Android is one of the most popular mobile operating system. Together, Google's Android and Apple's iOS conquer most of the global mobile market.
Comparing Android with iOS is one thing. Another thing is comparing a stock Android to Androids that have been customized by manufacturers. For tech-savvy users, an Android at its best, is stripped out of the inconvenience. The closer an Android is to stock (AOSP), the better.
But is it (still) true? Especially when Android has evolved and so as the hardware the powers it.
To compare, manufacturers usually add skins and some tweaks, as well as some "bloatware". To most, they result in designs that are uglier than stock Android, a slowed down device, inconsistency with Android's Material Design in apps, having slower updates, heavy on the batteries and makes Android more confusing.
This is exceptionally true. Especially on the early days of Android.
Fast forward, manufacturers have used more powerful hardware over the years, and they also get better in optimization. As a result, while performance may still be affected, but the disadvantages aren't as much as they were previously.
One example is Samsung. Known to have TouchWiz UI that was endlessly maligned, the company has improved speed with "Samsung Experience" starting on the Galaxy S8 flagship device.
While it's still bloated with apps and not perfectly smooth like Nexus or Pixel, but the slowdown is small enough that people don't see or care much.
Another thing is that manufacturers have also become better is delivering faster updates, and even having their own security patches that are released regularly.
So here, manufacturers can expect better user experience than before.
And when they add and tweak the stock Android to suit better with their brands, by flaunting the flexibility over iOS, they can do many things.
For example, manufacturers can practically enhance Android experience by:
- Having a one-handed mode that shrinks the display.
- Rearrange, resize, or hide the navigation bar.
- Add extra functions/gestures.
- Change color themes, including a dark mode.
- Add icon packs and fonts.
- Utilize the always-on display better.
- Change resolution or tweak performance modes.
- Activate reading mode.
- Add floating windows.
- And much more.
Google In Breaking The Habit
While stock Android may still excel in speed and battery consumption, the fact is that it doesn't have those clear advantages anymore. Especially when users put user experience as a criteria for choosing.
For example, Nexus devices used to be Google’s vision of what the best, purest version of Android looked like. They were the barebones baseline Android that manufacturers could branch out from and add features they needed.
But when Google introduced its Pixel phones, things changed. With a premium price tag, Google needs to make its Android able to compete with other manufacturers with customized Androids. In short, Google needed to give potential buyers the reason to choose its Pixel phone over the competition.
So What Google did, was adding exclusive features, breaking away from the Nexus tradition. Examples include the Pixel's UI that has a different color scheme from the usual AOSP Android look, and things like the 24 hour live support, the camera software and the Pixel launcher.
Here we see that stock Android is not even Google's ideal for its OS anymore.
Google has tweaked and added extras, just like other Android phone manufacturers. While Google has an obvious home field advantage, but the result in Google in breaking its Nexus habit should be comparable to others in the market.