Samsung & Pixel Smartphone Buying Guide

Koshered Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel — the full smartphone experience without the open internet.

See product pages:

• Galaxy S22 (top pick): koshercell.org/products/galaxy-s22-unlocked
• Google Pixel 7 (top pick): koshercell.org/products/kosher-google-pixel-7-carrier-unlocked
• Galaxy A15: koshercell.org/products/samsung-galaxy-a15
• Galaxy S20 FE: koshercell.org/products/samsung-galaxy-s20fe
• Galaxy S21: koshercell.org/products/samsung-galaxy-s21
• Galaxy S10e: koshercell.org/products/samsung-galaxy-s10e
• Koshering Service (for a phone you already own): koshercell.org/products/koshering-service

Why a koshered smartphone instead of a kosher flip?

A koshered smartphone gives you the apps you actually use — Gmail, Zoom, banking, navigation, WhatsApp with images, ride-sharing, music — without the browser, social media, and AI chatbots that turn a phone into a problem. It's the right answer for adults whose lives involve work, family, or institutional roles that flip phones can't fully support.

Which Samsung model should I pick?

Quick decision tree:

• Top pick — premium flagship: Galaxy S22. Released Feb 2022, ~5 years of security updates, supported into early 2027. Best camera and screen in our Samsung lineup.
• Top pick — latest security updates: Google Pixel 7. Same Gentech filter and app catalog as our Samsungs, with the latest Google security updates. See "What about Pixel?" below.
• Newest phone, longest software support: Galaxy A15 ($309). Released December 2023, supported with security updates until ~2028. Best choice for a phone you want to keep for years. Worth noting: the A15 specifically needs to be mailed in for koshering even if you order it from us — it has to be brought up to date first.
• Solid value, well-reviewed: Galaxy S20 FE ($385–$428). Released 2020, still a dependable all-rounder if you want a proven device.
• Premium older flagship: Galaxy S21 ($379). Great cameras and screen at a lower price than the S22.
• Budget Samsung: Galaxy S10e ($329–$387). Older but still capable.
• Already own a Samsung? Use our Koshering Service ($170) — we strip out the distractions and you keep the device you have. No new hardware needed. It's a mail-in service: you ship the phone to us and we ship it back filtered.

What about Pixel?

The Google Pixel 7 is one of our two top smartphone picks alongside the Galaxy S22. Pixel devices run our Gentech filter and support the same app catalog as our Samsungs, and they get the latest Google security updates directly from Google. If you're already a Pixel user, ask us about koshering yours.

What apps work on koshered Samsung/Pixel?

• Calls, texts, MMS (RCS messaging features are blocked because RCS can enable Gemini AI)
• Gmail and other allowed email clients
• WhatsApp — Channels, Statuses, and AI features blocked, but chats with images and videos work normally. This is the lightest WhatsApp filter we offer, and it's the right choice if you need WhatsApp for business or family communication abroad.
• Navigation — Waze, Google Maps, Moovit, Pango
• Banking — Chase, Bank of America, Venmo, and most major banks
• Zoom for meetings and interviews
• Ride-sharing — Uber, Lyft
• Music — most kosher music services
• Approved Torah and learning apps — Sefaria, OU Torah, TorahAnytime, etc.

What's blocked?

• Web browser (no Safari, no Chrome, no anything)
• Social media (Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X, Facebook)
• Open AI chatbots (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude)
• Open app store — every new app requires our approval
• RCS messaging features in Google Messages

Firmware updates

We typically block firmware updates to keep things stable on our system. If apps eventually stop working because the firmware is too outdated, send the phone to us and we'll update the system. You normally don't need to update on your own.

Koshering your own phone

Have a Samsung Galaxy already? You can buy our Koshering Service for $170 and ship the phone to us. We:

1. Bring it fully up to date
2. Install the Gentech filter at the OS level
3. Configure your approved apps
4. Ship it back

The whole process typically takes several business days plus return shipping. See the Koshering FAQ for full details.

How long will a Samsung/Pixel keep working?

Most smartphones get reliable updates and app support for 2–3 years before apps start breaking as developers move on. After 5+ years, app failures become regular. Plan to upgrade somewhere in that 3–5 year window.

Bottom line

If you need a real smartphone — for work, for school, for family — a koshered Samsung or Pixel is the answer. Our top picks are the Galaxy S22 (premium flagship, supported into early 2027) and the Google Pixel 7 (same filter and app catalog, latest Google security updates). The A15 is our newest and longest-supported, the S20 FE remains a solid value, or just kosher the phone you already own. Whichever you pick, you get the apps you actually use without the open internet that makes regular smartphones a problem.