Generally, it is more likely any batch of "special" phones is MORE secure, not less secure. Backdoored phones are more likely "one off" and targeted to specific bad guys.
I don't think the recent photos are from black hat phones, images then taken from them by team-Q and shown in public as a demonstration that the black hats are on insecure devices. Major tip of hand if possible/true, stupid move.
Yeah I really don’t get the point of that picture storm at all.