The problem of Android fragmentation is indeed very acute but it seems that Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is trying to fix this issue, at least to some extent. During this year’s Google I/O developer conference, Google launched a two month old phone – the Galaxy S4 with just a small modification: it offers pure Android experience (also known as Nexus experience), no skins, launchers and other apps bundled with it.
But Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) didn’t stop there as the company also launched HTC One which offers the same pure Android experience. This phone will come with stock Android instead of the HTC Corp (TPE:2498) Sense. Those who prefer not to get bloatware and manufacturer’s skin can opt for this phone instead.
So, what does this means for consumers like you and me? For us, we now have more choice, as apart from buying just one phone – Nexus 4 that offers pure Android experience, we can now also think about adding Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One to the list of potential buying options. Many users were complaining about two of the biggest problems (at least that’s what some think) of Nexus 4 – it comes with non-expandable memory and lack of 4G. Well, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s new offering fixes for those issues.
Many popular Android phones that are worth buying comes with not so useful manufacturer skins and layers of software that come bundled with the phone (and can’t be removed). The problem with such customizations by phone manufacturers is that phones run slow, become more cluttered and there is a lack of updates. Those who buy such phones will curse Android OS for poor performance of the phone, but the fact is that it’s not Android’s fault but it is the manufacturers. Manufacturer add so many things to the phone that user’s never get the chance to experience what we call vanilla Android.
Buying Smartphones From Google Have Advantages
While buying the Galaxy S4 and HTC One from Google does have its own advantages, people need to pay a heavy price for these unlocked devices – $600 and $650, respectively. Other options would be to buy the phone in contract which can be obtained at a lot lesser price but then it would have its own limitations.
Such pure Android devices give you a more Android experience, compared to the manufacturer experience on every other phone out there. They give you an option to opt for a skin, instead of tying you up to use only their skin. These devices give you freedom and most importantly, direct Android OS updates from Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), instead of waiting for HTC Corp (TPE:2498) and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930) to send them.
For now, the future looks bright for Android. Let’s hope Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) releases other phones too that offer such vanilla Android OS.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of ValueWalk as a company.
