The feature behind Android Police writer Parth Shah’s move back to a Samsung Galaxy was Secure Folder, which he says made it more convenient to keep selected files and apps apart from his everyday phone space. That is his personal workflow preference, not the result of an independent comparison test. Pixel phones also offer a comparable tool: Private Space.
Why Secure Folder was the deciding feature for Shah
In an August 20, 2026 article, Shah named Samsung Secure Folder as the reason he returned to a Galaxy phone after using a Pixel. He described selecting media in Samsung Gallery and moving it into Secure Folder, with a similar workflow in My Files. He also said he could add apps already installed on the phone and customize the folder’s name and icon. Those are Shah’s reported observations; they should not be taken as verified steps for every Galaxy model or software version. The phone he named was a Galaxy S25 Ultra, but his choice does not mean that model is required for Secure Folder.
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What Pixel Private Space can do
Google’s Private Space provides a separate, lockable space and profile on supported devices. It can hold separate app instances, and Google documents both copying files into it and moving them there. Moving a file removes the original from its main-profile location; copying leaves the original in place. See Google’s Private Space help page for the documented controls and requirements.
Apps are separate instances
Installing an app in Private Space creates a new instance. Google says the existing instance is not copied or modified, and app data cannot be moved from the main space into the Private Space instance. If you use the app in both spaces, plan to configure each instance separately rather than expecting its existing data to follow it.
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Files can be copied or moved
Private Space supports either choice for files. Copying preserves the original in the main profile; moving deletes that original location and places the file in Private Space storage. This is a documented capability, so it would be inaccurate to describe Pixel Private Space as unable to move files.
Hiding is not the same as being undiscoverable
Google lets users hide the Private Space container while it is locked. Its help page also cautions that the existence of Private Space may still be discoverable through computer access, device logs, or apps. Treat the hide control as a visibility measure, not a guarantee that the space cannot be found.
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Which workflow is a better fit?
| What matters | Samsung Secure Folder, as Shah described it | Google Pixel Private Space, per Google |
|---|---|---|
| Putting files away | Shah reported moving media from Samsung Gallery and using a similar flow in My Files; this is his experience, not an independently verified universal workflow. | Offers copy and move choices. A move deletes the original from its main-profile location; a copy leaves it there. |
| Using apps in the protected space | Shah said he could add apps already installed on the phone. | Uses a new app instance; the main-space app data is not copied or moved into it. |
| Changing the container’s appearance | Shah reported being able to customize its name and icon. | Google documents an option to hide the container while it is locked. |
| Evidence available here | Author-reported workflow and preference; no Samsung documentation was consulted for this comparison. | Google’s official documentation describes behavior and support limits. |
If your priority is the particular Gallery and My Files workflow Shah valued, his account may help explain why he preferred Secure Folder. If you are considering staying with Pixel, Private Space already offers locked app and file separation, with explicit copy-or-move choices. The available evidence does not establish that one is universally easier or more secure; the practical difference is the workflow and app-data behavior that matter to you.
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Google says Private Space requires Android 15 or later and supporting hardware. It is unavailable in some managed, supervised, or multi-user configurations. Because support depends on the specific device and its configuration, check Google’s help page and your phone’s settings rather than assuming the feature is present on every Pixel.
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Neither feature should be treated as a substitute for checking what remains visible outside the protected space. In particular, Google’s documented discovery caveats mean that hiding Private Space while locked does not make its existence impossible to detect.
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- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
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