Stock Android is the best version of Android. It’s the way Google imagined Android should be. It’s clean- something that a lot of users love. Today we’ll list 3 reasons describing why your next phone should run stock Android.
The OEMs, however, customize the OS to such extent that it loses the finesse it had as the unadulterated version. While some do so to offer value to users, some do so just because they can. The main reason I can think of is to look different from the competition. No doubt, some OEMs provide amazing features to their users due to their complete control over the OS, but these features do come with a cost. Here are 4 things that you gain if you are in Stock Android.
Security
Lack of security is the biggest criticism Android is facing. No doubt, Android is awesome but multiple flaws have been found in the OS over the years. To state the obvious, Android is not the most secure OS in the world. However, Google is working hard to make it secure. They release security patches every month with latest safety updates and bug fixes to make your device secure.
If you have a stock Android device, you’ll get monthly security updates as soon as they are made available. The same can’t be said for the highly themed or skinned Android. Yes, such devices do get updates but they are delayed as the OEMs have to make necessary customizations first, before pushing it to the public. Moreover, a lot of devices don’t even receive a single security update.
Latest & The Best Android
When you run stock Android, not only you revive consistent security updates, you also receive various bug fixes and enhancement updates. Also, when a new version of Android is launched, you’ll be among the first ones to receive it.
Thanks to the OEMs and their customization, the updates are heavily delayed. Moreover, many users spend years on the same version, despite new one being available.
Stock devices, on the other hand, just like security updates, receive Android updates as soon as Google makes it available.
Less Bloatware
Ah, bloatware. If you run a skinned version, you know what I’m talking about. Many OEMs put so much of bloatware on their devices that it easily gets frustrating. I mean, do you really need two different app stores, cloud drives, browsers, email apps, etc.?
Also read: Android Myths and Facts: Busting 10 Urban Legends
Each Android device comes with some pre-installed Google Apps. There’s no need to have another app of the same kind.
This creates unnecessary clutter and results in consumption of storage by the apps you’ll never use. And, the worst thing is that such apps aren’t easy to uninstall. There’s no such problem with stock Android, as a result, such devices have better performance.
With Nexus dead (and no I am not counting custom ROMs, as I am speaking about the out of the box vanilla stock systems), and with Pixel phones coming in around $900 or more, unless the user goes onto a contract plan of some sort, it will be out of reach for most. Lenovorola offers a tweaked ‘stock’ Android experience, but their lack of proper development, maintenance, and handling of information requests for their device’s OS is frustrating. Motorola devices are still a good bet for something similar to a Nexus, just don’t expect a 100% Nexus-like experience from it. Perhaps if Google still owned Motorola, we’d see Moto being a much more attractive offering for a cheap AOSP device in North America. The X4 ‘Android One” offering is laughable as it’s essentially a Moto G5 with NFC. I love my Pixel 2 XL, but I am really hoping very soon, that an OEM takes the Nexus ball and revives the concept for AOSP with lightning fast updates OOTB with 3 years of support without needing to spend more than $450 for it.
I agree, killing nexus was a big mistake. And, with pixel prices being so high, not everybody can afford to get one.
I do have some hope with the Android one program as long as they manage to develop some nexus like phones. I wonder if we will ever get an Android ine phone from Samsung.
If I’m not mistaken, there was once a Google play edition of a Samsung flagship. I would love to have a samsung s8 like phone with stock Android.
Yeah, but the prices don’t seem to be low.