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Google is no crapware, Samsung is as much crapware as possible.

Samsung has their own version of every built-in app. Text messages for example, they have a much shittier version of "Messages" (no RCS support at least a few months ago). Their apps get set back to default randomly. Photos/Gallery, email, web browser, you name it.

They then have other junk installed. Their own app store, their own voice assistant, and other useless/niche apps.

You are blocked from uninstalling any of it.

It is the scourge of Android. "Android One" was an effort by Google to curb it, but I think only Motorola signed up (in addition to Google, obviously). OnePlus started on the premise of a clean/stock experience, but have started losing their way (rather rapidly). "Nothing" is a new manufacturer aiming for a stock experience. Asus seems to be doing stock.

If you ever consider moving away from Pixel I strongly recommend prioritizing a stock experience over _anything_ else. Crapware is maddening, full of bugs, and likely full of vulnerabilities.



Ah, you assumed Android One was the name when it's actually just the number of companies who want less crapware.


With Samsung phones, even if you try to disable the Messages app and install, for example, the stock android Messages app, it will pop a very annoying nag screen on your home screen warning you that the Samsung messages app is not the default, and the only way to remove that is to Force Stop the Samsung Messages app, which then restarts... The best thing to do is give the phone to someone who doesn't have a phone with the warning that it is full of crapware.


Not to mention bixbie, a toxic bane.


Nokia had a few decent phones in Android One, but I think they dropped from the program


Depending on who you ask Google comes with it's own crapware. I use calyxos and anything google including their play services is crapware for me. So the scale should be more like Samsung to GraphenOS/CalyxOS.


There were also Nokia (IIRC they still deliver basically stock Android) and Xiaomi who had a few dedicated models for some markets (mostly India but at least two were available in the EU) under Android One.


I am considering moving away from the Pixel, they seem to be going downhill, so your post was a great confirmation, thank you.


Sony is pretty much stock as well. Mine came with FB and LinkedIn pre-installed though.

The updates are decent and I had no problems with them.


Google comes with less crapware but not none. Google Slides and Play Movies are a couple of examples of crap that don't really need to be there.




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