US-based HIROH launches pre-orders for truly-secure phone

Whether you're a casual gamer, or you dig into heavier titles like Call of Duty Mobile, mobile phones are a big part of all of our lives. We all appreciate having the power of a flagship phone in the palm of our hands, and we use the power and access to the entire Internet at our fingertips, but most often we just take it on faith that our phone manufacturers are securing those devices. Our pictures, our data, our logins, our banking – it's all right there at your fingertips. Well, Austin-based phone manufacturer HIROH is looking to tackle that problem head on. A phone designed and built by a US-based company with an emphasis on security while maintaining flagship performance sounds like a dream come true. Let's dig into the HIROH and find out what makes it different:

HIROH, the global innovator in everyday secure communications, today launched the company’s US-based pre-sales for the HIROH phone on HIROH.io for $999 USD. The new HIROH phone is a true innovation for “everyday secure” communications, marking a significant improvement in usable security by combining the industry’s leading secure phone system in a truly premium phone.

The HIROH phone combines premium-level performance and style with unmatched, hardware-enforced security, redefining what it means to have both privacy and power in one device. Designed for users who demand the very best — from government leaders and executives to journalists, parents, and privacy-conscious professionals — the HIROH rivals the iPhone 16 and Samsung Galaxy S25, while offering something those phones never will: true physical privacy control — all in one device – eliminating the need to choose between a secure phone and being able to use their favorite applications while still secure.

At the heart of HIROH’s design is its dual hardware kill switch system — one switch instantly disables the microphone and camera electronically, while the second cuts GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth — making remote surveillance or data collection physically impossible. The HIROH delivers this level of security in a premium package. An aluminum frame holds the 6.77” 1.5K 120mhz refresh rate 1220x2712 AMOLED screen, with the HIROH being powered by a Mediatek Dimensity 8300 octa core chip, 16GB of RAM, standard 512GB of storage partnered with a 2TB encrypted SD slot. The flagship-level features also include a Samsung 108MP rear main camera, 13MP Sony wide angle lens, 2MP macro lens, and a 32MP Sony front-facing selfie camera.

Looking at other devices in this class, every one of these have software packages around security, but a physical kill switch is unheard of in the phone space. Even the Nothing Phone 3, the closest competitor to this device, has failed to live up to their lofty security claims, focusing on software-based security. Point being, we need real security-first devices and HIROH is looking to do exactly that. How? Read on:

The HIROH is unlike traditional privacy switches that shut down the entire device, literally “bricking” the entire phone, making it unusable. The HIROH maintains full phone functionality, allowing users to stay productive even in “secure mode,” a marked departure from traditional systems. A red indicator confirms the phone is fully secured offering an additional level of visible, physical security.

The HIROH CEO, Victor Coccina had this to say about the upcoming launch:

“At HIROH, we believe privacy should never come at the cost of usability, the HIROH phone redefines what secure communication means – merging true physical security with the freedom to use the apps and tools people rely on every day. It’s not just about protecting your data; it’s about empowering users to live and work securely without compromise. With HIROH, you’ll never need to carry a second phone.”

Having done work where I was required to carry a second secure device, they always felt "less than" as they weren't walled off enough or walled off entirely too much – how does HIROH handle this?

HIROH offers users a choice between Murena’s /e/OS (for complete “de-Googled” privacy) or Android 16 (for maximum compatibility). The phone comes fully unlocked, works on all global networks, and — unlike other privacy phones — when using /e/OS users have access to Murena’s third-party app store AND to the full Android and Google app library, offering the best of both worlds: total privacy or total flexibility. With its powerful feature set, the HIROH redefines what a privacy-first device can be — the world’s first phone built to deliver uncompromising security without sacrificing everyday usability.

This sounds like a great compromise, especially if you're able to either containerize or format and restore to the other version if your needs change, and without needing to change to another device.

If this sounds like your world, or you're the kind of person that might, oh...I dunno...end up at a protest or two and need to secure your phone quickly, then this phone might be exactly what you're looking for. So, how do you get one?

The HIROH is now available for pre-sale at HIROH.io for a $99 reservation fee with the remaining $900 (plus applicable taxes) to be paid when the phone ships. The $99 reservation fee can be refunded at any time prior to the phone shipping. The HIROH also comes with an industry-leading two-year warranty covering repair or replacement to protect against any hardware or software defects.

Rounding things out, let's get a quick snapshot of who HIROH is, and what the specs on this device is at launch as the team is focusing on a single SKU to minimizonfusion, and to secure a single device.

The HIROH was created by a veteran team of security and privacy experts led by CEO Victor Cocchia and CTO Alexander Barangan. Mr. Cocchia holds more than 20 patents (Mr. Barangan another 5+) related to mobile security and privacy, is the winner of multiple awards, including the prestigious IAPP Innovation Award (previously awarded to Vodaphone, Microsoft, IBM research, Stanford, Intuit and Sprint Nextel) and they are the inventors of the physical kill switch.

We'll be looking to take a closer look at this device to see if it's one we can recommend. Look for a full unboxing and a hands-on review if we can secure one (enjoy that pun – you can have it) in the near future. You can nab one for yourself at the official site – let us know in the comments if you're pre-ordering a HIROH!

FULL HIROH SPECS:
Performance
- RAM: 16GB
- Internal Storage: 512GB
- Expandable Storage: Up to 2TB
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 8300
- Operating System: e/OS or Android
Camera
- Rear Main: Samsung 108MP
- Wide Angle: Sony 13MP
- Macro: 2MP
- Front Sony: 32MP
Display
- Size: 6.67" AMOLED
- Refresh Rate: 120Hz
- Brightness: 1200 nits (1800 peak)
- Resolution: 2712 x 1220
- Protection: Gorilla Glass Victus
Security & Privacy
- Encrypted Storage: 2TB SD Slot
- Privacy Mode: Secure Sandbox
- Biometric: Fingerprint
- Tracking: Zero Data Harvesting
Battery
- Capacity: Replaceable 5000mAh High Density
- Fast Charging: 33W
Connectivity
- Network: 5G Enabled
- WiFi: WiFi 6
- Bluetooth: 5.2
- Port: USB-C