I truly believed I was ready to commit to the Google Pixel. After all, it represents the purest, most refined Android experience.

I bought into that idea and went all-in with Pixel 8. It had the camera, the clean software, and timely updates (already running Android 16).

Yet, after weeks with a phenomenal device, I found myself repeatedly reaching for my old Galaxy S23 Ultra, all because of one feature that Pixel simply can’t match: Secure Folder.

It might sound like a small utility, but for me, Secure Folder’s absolute, instant, and seamless digital privacy was non-negotiable. It basically forced me to return to the Samsung ecosystem.

What exactly is Secure Folder, anyway?

Samsung Secure Folder is probably the most native privacy tool available on any Android phone. It goes far beyond hiding apps and media behind biometrics.

It’s a sophisticated Knox-powered digital safe that creates a separate encrypted setup on a Samsung phone. You can think of it as a second phone within your phone, which is completely isolated from the main profile.

What separates Secure Folder from simple password-protected albums and file vaults is its nature.

When you launch Secure Folder, you are entering a distinct instance of the Android environment. Here, you can install duplicate apps, save confidential media and documents, and more without affecting the main profile.

For instance, you can run a work-related WhatsApp logged into a secondary number inside the folder, completely separate from your personal WhatsApp outside.

Secure Folder transforms a Galaxy device into a dual-purpose tool. Besides, it comes with a bunch of customization options where I can change the app icon, name, and even hide it entirely from the app drawer menu.

Overall, Samsung has thought of every angle while designing Secure Folder.

Trying out Private Space on a Pixel phone

When I decided to jump to the Pixel 8, I fully understood that it didn’t have Samsung’s specific Secure Folder feature. However, the hype around Android 15’s new Private Space filled me with hope.

I was optimistic about Google building a true, native answer to Secure Folder that would bridge the gap with One UI. That hope quickly evaporated after I set it up.

The major flaw I encountered was the lack of seamless integration. There was no direct, friction-free way to transfer my existing apps, media, and files from my main profile into Private Space.

This meant manually moving files via external apps and, worse, signing in with a second Google ID just to redownload and set up the apps I needed to keep private.

Beyond that, the entire purpose of a private vault is secrecy. Yet, anyone can simply type ‘Private’ into the Pixel’s system search bar and find the feature instantly.

Within a week, I understood that this was not the refined, seamless solution I was hoping for. It was rough, cumbersome, and basic at best.

My Secure Folder use cases

To understand just how integral Secure Folder is to my life — and why its absence on the Pixel became a dealbreaker — you have to understand its dual purpose: Productivity management and genuine privacy.

With a little one running around the house, Secure Folder is where I tuck away those few stress-busting games that I don’t want appearing on the main app drawer.

But the real work happens inside. Secure Folder is my uncompromised digital briefcase. It’s where I keep my invoices, confidential company data, financials, and other sensitive photos and videos.

Furthermore, I run a cloned version of my Box cloud storage app inside the Secure Folder and ensure that only I can access crucial business files.

Finally, every single app that handles money — my banking, share market, and budget tracking apps — lives exclusively within this vault. This guarantees that even if my phone is stolen while unlocked, a thief can’t open my financial life.

When I switched to the Pixel 8, I was expecting the same sophisticated, multi-layered security setup that I had on my Samsung. The moment I realized its limitations, I came back to my One UI setup in no time.

The great phone swap

Make no mistake, the Google Pixel 8 is an incredible piece of technology. However, Google’s implementation of Private Space is nowhere near as good as Secure Folder on Galaxy devices.

This isn’t about minor differences in specifications; it’s about the core utility that dictates how I manage my most sensitive data every single day. That’s why, despite the Pixel’s many strengths, I made the decision to switch back to the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Until Google offers a comparable environment, the Secure Folder will remain the ‘one feature’ that keeps Samsung in my pocket.

When I went back to Samsung, I made these One UI changes to get the best out of it.