Most smartphones promise sharper photos, faster processors, and enough artificial intelligence to organize your lunch while judging your choice of sandwich. The Murena One made a different pitch: What if your phone simply collected less information about you?
Built around the open-source, Android-based /e/OS operating system, the Murena One was introduced as a practical privacy-focused smartphone for people who want familiar apps without automatically joining the usual data-collection parade. It does not make its owner invisible, untraceable, or qualified for a spy movie. Instead, it reduces routine tracking, reveals what installed apps are attempting to do, and gives users more meaningful control over the information leaving their device.
Why Smartphone Privacy Has Become a Selling Point
A modern phone may know where you sleep, which stores you visit, what time you exercise, who you contact, and how long you spend watching videos of raccoons opening refrigerators. Much of that information can be useful. Navigation apps need location data, messaging apps need access to contacts, and fitness services may need motion sensors. The problem begins when data collection becomes broader, less transparent, or more persistent than the service actually requires.
The Federal Trade Commission explains that mobile advertisers may use advertising identifiers, device fingerprinting, and activity across multiple connected devices to recognize and profile users. Pew Research Center has also found widespread concern among Americans about how companies collect and use personal information, with many people feeling they have little control over the process.
Standard privacy controls can help, but they often place the burden on the owner. You must inspect permissions, disable unwanted location access, reset identifiers, review account settings, and repeat the process whenever an app decides it urgently needs your microphone to deliver a weather forecast. Consumer Reports and the Electronic Frontier Foundation both recommend regularly reviewing app permissions because location, camera, microphone, contacts, and other sensitive resources can expose more information than users realize.
The Murena One approaches the issue from the other direction. Instead of asking users to dismantle a data-heavy ecosystem one setting at a time, it starts with a mobile operating system designed to minimize connections to Google and other tracking infrastructure.
Meet the Murena One and Its De-Googled Operating System
The Murena One debuted in 2022 as a 4G LTE smartphone with /e/OS installed at the factory. That detail matters because privacy-oriented Android alternatives have traditionally required users to unlock a bootloader, connect the phone to a computer, enter command-line instructions, and hope the device does not transform into a very expensive paperweight.
With the operating system preinstalled, Murena attempted to make a de-Googled phone approachable for ordinary buyers rather than limiting it to developers and dedicated Android hobbyists. Lifewire described the device as a familiar Android-style smartphone that removes many conventional data-harvesting components while retaining access to a broad selection of mobile apps.
What Does “De-Googled” Actually Mean?
Android itself contains open-source components, but the typical Android phone also includes proprietary Google Mobile Services. These services support account synchronization, push notifications, location functions, app installation, security checks, and numerous behind-the-scenes application programming interfaces.
/e/OS is based on LineageOS and replaces many Google-dependent functions with open-source alternatives. One important component is microG, which recreates portions of the Google service framework so that many Android apps can continue operating without the standard Google Mobile Services package.
This is less dramatic than smashing a Google logo with a hammer, but significantly more useful. Apps can still request maps, notifications, and other common mobile functions, while the operating system reduces direct dependence on a Google account and Google’s proprietary background services. Wired found that this combination provided a largely functional Android experience without requiring users to assemble a custom operating system themselves.
What the Privacy Research Found
A 2021 academic study examined data transmitted by six Android variants, including software from Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, Realme, LineageOS, and /e/OS. Researchers reported that several vendor-modified systems transmitted substantial information even when the tested phones were minimally configured and sitting idle.
In the study’s controlled tests, /e/OS collected essentially no operating-system data and was the most private of the Android variants examined. The researchers emphasized that some communication is necessary for tasks such as software updates, but concluded that the extensive collection found on other tested systems was a design choice rather than an unavoidable requirement.
That finding should not be stretched into a magical promise. It does not mean every third-party app becomes private simply because it runs on /e/OS. A social network can still collect information you voluntarily provide, a carrier can still know that your phone connects to its towers, and a website may still recognize your browser. The phone reduces several important layers of routine tracking; it does not place a force field around your digital life.
How the Murena One Gives Users More Control
Advanced Privacy Reveals and Blocks Trackers
The centerpiece of the /e/OS experience is Advanced Privacy, a built-in dashboard that detects tracking attempts made by apps. Users can see which applications are contacting known tracker domains and block those connections from one central location.
This visibility is valuable because app tracking usually happens quietly. A flashlight app does not display a cheerful banner reading, “Good evening! We are now sending diagnostic information to several advertising companies.” Advanced Privacy turns invisible background activity into something the owner can inspect and manage.
The system can also mask a user’s IP address and supply a false geographic location in selected situations. Location spoofing can prevent an application from receiving precise coordinates when approximate or fictional data will do. Murena describes these controls as tools for reducing a person’s digital footprint rather than eliminating every possible form of identification.
App Lounge Makes Privacy Information Easier to Understand
Murena’s App Lounge serves as the primary application storefront. It brings together apps from sources that include open-source repositories and the broader Android ecosystem, reducing the need to manage several separate stores.
More importantly, App Lounge presents privacy-related information before installation. Apps may receive ratings based on detected trackers and requested permissions. A calculator asking to read contacts, record audio, and inspect precise location should inspire questions, preferably before it begins calculating anything.
Users can access many free apps anonymously, although paid applications generally require the account originally used to purchase them. Wired reported that mainstream app compatibility was generally good during testing, while also noting occasional store-login errors and limitations involving certain services.
Private Alternatives Replace Familiar Google Services
/e/OS includes alternatives for email, contacts, calendars, file storage, web search, maps, photos, notes, and other everyday functions. A Murena Workspace account can synchronize information across devices without requiring the owner to build a new digital life from loose cables and a home server humming suspiciously in the basement.
The cloud account is optional, and users may connect other compatible services. Murena says its workspace includes email, calendar, contacts, online storage, and office tools, with a limited amount of complimentary storage and paid plans for larger needs.
Murena One Hardware: Practical Rather Than Flashy
The Murena One was not designed to defeat premium flagships in benchmark contests. Its hardware was closer to a capable midrange phone at launch, placing privacy and usability ahead of luxury materials or record-breaking camera zoom.
The device includes a 6.53-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1080 by 2242 pixels, an octa-core MediaTek Helio P60 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage. It also provides a USB-C port, fingerprint reader, headphone jack, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, and a dedicated microSD slot.
Its camera system includes a 48-megapixel main rear camera accompanied by additional rear sensors, plus a 25-megapixel selfie camera. A 4,500 mAh battery supplies power. These specifications are sufficient for messaging, web browsing, video calls, navigation, streaming, and ordinary photography, but demanding games and heavy video production are not the phone’s natural habitat.
The phone is also limited to 4G LTE. That may be acceptable for users with strong LTE coverage, but buyers expecting the fastest 5G performance should look at newer privacy-oriented devices running /e/OS.
The Important Difference Between Privacy and Security
Privacy and security overlap, but they are not interchangeable. Privacy concerns who collects information, why it is collected, and how much control the user has. Security concerns protecting the phone and its data from unauthorized access, malicious software, theft, and exploitation.
A phone can collect little information while still requiring prompt security updates. Conversely, a heavily locked-down device can be technically secure while sending substantial telemetry to its manufacturer.
Buying /e/OS preinstalled avoids some of the risks associated with manually modifying a phone. Installing an alternative operating system yourself may require unlocking the bootloader, which can weaken protections against someone physically replacing the system software. Wired highlighted this as an important concern for people facing sophisticated, targeted attacks. For most consumers, a preconfigured handset is safer and far more convenient than an improvised installation.
Users should still install updates, use a strong PIN, enable device encryption, avoid suspicious downloads, and choose end-to-end encrypted communication tools where appropriate. No operating system can rescue an owner who uses “1234” as a passcode and taps every link promising a free vacation.
What You Give Up for a More Private Smartphone
Some Apps May Not Work Perfectly
Many Android applications run normally through microG, but compatibility is not universal. Apps that rely heavily on Google Play Integrity checks, proprietary location services, digital rights management, or strict device certification may refuse to start or may lose certain features.
Banking apps, corporate authentication tools, contactless payment services, wearable-device apps, and some games deserve special attention. Buyers should check essential applications before switching. Privacy feels considerably less liberating when the app needed to approve Friday’s paycheck displays an error message.
Google Maps and Voice Features May Be Missed
Alternative maps can handle common navigation tasks, but they may not equal Google Maps in local business data, traffic detail, public transportation coverage, or search accuracy. Earlier /e/OS reviews also noted limitations involving speech-to-text, assistants, and complete device backups, although the platform has continued to evolve.
Users who depend on tightly integrated Google services will experience more friction than people who mainly need calls, messaging, email, a browser, social apps, and basic navigation.
U.S. Carrier Support Requires Homework
The Murena One is designed for GSM and LTE networks and is best suited to T-Mobile and compatible mobile virtual network operators in the United States. Murena lists services such as Metro by T-Mobile, Mint Mobile, Tello, Ultra Mobile, and certain Red Pocket plans as compatible options.
Although the phone may be technically compatible with parts of AT&T’s network, activation can be difficult because the device may not appear on the carrier’s approved list. Verizon support is not recommended. Anyone buying an imported or niche smartphone should confirm its model number and network bands with the carrier before ordering.
Who Should Consider a Privacy-Focused Phone?
The Murena One concept is most appealing to people who are uncomfortable with routine commercial tracking but do not want to abandon modern mobile applications entirely. It may suit journalists, researchers, small-business owners, open-source enthusiasts, parents concerned about family data, or ordinary consumers who believe buying a phone should not require donating a detailed behavioral profile.
It is less appropriate for someone who wants the best mobile camera, maximum gaming speed, seamless Google integration, guaranteed compatibility with every banking app, or effortless activation on any U.S. carrier.
The ideal buyer values control more than convenience but still expects a recognizable smartphone. That middle ground is the Murena One’s most important contribution. It demonstrates that privacy does not have to mean carrying a feature phone, memorizing Linux commands, or communicating exclusively through handwritten notes delivered by a cautious pigeon.
A Realistic Week With a Privacy-First Smartphone
The first day with a de-Googled smartphone would probably feel less revolutionary than expected. The home screen still has icons. Notifications still appear. The phone still rings exactly when both hands are covered in cooking oil. After connecting to Wi-Fi and adding an email account, the experience resembles Android closely enough that most users will not require a training seminar.
The difference becomes visible when opening Advanced Privacy. Suddenly, background tracking is no longer an abstract warning buried in a 9,000-word privacy policy. The dashboard may show that several installed apps attempted to contact analytics, advertising, or profiling services. Seeing those requests blocked can create a strange combination of satisfaction and irritation: satisfaction because the controls work, and irritation because a simple app apparently wanted to report home more often than a teenager on their first weekend away.
Installing everyday applications through App Lounge is generally straightforward. A messaging app, music service, weather tool, password manager, and news reader can be found without juggling multiple stores. Privacy scores encourage more thoughtful choices. Two apps may perform the same function, but one requests five sensitive permissions and contains numerous trackers while the other requests only what it needs. For once, choosing software feels less like accepting a mystery box.
The first meaningful inconvenience may appear during navigation. The default map application can provide directions, but a difficult business search or complicated transit route may send the user back to a familiar web service. This is an important lesson: switching to a privacy-focused phone does not require ideological perfection. Using one less-private service occasionally is still different from allowing an entire operating system to collect information continuously.
Another adjustment involves account synchronization. People deeply embedded in Google Photos, Drive, Calendar, and Contacts must decide what to migrate, what to leave behind, and what to access through a browser. The process can feel like moving apartments. Most belongings transfer easily, a few items fit nowhere, and one mysterious box remains unopened because nobody remembers what is inside.
Battery life during ordinary use should be adequate, although the older processor and large display do not make the Murena One an endurance champion. Calls, messaging, podcasts, and web browsing are comfortable workloads. Intensive gaming exposes the limitations of the Helio P60 and 4GB of RAM, while camera results are better suited to casual memories than professional assignments.
By the end of the week, the most noticeable change may be psychological. The user begins asking better questions: Why does this app request permanent location access? Does this service need an account? Can the same task be completed in a browser? Is a free application truly free, or is personal information part of the payment?
That awareness is arguably more important than any individual privacy switch. A privacy-first phone cannot prevent every company, carrier, website, or application from collecting data. What it can do is interrupt the assumption that constant surveillance is simply the unavoidable price of owning a smartphone. Instead of hiding every decision behind default settings, it returns many of those decisions to the person holding the device.
Conclusion: Privacy Becomes a Choice, Not a Scavenger Hunt
The Murena One is not the fastest, most glamorous, or most universally compatible smartphone. Its real innovation is philosophical: the device treats personal information as something belonging to the owner rather than an unlimited raw material for software companies.
By combining a de-Googled operating system, tracker blocking, IP masking, location controls, app privacy ratings, and familiar Android compatibility, it makes digital privacy more accessible to people who do not want to build a custom phone from scratch.
There are compromises. Some applications may misbehave, carrier selection matters, and alternatives to Google’s most polished services can feel less refined. Still, the Murena One proves that the smartphone market can offer a meaningful choice between maximum ecosystem convenience and greater data autonomy.
The most important feature is not a camera sensor or processor speed. It is the ability to decide which services receive your informationand to say no without turning your smartphone into a decorative rectangle.
