Stock vs skinned android

[StellenboschStudent]

So, I am waiting for my next upgrade to make the move from (the ever stale) iPhone to Android.
Should I go for a nexus device to get stock android? I do like the new Edge 7 or even the new HTC, but how is the skin they put on, does it slightly deteriorate android?

 

[Hamster]

Well, I've owned a couple of Androids and stock android has been my best experience so far. None of these services and preloaded apps running on the phone.

If Nexus doesn't work out for you, Motorola is close to near stock as well. The Moto G4 was announced yesterday and if it is anything like the G3 it will be "stock".

 

[phoneJunky]

So, I am waiting for my next upgrade to make the move from (the ever stale) iPhone to Android.
Should I go for a nexus device to get stock android? I do like the new Edge 7 or even the new HTC, but how is the skin they put on, does it slightly deteriorate android?

I can only really speak about Samsung, had galaxys up until the S5. Each revision was quicker, but the S2 with cyanogen mod was my favorite. I played with my relative's S6 edge and it felt really quick and looked really nice.

But I would still go with the Nexus device if I were you. You can't get them here on contract though, but maybe where you are now they do it. With the nexus you are guaranteed to get updates where with the galaxys they only update your phone about twice, have to wait for all sort of this or manually flash it. Odin is not that difficult to get used to, but I felt it was an unnecessary burden.

 

[StellenboschStudent]

Well, I've owned a couple of Androids and stock android has been my best experience so far. None of these services and preloaded apps running on the phone.

If Nexus doesn't work out for you, Motorola is close to near stock as well. The Moto G4 was announced yesterday and if it is anything like the G3 it will be "stock".

Cool, I see the G4 will be available mid June in the UK, so will give it serious consideration.

I can only really speak about Samsung, had galaxys up until the S5. Each revision was quicker, but the S2 with cyanogen mod was my favorite. I played with my relative's S6 edge and it felt really quick and looked really nice.

But I would still go with the Nexus device if I were you. You can't get them here on contract though, but maybe where you are now they do it. With the nexus you are guaranteed to get updates where with the galaxys they only update your phone about twice, have to wait for all sort of this or manually flash it. Odin is not that difficult to get used to, but I felt it was an unnecessary burden.

I do like the Huawei Nexus 6P, but will wait for Google IO and see if they launch a new phone. But I still like the S7 Edge, such a nice looking phone...

 

[Vaughan]

It honestly depends on you, I like a few of the features that only Samsungs have (or work better on Samsung). So I like the Samsumg phones and usually only mod the kernel.
Even without modding it is still a matter of preference. In your case those, you have not used any of the manufacturers software and so you are not attuned to any of them, thus I would advise stock. The Nexus devices also usually receive updates sooner and can feel a little less bloated.

 

[Fox1]

I've used Huawei, Sony, Samsung and now Xiaomi Android devices. The current Touchwiz version on my tablet is silky smooth and I can never see myself going back to standard Android. The same applies to MIUI7 on Xiaomi devices. Maybe it's because we have faster and more efficient CPU and RAM these days that the manufacturers' launchers don't get stuck or run out of memory, I think the worst launcher of the current lot is the one Sony have on the Xperia range, icons look boring and hogs RAM.

 

[StellenboschStudent]

It honestly depends on you, I like a few of the features that only Samsungs have (or work better on Samsung). So I like the Samsumg phones and usually only mod the kernel.
Even without modding it is still a matter of preference. In your case those, you have not used any of the manufacturers software and so you are not attuned to any of them, thus I would advise stock. The Nexus devices also usually receive updates sooner and can feel a little less bloated.

I've used Huawei, Sony, Samsung and now Xiaomi Android devices. The current Touchwiz version on my tablet is silky smooth and I can never see myself going back to standard Android. The same applies to MIUI7 on Xiaomi devices. Maybe it's because we have faster and more efficient CPU and RAM these days that the manufacturers' launchers don't get stuck or run out of memory, I think the worst launcher of the current lot is the one Sony have on the Xperia range, icons look boring and hogs RAM.

Thanks.

Think I will wait for Google IO, see what is new and which phones they launch/will get the newest update. They I will also search around for the best deal. But it seems the stock vs skin isn't that big an issue anymore.

 

[rkcj]

Historically, Google IO is not when new phones are launched. That tends to happen later in the year in October.

 

[Necropolis]

Stock is the best IMO.

That's what I'm going for when my current contract is up next year.

 

[faniebraai]

Stock is the best IMO.

That's what I'm going for when my current contract is up next year.

what does stock give you, that skinned (let's take Touchwiz in its current state on the S7) not?

 

[Necropolis]

what does stock give you, that skinned (let's take Touchwiz in its current state on the S7) not?

It doesn't give you anything more - it gives you less.

I just prefer that to all the crap that Touchwiz or Sense or whatever add to the experience.

 

[faniebraai]

It doesn't give you anything more - it gives you less.

I just prefer that to all the crap that Touchwiz or Sense or whatever add to the experience.

for example?

 

[Necropolis]

for example?

The modified launcher, the different ways the menus are displayed.

 

[faniebraai]

The modified launcher, the different ways the menus are displayed.

The google launcher and stock touchwiz is almost exactly the same. And any launcher can easily be replaced. The first app I install is Nova.

The only "menus" that you can be referring to is the settings menu, which is not very much different to stock.

This biggest difference between Touchwiz and Stock Android is the notification shade. And that can be sorted out with Good Lock, a samsung app.

 

[StellenboschStudent]

The google launcher and stock touchwiz is almost exactly the same. And any launcher can easily be replaced. The first app I install is Nova.

The only "menus" that you can be referring to is the settings menu, which is not very much different to stock.

This biggest difference between Touchwiz and Stock Android is the notification shade. And that can be sorted out with Good Lock, a samsung app.

So in your opinion there isn't much difference between the two?

 

[Necropolis]

So in your opinion there isn't much difference between the two?

The likes of Samsung and Sony and whoever whill also pre-install a bunch of apps on your phone.

Stock Android will come with Google Apps and nothing else - the rest is up to you.

 

[faniebraai]

So in your opinion there isn't much difference between the two?

exactly

i'm off the opinion that people that go "stock or gtfo" are referring to touchwiz of old... since the S6, touchwiz has fastly improved

I can't see myself getting a phone for the sake of getting stock, and missing out on a fantastic camera, for example.

 

[faniebraai]

The likes of Samsung and Sony and whoever whill also pre-install a bunch of apps on your phone.

Stock Android will come with Google Apps and nothing else - the rest is up to you.

that is true... LG and Sony's apps are fekkin' horrible

Samsung isn't half bad, the email app is superior to any other exchange app out there, and then there's like maybe 4 apps that can be disabled.

and again, nothing stops you from using another app from the app store (which you'll do in any case on the stock phone)... and if you really want to, root your phone (if its a samsung) and remove the bloatware. that why you'll get the benefit of the great things that samsung is doing, super hardware, and you can get rid of the apps you don't want... solution is so easy.

 

[Connor13]

Well personally I love stock android , would I let that fact alone dictate my choice of phone though , well No .

Iv had numerous devices over the years and the one thing that Stock android has always given me is great Ram use vs say a Samsung which always tends to hog the Ram use (granted I have not used the new S7's this year as yet) and quick updates . A perfect example last year was when the new Note came out and I was seriously considering one as Iv always liked the Note range , but when I compared the Ram use side by side with my then Nexus 6 there was a huge difference in the amount of free Ram available when opening numerous apps or internet browser pages .

Im currently using a Moto X pure and as user experiences go it has been one of the best devices Iv ever used , Iv not once had to worry about apps closing because of poor Ram use , lagging etc etc etc . The Mate 7 I had last year was also pretty good, though Huawei's skin does take some getting used to .

So personally while I would prefer stock android as in the nexus or Moto range I would not write off any of the other manufacturers just because they have their own skin . I think ultimately one has to look at what the device offers as a whole rather than just does it have stock android or not .

 

[Johnatan56]

that is true... LG and Sony's apps are fekkin' horrible

Samsung isn't half bad, the email app is superior to any other exchange app out there, and then there's like maybe 4 apps that can be disabled.

and again, nothing stops you from using another app from the app store (which you'll do in any case on the stock phone)... and if you really want to, root your phone (if its a samsung) and remove the bloatware. that why you'll get the benefit of the great things that samsung is doing, super hardware, and you can get rid of the apps you don't want... solution is so easy.

I am of the opposite opinion, prefer the LG apps over the Samsung ones

@OP it really depends on you. I'd still go for a Nexus device first, then LG (not the G5 though), rest after. Personal taste.