Verizon and Samsung pushing Temu as an “Essential” app on carrier-locked Galaxy phones

Temu, a Chinese fast-fashion company backed by PDD Holdings, went full “Shop like a Billionaire” at the recent Super Bowl, throwing money around with six ads and $10 million in giveaways to win back the hearts (and wallets) of American shoppers. But despite this headline-grabbing splurge, it seems Temu wasn’t quite satisfied with just bombarding the airwaves during the Super Bowl. Now, some users of Galaxy phones locked to Verizon Wireless are reporting a disturbing development where Temu is being forced on them as an “essential” app to install from Samsung.

But wait, how essential is the Temu app on your phone? Does the phone magically malfunction without access to deeply discounted, questionable quality goods listed in the Temu app? The answer, of course, is a resounding no. This seems more like a shady collaboration between Temu, Samsung, and Verizon, pushing an unwanted app onto unsuspecting Galaxy phone users. But here’s the catch.

According to reports, only carrier-locked Samsung phones seem to be affected. That’s right, unlocked Galaxy devices are spared from this dubious “perk.” This raises some serious eyebrows, suggesting a potentially lucrative deal at play. “I feel like this app came out of nowhere and was able to afford tons of superbowl ads now this. Clearly they’re backed by a huge company,” a Redditor commented.

Interestingly, this isn’t a new concern. Security researchers have also shown pretty clearly that Temu is a high risk app to have on your phone since it acts like malware due to the information it pulls and permissions it demands. But what’s even more interesting is that non-Samsung devices are also affected, among them Motorola phones. The good thing, however, is that Motorola doesn’t mark it as an “Essential” app like Samsung. Besides, you can easily uninstall the Temu app from your Moto device, just like this user did when they found it pre-installed on their handset.

Just bought a Motorola that came pre-installed with Temu. Luckily Motorola don’t do much of the uninstallable bloatware so that shit was the FIRST to go.

There are some user-suggested solutions to this problem. While some say they have the option to opt out of “Essential” apps, others don’t have this option on their Samsung phones. Which is a bit strange since the phones are all made by Samsung. Alternatively, another user suggests searching for Verizon apps manager on your phone and turn it off to address this issue once and for all.

Opting for carrier-unlocked Samsung Galaxy phones is also another workaround to avoid such intrusive practices. But there’s a more compelling alternative for those willing to make a switch to another Android brand on the same carrier. Google Pixel phones, whether purchased unlocked through the Google Store or from a Verizon outlet, boast a clutter-free software experience. Users can rest assured that they won’t be subjected to forced installations from Temu or any other company. With only pre-installed Google apps to contend with, the software remains clean and streamlined, catering to the preferences of discerning users.

“Why I stick to Google Pixels, the cleanest android experience. I love Samsung’s hardware but can’t stand their software and is what stops me from using their stuff, I mean the duplicates of apps like multiple gallery apps and cloud storage is just ridiculous. Pixels give you some Google apps and that’s it, no bloatware,” one Redditor said. “This is exactly why I went with a Google pixel instead of the latest Samsung flagship🙄,” another Redditor added to the ongoing discussion.

It is disappointing to witness a reputable company like Verizon embroiled in such dubious dealings, further exacerbated by Samsung’s complicity. While the exact nature of this arrangement remains shrouded in mystery, the reports at hand certainly suggest that this issue predominantly affects Verizon-locked Samsung phones. In light of these developments, Verizon users may find solace in the transparency and integrity demonstrated by Google Pixel phones, offering a refuge from the intrusive tactics employed by Temu and other companies.

So, if you’re tired of your phone pushing unwanted apps and masquerading as a billionaire shopping cart, this might be the perfect time to consider the Google Pixel purity, especially with the ongoing Pixel 8 offers. After all, who needs questionable deals when you can have a phone that respects your choice and keeps its software squeaky clean?

Remember, your phone is an extension of you and not a marketing billboard. So yeah, choose wisely.