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Android Skins
One of the best features of the
Android operating system is its flexibility to be customized (OS). The Android
operating system is still being developed as an open-source project. Because of
this, phone companies are free to modify the original code to add or delete
features that suit their preferences and objectives. Eventually, the world
began to notice a wide variety of Android-based smartphone operating systems
known more commonly as "Android Skins."
You would assume that a Samsung
smartphone and a OnePlus smartphone would have the same software, wouldn't you?
They are both Android phones, after all. However, a short glance at each will
reveal that they are significantly dissimilar in appearance. That's because
each of them uses an Android skin, which is a customized version of Android.
In other words, all Android
smartphones run the same version of Android at their foundation, despite any
additional design or functionality changes. However, some manufacturers design
an experience that is genuinely exclusive to their phone lines in order to add
some brand identification. Others hardly interfere with Android's functionality
and leave it alone.
The most popular Android skins
currently on the market are compiled below. This will be an excellent tool to
aid in your decision if you're looking to get an Android phone for the first
time.
1. Samsung One UI
The most well-known smartphone
maker in the entire globe is Samsung. Therefore, it's safe to presume that most
readers of this have a Samsung phone. If you do and the phone is recent, you
are already accustomed to One UI.
One UI is one of the bulkiest
skins for Android. By that, we mean that compared to other skins, it adds a lot
more features and changes a lot more aspects of Android's appearance. Power users
that value having a lot of control over their smartphone experience may find
this to be a big lure. However, power users might find the experience a little
disorganized. Additionally, they might never make use of (or even be aware of)
half the functions.
Whatever the case, One UI is among
the most well-liked and well-received Android skins available. Samsung has
managed to maintain its position as the undisputed leader in smartphones
because of its stability, abundance of features, and consistency across all
platforms.
Compared to other Android skins
and stock Android, one UI is noticeably different. Samsung makes the design
whimsical. Many of its own applications are also pre-installed, which some
users find annoying. However, many of the capabilities provided by One UI far
beyond those of peers. In reality, Google occasionally borrows concepts from
One UI for upcoming releases of stock Android.
2. Stock Android
The term AOSP, which is short for
Android Open-Source Project, is used to refer to the purest form of Android. With
no Google apps, no modifications, and no additional features, this operating
system is in its "default" condition. In general, this release serves
as the foundation for all Android releases.
The AOSP version of Android can
now be installed on a phone and referred to as "stock." Stock
Android, however, is a step above this in the majority of real-world scenarios.
It typically includes Google programs, such as the crucial Google Play Store.
But standard Android typically lacks any additional tweaks, just like the AOSP
version.
The most well-known smartphones
that offer a very close-to-stock experience right now are Nokia-branded phones
from HMD Global. In the past, Google's Nexus series and popular third-party
phone Google Play Editions both included stock Android. These days, this
behavior is less frequent. Nowadays, you typically need to uninstall the
pre-installed software and then install stock Android yourself if you want a
phone with a genuine version of stock Android.
Because the maker of the phone
doesn't have to make many software changes, phones running stock Android
typically receive updates to the most recent versions of Android swiftly.
Skinned Android, on the other hand, frequently has access to a lot more functions.
For instance, skinned variations of Android had a native dark mode
for years before stock Android received it in Android 10.
3. OnePlus Oxygen OS
Oxygen OS used to be very similar
to stock Android. It was a breath of fresh air when Oxygen OS initially
launched, a pun that OnePlus heavily exploited. The appearance and feel of
Oxygen OS have seen considerable changes thanks to OnePlus over time. It is
currently so far from stock that it is approaching One UI territory.
The most recent Oxygen OS, which
is based on the Android skin created by sibling company Oppo, will be included
with new OnePlus phones or will ultimately be available. Thus, Oxygen OS and
Oppo's Color OS are now quite close. Although they aren't the same, they aren't
that dissimilar either. Actually, Color OS is pre-installed on OnePlus phones
in China.
Still, Oxygen OS does have a lot
of nice features that stock Android does not. Even if it has lost some of its
appeals as it departs from its stock roots, it is still one of our readers'
favorite Android skins. An extremely stylish Android skin is Oxygen OS. It's
easy and seamless, and OnePlus paid close attention to even the smallest
aspects of the user experience. Although it doesn't have quite as many features
as One UI or Color OS, it nonetheless enhances Android to such an extent that
power users should feel right at home.
4. Oppo Color OS
Oppo's Android skin is
considerably dissimilar from stock Android. The overall look and feel of
Android is maintained in all of the user interfaces, including Samsung's One
UI, OnePlus' Oxygen OS, and Google's Pixel UI. Almost nothing about Color OS
resembles standard Android. To give the software a distinctive look, it
overhauls almost every aspect of it. It has a tonne of functions as well that are almost probably never going to be included in the default system.
Color OS is very divisive because
of its abundance of modifications and possibilities. While some people adore
its distinctive feel and the intriguing features it provides, others feel that
it doesn't feel sufficiently like classic Android. To determine which side of
the debate you belong on, try out as many Android skins as you can.
The basic code for OnePlus' Oxygen
OS is taken from Color OS, as was described in the preceding part, hence the
operating systems are extremely similar. You have complete control over almost
every aspect of the operating system using Color OS. You can personalize your
phone in a variety of ways with the numerous customization choices, inbuilt
features, and apps. This comes at the expense of consistency, speed, and
bloat-free performance.
5. Xiaomi MIUI
The world's largest smartphone
vendor, Xiaomi, is on the verge of taking that title. With Huawei off the
market, the Chinese business has already surpassed Apple in some metrics to
become the second-largest OEM in the world. As a result, MIUI, Xiaomi's Android
skin, is more well-liked than ever. Be aware that MIUI is also present on
select Xiaomi sub-brands, including Redmi, Poco, and Black Shark.
Xiaomi's smartphone skin is
significantly different from standard Android, just like Oppo's Color OS. It is
much more vibrant, cartoonish, and fun. In addition, MIUI now provides a tonne
of amazing features unavailable on pure Android. There
are some things you can do with a Xiaomi phone that you simply can't do with
other phones, much like Samsung's One UI and other heavy Android skins. Similar
to One UI, MIUI provides a variety of distinctive features and aesthetics. It
also has a tonne of apps pre-installed that you might or might not want.
But MIUI's reliance on
advertisements is one of the most divisive concerns with the platform. Xiaomi
has repeatedly stated that it is not a hardware firm in the open. It views
itself as primarily a software company that also produces hardware. As a
result, MIUI's numerous adverts greatly subsidize its affordable products.
As a result, with Xiaomi phones, you can always anticipate a lot
more data harvesting, advertising, and software collaborations.
6. Google Pixel UI
Many individuals might believe
that Google's Pixel smartphones include stock Android. That isn't entirely
accurate, though. The majority of people prefer to assume Pixel phones have stock
Android because Google's line of Nexus smartphones did.
The Android skin for Pixel phones
is known as Pixel UI informally. Although it has several non-stock features and
design modifications, this version of Android nevertheless has a stock-like
appearance.
Exclusive software features that
are only available on Pixel phones are unmatched. The Call Screen function on
contemporary Pixel phones is an illustration of this. It answers your spam
calls using Google Assistant's intelligence to confirm that they are not
robocalls or telemarketers.
Google releases updates more
quickly than almost all other smartphone makers, and the Pixel UI closely
resembles pure Android in terms of appearance and feel. Pixel UI ought to be
one of your top options for Android skins if you're searching for a version of
Android that is free of bloat but doesn't significantly alter the way Android
naturally feels. However, it will still be lacking several useful features that
other "heavier" skins, like Samsung's One UI or Oppo's Color OS,
offer.
7. Motorola My UX
Google once held ownership of
Motorola. Given this context, it shouldn't come as a surprise to see how close
Google's Pixel UI skin is to Motorola's Android skin, branded as My UX.
Motorola, on the other hand, produces a lot more low-cost and mid-range
smartphones than Google.
My UX is generally quite
user-friendly. It is welcoming, cheerful, and uncomplicated. Additionally, its
simplicity maintains fluid and light. Everything has a wonderful sheen to it
that appeals to as many people as possible. This makes a lot of sense as
Motorola primarily creates mid-range smartphones, which can be used by kids,
adults, and seniors alike.
My UX is now regarded as a
top-notch Android skin. Motorola didn't make many changes to Android, opting
for the "less is more" philosophy. It did add a few fresh touches
and features, but overall it still seems stock.
Unfortunately, Motorola doesn't
have a good reputation for keeping its phones up to date. In stark contrast to
Samsung and Google, which give four or three upgrades for almost all of its
phones, the corporation has been found trying to pass off one significant
Android upgrade for even its most expensive phones. For several of its
products, Motorola also frequently delays the delivery of security updates.
8. Asus Zen UI / ROG UI
Actually, Asus offers two distinct
Android skins. Zen UI, which is included on the company's standard smartphones,
is quite similar to Pixel UI and feels very stock-like. The ROG UI, which has a
significantly more "gamer" look, may be used with its gaming phones
in the ROG Phone series.
Zen UI maintains a stock Android
aesthetic and feels, keeping it thin, uncomplicated, and bloat-free. It isn't
quite stock, but it does include some added features. In the meantime, ROG UI
places a lot of emphasis on gaming with intriguing features and vibrant colors
to improve your smartphone gaming experience.
In either case, Asus' Android
skins are renowned for nailing the fundamentals while yet providing some cool
benefits. Although they don't have as many features as systems like One UI or
Color OS, many smartphone users out there value their simplicity.
Google's own Pixel UI comes the
closest to resembling Zen UI. The skin is incredibly solid and smooth as a
result of its simplicity, which is its main strength. Although the
gamer-centric aesthetics on the ROG UI are chaotic, it is stable and slick for
gamers.
Unfortunately, Asus has a bad
track record of keeping its phones' software up to date. For instance, Android 10 wasn't released for its 2020 flagships
until the summer of 2021. Additionally, the business takes a while to update
its phones with security patches.
Here are some of the most common
Android skins and how they function. Which one do you prefer? Let us know in
the comment section.
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