What is stock Android? Check out our short explainer

We’ve all heard the term before, but what exactly is Stock Android? Stock Android, also known as Vanilla or Pure Android, is the simplest version of the operating system developed and developed by Google. It’s an unmodified version of Android, which means the device manufacturers installed it as it is.

Android is an open source operating system, which means companies can change it at will. They do this by adding what is known as a custom skin or user interface to the operating system that changes its appearance and adds new functionality. These skins include Samsung Experience, HTC Sense, EMUI (Huawei), and OxygenOS (OnePlus), to name a few.

Some skins, like Huawei’s EMUI, change the entire Android experience significantly. For example, until EMUI 5.0 was released, owners of Huawei smartphones did not have an app drawer. All apps installed on a device were placed on the home screen, as with iPhones.

On the flip side, we have skins like OnePlus’s OxygenOS that take a different approach. OxygenOS looks and feels almost exactly like standard Android, but has a few additional features on board. These include Reading Mode, which filters out blue light for a better reading experience, and App Locker, which protects your data-sensitive apps from prying eyes. The software also allows you to open an app of your choice by drawing an O, V, S, M or W on the display when it is switched off and much more.

You don’t get any of this with Stock Android – you just get the features Google developed. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Stock Android has many advantages over customized versions of the operating system.

Advantages of Stock Android

The biggest advantage of Stock Android is that it updates quickly. Smartphones that run it are among the first to be updated to the latest versions of the operating system, while Samsung, LG, and other smartphone owners usually have to wait some time for an update. That’s because these manufacturers have to modify a lot of the software before they can release it, which is not the case with stock Android.

The second reason is that Android smartphones in stock are bloatware-free, which means they don’t come pre-installed with apps from the manufacturer that you will likely never use. For example, some handsets come with their versions of calendar and fitness apps (and many others) that are already on the device, courtesy of Google – or can be installed from the Play Store. What’s worse is that these apps usually can’t be deleted from a device unless you root it.

That brings me to the next benefit of stock Android, which is storage. All of these unnecessary apps take up space that you could use for something else. Plus, the operating system itself takes up more space due to the many bells and whistles the manufacturer has added. In other words, standard Android usually takes up less space on your device when compared to modified versions of the operating system.

Stock Android also has a clean, minimalist design that a lot of people love. It can be very different from some Android skins that look way too colorful or even dated for my tastes – although this is subjective and might be a good thing for some. The simplicity of the operating system makes it a great choice for newbies as it can be much easier to use. Google’s variant of Android can also work faster than many customized versions of the operating system, although the difference shouldn’t be huge unless the skin is poorly developed.

It’s worth noting that stock Android is no better or worse than skinned versions of the operating system used by Samsung, LG, and many other companies. It’s just different. Which variant is better for you depends on your personal preferences.

Smartphones with standard Android

Next on the list is Lenovo. The Chinese manufacturer announced in August 2017 that it would be giving up its Vibe Pure UI and delivering all of its future devices with standard Android on board – the first was the K8 Note. Then there’s Essential, which makes sense given the fact that its owner Andy Rubin co-founded Android before it was acquired by Google in 2005. Unfortunately, this phone is no longer available directly from the company.

What do you think of stock Android? Do you prefer it over customized versions of the operating system from Samsung, LG and many other smartphones? Let us know in the comments.