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| The Hiroh privacy phone with hardware kill switch is powered by Murena's /e/OS Android 16 stripped of data-collecting code. |
In a move that will delight privacy advocates and tech enthusiasts alike, Murena has officially opened the pre-order books for its most ambitious device to date: the Hiroh phone. Priced at $999 (or 999€), the smartphone is the flagship vessel for the company's renowned, privacy-by-design /e/OS operating system. With a required $99/99€ deposit—which converts to a credit upon launch—the device is slated to start shipping in February 2026, marking a significant new entry into the competitive smartphone arena.
For years, the conversation around smartphone privacy has often been met with shrugs: a trade-off assumed to be necessary for convenience and functionality. Murena, with the Hiroh, is challenging that notion head-on, packaging top-tier hardware with software built from the ground up to protect user data.
The Heart of the Matter: /e/OS – Android, Reimagined Without Google
The centerpiece of the Hiroh experience is its operating system. The device runs /e/OS, a “de-Googled” version of Android 16 that has been meticulously scrubbed of data-collecting code and telemetry. This foundational change prevents Google—and by extension, countless third parties—from harvesting personal information related to your internet use, app activity, and communications.
But the privacy features don’t stop at the OS level. /e/OS includes powerful, granular tools that allow users to block apps from using trackers and accessing location information, with independent settings for each application. Imagine giving a weather app permission to know your city, but not your exact coordinates, or letting a social media app run while blocking its hidden advertising trackers. This level of control is baked directly into the interface.
Despite its heavy focus on privacy, compatibility isn’t sacrificed. Murena confirms that /e/OS maintains full compatibility with the Android 16 framework, meaning the vast majority of apps available on the Google Play Store can be installed and run smoothly via Murena’s own curated App Lounge. The company also pledges five years of OS updates, ensuring long-term security and feature support.
For users who are drawn to the Hiroh’s hardware but less concerned about digital privacy, Murena offers an alternative: a variant of the phone running stock Android 16 straight out of the box.
Ready to take control of your digital life? The Hiroh phone is now available for pre-order directly from Murena or through the Hiroh website.
Hardware Built for Privacy and Performance
The Hiroh isn’t just a software experiment; it’s a formidable piece of hardware designed to compete with today’s premium flagships. At its core is the powerful MediaTek Dimensity 8300 SoC, paired with a generous 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of encrypted UFS storage. For those who need even more space, a microSD card slot supports expansion by up to an additional 2 TB.
Most strikingly, the Hiroh incorporates physical kill switches—a gold standard in hardware privacy. A dedicated slider physically disconnects the front 32 MP selfie camera, the triple rear camera system (108 MP main, 13 MP wide, 2 MP macro), and the microphone at the hardware level. This ensures that not even a sophisticated remote hacker can activate these components without your knowledge. Separate software-based toggles in the OS allow for quick disabling of 5G, Bluetooth 5.2, and Wi-Fi 6E radios.
Premium Display and All-Day Battery
The experience is framed by a gorgeous 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a sharp 1,220 x 2,712 pixel resolution and a silky-smooth 120 Hz refresh rate. With a peak brightness of 1,800 nits and a rated brightness of 1,200 nits, it promises excellent visibility even in direct sunlight.
Powering the device is a substantial 5,000 mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging, all housed in a premium aluminum chassis with a glass back, available in Platinum or Black.
The Bottom Line
The Murena Hiroh phone represents a clear statement: you don’t have to choose between high-end performance and robust privacy. By combining flagship-level specs with a deeply private, customizable OS and unique hardware privacy features like kill switches, it carves out a distinct niche in a saturated market.
For the privacy-conscious consumer tired of being the product, or for any tech user seeking an unprecedented level of control over their device, the Hiroh’s February 2026 arrival can’t come soon enough. The pre-order deposit secures a place in line for what could be one of the most intriguing smartphone releases of the year.
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| Hiroh phone kill switch. |
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| Hiroh phone top. |
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| Hiroh phone front and back. |
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| Hiroh phone dimensions. |