text someone on an iPhone ? Does it only work on the upmessanger so other people have to get it too,

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  4 місяці тому

      This phone does calls and text just like other devices. Those communications are not encrypted.
      The UP Messenger is like Signal/Telegram and encypts messages. Its not a requirement to use it, but if you do, users without the UP phone can download it from the Apple App Store (iOS), and Android users from Unplugged.com

  • @garylanders1470
    @garylanders1470 6 місяців тому

    What a thorough review sir.
    Thank you

  • @nicolesegovia3133
    @nicolesegovia3133 8 місяців тому +1

    Great video! Very thorough 👍🏻

  • @yzth3ory630
    @yzth3ory630 2 місяці тому +1

    That’s Erik Prince .. I was employed by him .. I own this phone!

  • @bayareablindjuggler7311
    @bayareablindjuggler7311 8 місяців тому +6

    Thank you for your review and additional advice. I used to harden my Samsung phones but after several iterations it was a waste of time. Android would just reset everything.
    My iPad cpu runs at 100%all the time making it unusable.
    Windows 10 runs updates that I don’t want if I put it in sleep mode.
    A lot of cpu time is wasted on spying on the end user. It is there to develop addictions in the user. I deleted the Starbucks app and immediately I stopped going to Starbucks. Instagram is worse.
    Tech is our enemy not our friend.

  • @Randomnamewyo
    @Randomnamewyo 8 місяців тому

    Excellent review!

  • @WatchmanPrivacy
    @WatchmanPrivacy 8 місяців тому +8

    What privacy is this Unplugged Phone giving the user? Hardware switches? Once you need to turn them off to actually use your phone the data leakage from before will commence. Private apps? The stock ones are all but worthless. And once you download the actual apps you need (Amazon Music and Pandora and Verizon) they will obviously still get the information you voluntarily give them within the app and probably some additional phone information as well. How often is this phone OS going to be updated? I don't see it on Github so it doesn't seem to be FOSS. I would never use an OS that isn't FOSS.
    Phone privacy is about behavior and abstinence. True privacy services and devices do not make grandiose promises. And all the promises that Unplugged offers are much better delivered on the more popular FOSS custom ROMs with much cheaper phones. I won't even name one so I can't be called a shill. I'm a shill for truth and privacy: that's all.

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  7 місяців тому +3

      Your points are valid. I did raise them in the initial video I did on the phone, and in my interview with the CEO of Unplugged. Here's a clip of where I ask some of the hard questions.:
      ua-cam.com/video/XwDo2y8vVLg/v-deo.html

    • @shaktisims2574
      @shaktisims2574 4 місяці тому

      i believe a big point is the 12$ subscription for the vpn and the masking data. Yes i thought the same... "why am i paying on top of a 1000$ phone but truthfully an average vpn is about that much per month and doesnt include text encryption and data masking. I mean iphones and even some samsungs are around 1000 without these aspects.

  • @ChinosWorldx
    @ChinosWorldx 2 місяці тому

    Awesome video bro. Thank you.

  • @Carol-c9u
    @Carol-c9u 9 днів тому

    I was wondering if the unplugged has crypto apps available and would it be a good device to secure crypto?

  • @juggernautdriveSS
    @juggernautdriveSS 5 місяців тому

    This sounds great. Not being able to use chrome, UA-cam app and access my gmail and google accounts in general is a no for me. I dont understand why i cant have this level security and privacy while maintaining my current level of access to my accounts

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  5 місяців тому +1

      I agree.
      You can still access via the browser. Some Google websites can be installed as PWA apps too.

    • @rawkfist-ih6nk
      @rawkfist-ih6nk 3 місяці тому +1

      It’s really simple. By using certain apps they design data collection into the app function and terms of service. By downloading most apps you automatically agree to it. Google tends to like to sell as much of your data as possible and UA-cam and chromium are kind of googles biggest bread and butter data collectors

  • @Steamerbeen
    @Steamerbeen Місяць тому

    Can you have usual apps? Coinbase, whatsapp, outlook etc?

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  Місяць тому

      Yes to the ones you mentioned. I explain it in more detail here:
      ua-cam.com/video/68BCQavb30k/v-deo.htmlsi=gBMhwNs2bTrcS4-p

  • @jbaily9270
    @jbaily9270 6 місяців тому

    A few questions: how many different sign ins or accounts can you have and through the f-droid store if google apps, banking and social media are downloaded are they sandboxed like a graphene os? Thanks

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  6 місяців тому +1

      1) Do you mean Device Owner accounts? This device does not do that. The only sign-in is via the UP Store for the App Suite.
      2) F-droid doesn't do sign ins. Just launch and go.
      3) There are no Google Play Services at all meaning no app requiring Google Play framework will run. There is no option to load up MicroG either.

    • @jbaily9270
      @jbaily9270 6 місяців тому +1

      @@TheAndresSegovia yes, thanks for the info and something to think about.

  • @drewb96
    @drewb96 25 днів тому

    Can you travel over seas with the phone?

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  25 днів тому

      Yes, it is unlocked for use on any carrier with supporting bands.

  • @Kilch
    @Kilch 6 місяців тому

    Thanks for the video. Have you tested this on Android Auto? That's important to me as I use it daily....

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  6 місяців тому

      Android Auto needs google play services so it doesn't work on degoogled devices like this. GrapheneOS itself has a workout around to try to get it to work.
      I present Google alternative apps on this stream:
      ua-cam.com/video/68BCQavb30k/v-deo.htmlsi=WgsGLUzPumO_6Ayi
      I'm testing AutoZen as an Android Auto alternative and will report back.
      Thank you for watching.

    • @Kilch
      @Kilch 6 місяців тому

      @@TheAndresSegovia Great, thanks

  • @ZacValentine
    @ZacValentine 8 місяців тому +1

    I read LibertOS as the latin 'Libertas' for 'freedom' from what i recall. Is that right?

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  8 місяців тому

      Hmm. I'll ask if that was intentional. Thanks for pointing it out.

  • @billgardner3943
    @billgardner3943 7 місяців тому

    How about AR function? Also what are your thoughts on the app that Unplugged has for all phones? I'm debating between getting an unplugged phone or using app on a Samsung phone. I currently use a blackberry key 2 and love some of the security on that

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  7 місяців тому

      I miss my Key2 Red Edition...
      I like that the suite of apps are available to all Android devices. The messenger and VPN are also available for iOS. I tested the messenger with my wife on her iPhone. I really like the app and the option to use them on my every day carry.
      There is one feature I did not talk about: the emergency wipe feature. It's only on the messenger app, but it's supposed to come to the entire OS. I'll cover it when the update drops.
      If you'd like to try out the UP Suite of apps, you can use them on the BlackBerry. It comes with a free trial.
      I'm making a note to look into the Augmented Reality apps and see how it functions.

  • @ILSEDEWIT1
    @ILSEDEWIT1 6 місяців тому

    My waze app does not get a GPS connection on both my husband's and my phone. Any suggestions?

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  6 місяців тому

      If the app asks for location permission and you granted it, the OS itself might have location access set to OFF.
      Try this:
      Go to Settings > Location
      Check if the toggle is set to on.
      Right below it is a section "App Location Permissions." Check to make sure Waze is on the list and permissions are set to "Allowed All The Time."

  • @johndunbar2393
    @johndunbar2393 6 місяців тому

    So, am I understanding right, that you buy the phone for basically a grand, and the only other cost is 130 a year? No other fees? Just over 10 bucks a month?

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  6 місяців тому +1

      Yes, the UP phone is one cost. The App Suite is $130 a year after a trial period.
      Note, the UP App Suite is available today for any android device, and most of the apps are coming to iPhone too.

    • @johndunbar2393
      @johndunbar2393 6 місяців тому +1

      @@TheAndresSegovia Fantastic! Thank you for the response, my friend. I'm working my way through all your videos on the UP Phone as I type this. I have emailed them, through their site about 6 times, over the past almost year, and have never heard back. So, I hope they're responsive if there's an issue. Thanks again.

  • @petert2896
    @petert2896 8 місяців тому +1

    Samsung DOES make phones with a slot that has a double sided sim or sd holder. 2 sims or one of each.

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  8 місяців тому +1

      If I recall, those are International models. Not US models

    • @petert2896
      @petert2896 8 місяців тому +1

      @@TheAndresSegovia You are probably correct. I bought it in Asia. America keeps the lid on too many things.

  • @calebabc
    @calebabc 2 місяці тому

    Will it cast the screen to Apple TV?

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  2 місяці тому

      Good question. I don't have Apple TV, but I hear that an app called AllCast does. I'll see it it loads on the UP Phone

  • @TheAndresSegovia
    @TheAndresSegovia  5 днів тому +1

    Long Term Review: ua-cam.com/video/SZHwl5dpu28/v-deo.html

  • @samuraikyokkan
    @samuraikyokkan 4 місяці тому

    what an amazing video

  • @marinebrat1888
    @marinebrat1888 8 місяців тому

    I'm going to share the review, and how did you unlock the photo area of the up phone, I've been trying to figure it out with not much luck

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  8 місяців тому

      Thanks!
      What do you mean the "photo area"?

    • @marinebrat1888
      @marinebrat1888 8 місяців тому

      I thought I saw in one of your videos where you were able to unlock the photo area on the up phone or maybe I was mistaken, if I was mistaken my apologies

  • @thegolflife7565
    @thegolflife7565 8 місяців тому

    Does the Kryptall iPhone have an advertising ID?

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  8 місяців тому

      This is the first I hear of it, but I did reach out to the company for comment on that.

  • @Evag-w1b
    @Evag-w1b 6 місяців тому +1

    I love my up phone. Is built mainly for privacy.

  • @operationragnarok7452
    @operationragnarok7452 8 місяців тому

    Great video

  • @abie1230
    @abie1230 8 місяців тому

    I’m so intrigued with with phone

  • @dustinbrilliant2113
    @dustinbrilliant2113 8 місяців тому

    I thought Verizon stated specifically they wouldn't allow the phone to work on their network? This changes things.

  • @jiggybucksington
    @jiggybucksington 7 місяців тому

    Side loading banking apps is crazy. I never even did that when rooted phones were a thing.

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  7 місяців тому

      I do agree that trying to get banking apps installed from unknown sources poses a risk. I never relied on such apks from websites. I use a apk back up on my Samsung and transfer the app to my do-googled device.

  • @vitaliyser848
    @vitaliyser848 8 місяців тому

    How do you get the third party app stores on the upphone?

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  8 місяців тому +1

      Here you go:
      ua-cam.com/video/BZevDrL8fms/v-deo.html

  • @Yeet20001
    @Yeet20001 6 місяців тому

    Really wish you talked about the security part of the phone

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  6 місяців тому +1

      I did:
      21:59 Unplugged's Privacy Center And Security
      I also did an entire discussion on that with the CEO prior to my review:
      ua-cam.com/video/YjRgCdB-QzA/v-deo.html

  • @soldierpants2
    @soldierpants2 6 місяців тому

    Well done

  • @angeltzepesh1
    @angeltzepesh1 8 місяців тому +1

    The problem i have with such phones is that they are always way underpowered compared to anything else on the market. I understand it's a niche market, but I've seen privacy phones with 720p screens with no HRR, the most basic camera and speaker setups you can find, mid range SOCs from 5 years ago, all for the price of 500-600€.
    No wonder most of these companies go under very fast, nobody wants to pay such a premium price for a basic smartphone. Honestly if you really want a privacy phone, better go for the route of LineageOS, its basically free and you can always go back.

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  8 місяців тому +3

      I agree. That is why I spend half of this review and conclusion addressing those very points.

  • @nothingbutthetruth7900
    @nothingbutthetruth7900 5 місяців тому

    Does this work in Europe

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  5 місяців тому

      While it should work there, the band support for the device varies per carrier.

  • @jay23cr
    @jay23cr 2 місяці тому

    Did you lose a relative in the military, Andres? Wondering cause the flag

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  2 місяці тому +1

      This flag was sent to me by a buddy deployed overseas. It was flown during one of the desert operations out there. I tell the story on this IG post:
      instagram.com/theandressegovia/reel/CcihDMYp4iM/
      Thank you for asking! 🙏

  • @gsneff
    @gsneff 6 місяців тому +2

    If I were the CCP or NSA I would be having backdoors installed on all microchips being sold. Do any of these security companies have safeguards against that sort of thing?

    • @IceManGav1
      @IceManGav1 6 місяців тому +2

      Look up the vulnerabilities in the Samsung exos chip sets. They have a unrepaired back door . Unplugged post about why they selected the chip sets they didm and control of manufacturing seems to be a large aspect

    • @pavedarker8484
      @pavedarker8484 4 місяці тому +2

      TLDR: NSA puts listening devices into components at the factory level and unless you have some very high tech gear, complete spec sheets/chip schematics you have zero ability to remove them. They can even put listening devices into power/input/output cables
      Good luck 😂

    • @pavedarker8484
      @pavedarker8484 4 місяці тому +2

      It goes deeper than that. Look at the Jacob Appelbaum lectures from around 10 years ago. Bugs are inserted at the component level and near impossible to remove even if you know what you're looking for. It's not just chips, even cabling has transmitters built in at the factory.

    • @pavedarker8484
      @pavedarker8484 4 місяці тому

      Seems links are blocked in replies. Search for Jacob Appelbaum exposes NSA tools and you'll find it

  • @dorkydicken
    @dorkydicken 7 місяців тому +1

    But then let me pose a hypothesis for you... Some odd years from now, who is to say hackers haven't targeted Erik Prince's Pegasus spyware phone And find vulnerabilities link from it into the unplugged phone then there goes however many users private information and data and whatever compromised, or what if instead it was secretly selling your data In the disguise of being a privacy phone.

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  7 місяців тому +1

      Here's a clip from my interview with the CEO of Unplugged where I ask some of the hard questions:
      ua-cam.com/video/XwDo2y8vVLg/v-deo.html

    • @rawkfist-ih6nk
      @rawkfist-ih6nk 3 місяці тому

      Apple pretends to care about privacy and sells your data, google admits to selling your data. I’d take my chances with the de-googled privacy based company. How much can they steal if you can barely log into anything?

  • @energ8t
    @energ8t 8 місяців тому +1

    FYI, LiberT is pronounced "liberty"

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  8 місяців тому +1

      I pronounce it the way the CEO explained it to me:
      ua-cam.com/video/YjRgCdB-QzA/v-deo.htmlsi=PtKIWVcnrEi19cfX&t=677

    • @yakovbrod9992
      @yakovbrod9992 8 місяців тому

      @@TheAndresSegovia hey are these TracFone compatible or pay with cash for service?

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  8 місяців тому

      @@yakovbrod9992 I entered the IMEI of my device on their site to check compatibility. According to TracFone, they say it is.

  • @BU10AS
    @BU10AS 8 місяців тому

    I use UA-cam premium a lot so you’re saying I can use UA-cam but won’t be signed in? Asking for a friend

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  8 місяців тому +1

      The UA-cam app won’t work. You can log in through the browser and use UA-cam there.

    • @alexpawak3885
      @alexpawak3885 6 місяців тому +1

      ​@@TheAndresSegoviaDoes the rumble app work?

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  6 місяців тому

      @alexpawak3885 yup!

  • @calebabc
    @calebabc 2 місяці тому

    Do you know if mileIQ works on it?

  • @TheAndresSegovia
    @TheAndresSegovia  8 місяців тому +3

    FIRST LOOK: Unplugged Phone OFFICIAL Cases!
    ua-cam.com/video/UJJh21Y9fWw/v-deo.html

  • @Designer_TopG
    @Designer_TopG 4 місяці тому

    1.18
    Thats not ancient
    2018 is good. And by the way the older stuff is better , everyone knows that.

  • @Partimepeasant
    @Partimepeasant 6 місяців тому +1

    Don't buy it! Warranty isn't worth it! Don't get scammed!

  • @HardwinJohn
    @HardwinJohn 6 місяців тому

    I watched the video so far until the spec sheet. Well, let´s see: A SOC from 2021, last last generation RAM modules from 2017, old bluetooth standard, small battery, unknown type of flash storage, protected by Gorilla Glass 3 from 2013. For 989$. I can´t stop laughing at this joke:D. But I will watch the rest, I wonder how this goes.

    • @pavedarker8484
      @pavedarker8484 4 місяці тому

      The reason for that is likely availability of clean components
      Are you familiar with Jacob Appelbaum?
      1hr vid but it will blow your mind
      ua-cam.com/video/bFzGLQ27eiU/v-deo.htmlsi=VuFUu_wII2GCLi7g

    • @pavedarker8484
      @pavedarker8484 4 місяці тому

      It's likely down to availability of cleam components
      I tried linking to a 1 hour video on this but the comment auto deleted. Seems links are blocked in replies. Search for Jacob Appelbaum exposes NSA tools and you'll find it

  • @kurtbradwill
    @kurtbradwill 6 місяців тому

    Just a lay-person's review of your video - this is way too advanced for me to understand anything you're saying.

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  6 місяців тому

      I did this review based on mostly android user feedback. If you're coming from iPhone, I did this video:
      ua-cam.com/users/liveXiKR0Pg2q-I?feature=share

  • @chris-ij4vc
    @chris-ij4vc 5 місяців тому

    Why they make it like a iphone crap

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  5 місяців тому

      They are asking for feedback for the next version
      ua-cam.com/video/nRequ8_Qgos/v-deo.html

  • @jmetalguitar
    @jmetalguitar 8 місяців тому +1

    Do you get a new phone number with the Unplugged phone? How does that work?

    • @TheAndresSegovia
      @TheAndresSegovia  8 місяців тому +1

      No. That is issued by the carrier.
      I answer the question in more detail among others here:
      ua-cam.com/users/live13VHK6Q00tU?feature=share