Would you prefer it if your device had stock Android instead of a manufacturer skin?

posted by Chris P. / Jul 13, 2015, 3:33 AM

Would you prefer it if your device had stock Android instead of a manufacturer skin?

While techies will know this, here's how Android development works in essence: Google is in charge of developing the base, on which all other customizations worked out by third-parties are put on top of. So what you're seeing on your Samsung Galaxy device is built on top of the code from the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), and the reason manufacturers bother to do this mainly has to do with their belief that it helps them gain a competitive edge.

But while manufacturers skins do bring extra functionality to the table, there are inherent costs involved, as providing support and future updates for a large portfolio of devices, each running on custom code, can be expensive and quite time consuming. As a result, folks who want to have the very latest in Android usually stick to devices with stock or 'vanilla' Android, like the Google Nexus line or even Motorola's bare bones smartphones. A while back, you could still get Samsung, Sony, or HTC hardware with virgin Android running on them, courtesy of the Google Play Edition program, but that has died out and we haven't seen new phones join the ranks in a long while.

It's not just about the speed of the update process, though, as stability and performance are (typically) impacted negatively whenever a third-party builds on top of Android. Sure, there are (very rare) exceptions to this rule, but it's generally the way it is. With that, and the above, in mind, would you have preferred it if your smartphone came with stock Android instead of a manufacturer skin?

Would you prefer it if your device had stock Android instead of a manufacturer skin?

Yes

76.35%

23.65%

Options

57 Comments

1. deanylev

Posts: 234; Member since: Mar 11, 2014

Nope. Sony's lollipop skin is absolutely perfect.

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 3:35 AM 25

2. Theus

Posts: 13; Member since: Dec 10, 2014

Absolutely agree!

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 3:37 AM 7

12. neela_akaash

Posts: 1239; Member since: Aug 05, 2014

Yes i would prefer the stock one only if the update is instant and directly from google... otherwise my Z2 has a great interface....

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 4:08 AM 1

13. andu99

Posts: 6; Member since: Jan 15, 2015

Yes, I love it.

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 4:08 AM 0

17. kent-gaga

Posts: 609; Member since: Apr 10, 2012

i like Sony's UI, but i still prefer some more tweak here and there, such as the dual-windowed multitasking mode ( Small Apps are not enough TBH), better quick setting UI, ...

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 4:17 AM 1

23. josephnero

Posts: 776; Member since: Nov 16, 2011

Agreed.Sony UI =Google + best and minimal tweaks and apps

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 5:04 AM 1

26. vincelongman

Posts: 5628; Member since: Feb 10, 2013

Sony and Moto have great minimal skins My issue is they still take over 3 months to update their phones I wish Google (or someone else) would make an official framework for mods (similar to Xposed) for AOSP Then the OEMs could add their extra features and optimizations using that framework And then apply their own themes using the RRO theme engine (already in AOSP/Stock Android)

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 5:23 AM 2

51. Niva.

Posts: 440; Member since: Jan 05, 2015

That would be sensible, but then OEMs would make it difficult to sell their new devices since the old devices would be much more up to date and capable than they are these days. OEMs do these "skins" only to increase their sales, not so much due to the innovation of how much better these skins are, but to have an excuse to delay or stop updates to their already sold devices.

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 12:58 PM 0

35. alex3run

Posts: 715; Member since: May 18, 2014

Stock Android UI is just ugly. Anyway it is better to have a manufacturer's UI rather than stock.

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 7:33 AM 1

42. tahnik

Posts: 200; Member since: Jul 17, 2011

I really miss the Sony's lollipop after buying nexus 6 :(

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 8:35 AM 0

46. waddup121 unregistered

Yes/10

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 9:30 AM 0

3. calim

Posts: 40; Member since: Mar 09, 2013

No, I use the Nexus 9 and the Z3+. I like both versions but I think Sonys skin has the edge. I had a Galaxy Tab last year but I returned it after two weeks, mostly because of the skin, but also because the Nexus 9 was more up my alley.

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 3:37 AM 0

4. Jason2k13

Posts: 1448; Member since: Mar 28, 2013

No thanks, with Samsung's material design theme + nova launcher, I have the best of both worlds. Samsung features, the look of stock android and the speed of nova launcher, you cant go wrong with that.

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 3:40 AM 14

18. jan25

Posts: 470; Member since: Feb 26, 2012

things go beyond how the UI looks. Nova doesn't fix the occasional slowdowns, lag issue with the tax switcher, or the bloat on my Note 4. That being said, I think Samsung's hardware is class leading which is why I think it still has the edge over other OEMs.

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 4:34 AM 1

50. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

Ll devices lag, stop repeating this lame BS about devices. All computers lag. Its normal. if you're device doesn't lag then that means it doesn't do anything advanced or otherwise.

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 11:06 AM 0

19. iLovesarcasm

Posts: 589; Member since: Oct 20, 2014

Samsung plus Nova perfect combination.

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 4:36 AM 3

5. SitiNurbaya0

Posts: 153; Member since: May 22, 2015

I have use several android devices. I like the nexus skin because itis good and simple I also like samsung galaxy note 4 skin because it's good. i HATE the xiaomi mi 4i skin. i like the phone, but I REALLY HATE xiaomi skin. Itis ugly and look bad, like ipon skin.

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 3:47 AM 3

6. alexvv

Posts: 165; Member since: Oct 16, 2013

light skins with some extra functionality are usually better, i.e. motorola, sony etc

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 3:47 AM 1

7. luis.d

Posts: 354; Member since: Dec 04, 2013

A resounding yes! But I realize that the liberty of customizing Android to create the user experience that the manufacturer envisions should never be removed, especially since vendors are trying harder than ever these days.

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 3:48 AM 3

8. Android_Lollipop

Posts: 155; Member since: May 05, 2015

I agree, considering both the opinions, it would be great if the device manufactures gives us the option to switch between stock android and manufacturer skin during device setup or enable few manufacturer's skin features as a plug-in to stock when required.

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 3:57 AM 0

9. Zylam

Posts: 1809; Member since: Oct 20, 2010

Google should add an official theme engine, not the general change icons etc but an incredibly deep running, from the 'core' engine that's let's the Oems apply themes that run as deep as their skins do, with the ability to add programmable commands like the toggles etc.. Oems already replace Google Apps with their apps that isn't a problem as you can just reinstall the gapps. This would effectively allow all Oems to run stock Android with their theme acting as a deep skin and hence upgrading the OS etc wouldn't be as hard or long of a process. Google should also add side loading drivers and kernels for all the addition hardware that Oems put in their and have a section in the play store for just them, this will allow Oems to update their specific kernels and hardware drivers outside of Os builds. I honestly have no idea why this hasn't happened already. Android fragmention is getting worse, we now have different theme engines being deployed by Oems skins.. It's going off the rails.

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 3:59 AM 2

25. vincelongman

There is already a theme engine in stock Android Its called RRO, it was actually Sony's, but Sony added it into AOSP Its what Sony, Samsung and HTC are using But a theme engine is not enough since OEMs also like to put in extra features and optimizations If Google (or someone else) made an official Xposed framework for AOSP, then they OEMs could add their extra features and optimizations as well as theme it

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 5:18 AM 0

10. nothingmuch

Posts: 201; Member since: May 03, 2013

Nope, I like manufacturer skins, it gives each device a finesse of its own.

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 4:03 AM 2

11. Diezparda

Posts: 941; Member since: Oct 23, 2013

I personally prefer TW, offer more feature & if you feel it slowing the device performance simply install custom launcher and turn off s-voice.

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 4:05 AM 3

14. drunkenjay

Posts: 1647; Member since: Feb 11, 2013

i actually like touchwiz. the only problem is with the touchwiz skinning on top of android. get tizen with google playstore and it would be pretty good.

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 4:11 AM 1

15. yoosufmuneer

Posts: 1518; Member since: Feb 14, 2015

Yes. If not it would be like the case of android wear. Not that Much of competition. Skins bring awesome new features but they should look beautiful and run smoothly.

posted on Jul 13, 2015, 4:14 AM 0

16. darkkjedii

Posts: 30836; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Touchwiz is awesome, theme store theme store theme store. If only Apple had skins, round transparent icons would be nice. Who am I kidding though, won't happen. iSkin.