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There was a time when “Android skin” was a dirty word, something that frustrated and inhibited the entire platform. Times have changed, though; in fact, many are incredible options, and they make Android stronger for buyers and fans alike.
Shifting software sands
Over the past few years, there has been a real shift. As Material You has sort of stagnated a little, OxygenOS, One UI, HyperOS, and others have started to step up to offer up the kind of functionality that is often missing on Pixel phones.
While it’s hard not to love the “clean” visual appeal of Android on Pixel phones, it’s not the most feature-rich. Nor is Google really offering up the kind of killer features that make buying a Pixel for extra things a reason to choose the hardware. At least compared to the “big” Android skins, you miss out on lots of quality-of-life touches.
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The vanilla Android experience really doesn’t cut it for many people. Take One UI, for example. Every major update includes a laundry list of new additions. Some of it is limited by the hardware, like the S Pen or foldability, but you just get more out of the box without requiring tons of extra applications or tweaking.
The visuals are the biggest differentiator, but most Android skins are only marginally different now. We’re seeing almost identical Notification panels on most builds, similar customization controls, plus similar Settings sections. Animations and visuals can differ, but for the most part, they are in lockstep from phone to phone.
Google Play Services has helped decouple tons of features from full updates, and it means we get awesome functions like Quick Share, Theft Detection, and even Gemini with simple app updates rather than full platform releases. You don’t always need to have the latest software version to get these kinds of options now.
The “iPhone of Android” conundrum
Personally, I dislike the “iPhone of Android” moniker that Pixel phones have been given practically since day one. I will concede, though, that Google often lets others on Android build out specific features before taking, tweaking, and putting their own spin on them. It’s straight out of the Apple playbook, but it does happen in much the same way.
Dark theme, desktop mode, work profiles, and lock screen shortcuts were all first on other devices before coming to Pixel phones. Google puts its own spin on things, but without others leading the charge, many things we love today wouldn’t be on our phones.
It works both ways, though, because Android is a platform first and foremost, we also see exclusive Pixel features come to other phones, be that via apps or in the operating system itself. I’d say this can diminish how people view Pixel phones, but it’s not a huge deal, all things considered.
For a more adaptable mobile experience, there are often way better alternative skins out there on Android.
Updates are regular and reliable
Update speed isn’t always a stumbling block now for basically any major Android skin. If you buy a top-tier phone, you’re likely to get lots of updates within its lifecycle. Samsung offers seven full years of updates to match the Pixel now. OnePlus gives you four OS versions plus six years of regular patches.
You might wait a little while to get the next OS upgrade, but that time has also diminished drastically in recent years. OEMs understand that we, as consumers, want our devices to be updated regularly and quickly, as it builds brand loyalty.
OnePlus was able to push Android 15 within a few weeks of the stable release for Pixel phones, which was unheard of even just five years ago. There are slip-ups. Samsung fumbled the One UI 7.0 rollout, so we have a weird bunched One UI 8.0 and Android 16 launch. To compound that, as it stands, only Google has released a stable Android 16 release widely. Samsung does have devices running the latest stable update. However, this only accounts for the latest Z Fold and Z Flip.
The Korean company has not yet announced a wider release, nor has any other company. You can test drive Android 16 through various beta programs. This isn’t quite the same, but it offers a glimpse of what’s to come. So, in that regard, we still have some lingering problems.
All aboard for optimization
It’s crazy to think we still get people lamenting Android because budget devices might have subpar performance. Sure, cheaper hardware has improved. It’s not void of issues and that is something that has improved drastically but still isn’t perfect.
From the midrange to the upper echelons, though, the hardware is better, and the optimization is similarly impressive. It certainly helps that most top-tier phones use the same core internals. From phone to phone, you get performance that is more or less in lockstep. Each Android skin is tuned to take advantage of what is laid deep within, and dare I say it, we’re almost in a golden age of day-to-day experiences with modern high-end phones.
The best thing is that this extra attention to detail helps all areas of the market. Unless your phone is woefully underpowered or a buggy update has bodged certain areas, it’s hard to truly fault almost any phone these days.
I’ll concede that bloat still hangs around on plenty of Android skins. Some companies are worse than others for this, and skins like HyperOS can have ads. Ordinarily, the price of a device can give a fair idea of whether this is something to worry about, but like many things we’ve discussed, this isn’t as bad as it once was.
ROMs, ROMs, ROMs
Contrary to what you might have thought. The ROM development scene isn’t dead.
There are smaller projects, more passionate developers, and a growing sense of community among those who still like to tinker with their devices. I’ve personally tested a few of the bigger projects, including GrapheneOS, Lineage, and Evolution X.
While these aren’t Android skins in the traditional sense, they are still something I hold dear to my heart. If you want better privacy controls, system-level customization that isn’t ordinarily possible, or an old phone that you want to keep running, up-to-date and secure, a custom ROM is the way to go.
Custom ROMs are almost unique to Android and something that we hope will continue to exist. Sadly, Google is being coy about the future of the AOSP project that many custom ROMs rely upon. Whether we like it or not, Google is going to do what is best for Google.
Standing out in a crowded marketplace
Designs are all subjective. That applies to both hardware and software.
One of the biggest problems that we face with Android or Android skins is that if every phone ran close to “stock” or AOSP, then there wouldn’t be much to separate each phone. Most of the top-tier devices have practically identical core internals. Usually that’s a Snapdragon processor, plenty of RAM, storage, and a triple camera system.
A great example of why brands need differentiation is Motorola and Sony. Phones from Motorola and Sony are about the closest to the “vanilla” Android experience that we find on Pixel phones, and they are not being lauded for their software. If anything, it can make the devices feel a little forgettable to many people. Why get a Pixel imitation when you can just get the real thing?
Conversely, people love specific features like the OnePlus Shelf or Samsung DeX. These brief examples are unique reasons to get a device beyond the physical design or internals. You are buying something that works to make your life easier, better, or more fun.
There is a reason that the Android One program has failed. It almost diminishes the strength of variety by making everything feel the same. Apple can get away with it, but very few Android OEMs can.
The power of Android is choice
Choice is key. You do not need to pick a phone that doesn’t suit your aesthetic preferences – be that hardware or software.
You can pick one that fits exactly what you want. Whether it’s the fastest processor or the most customization options. Maybe even the biggest battery or the most cameras. Your phone could fold or flip. At the very heart of your Android phone, though, is a software skin that will drive the entire experience.
The differences aren’t as drastic as a few years ago, but it’s still a strong suit that I hope continues to develop.
![Android skins are good, actually [Video]](https://newspepr.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Android-skins-are-good-actually-Video.jpg "Android skins are good, actually [Video]")
