As a reminder, MIUI 9 Global brings significantly improved performance over MIUI 8, to the point where Xiaomi has stated that it should now closely compete
against stock Android for performance and speed.
As I have said earlier, I have nothing
against stock Android per se, and I believe that there is a certain segment of the audience that does value it and will indeed pay a premium for it.
Not exact matches
Now that the 6P has
Android 7.1.1, it's now the perfect time to pit it and the Pixel XL
against each other for
stock Android supremacy.
It also looks damn good and performs admirably for regular mobile computing tasks — like web browsing —
against a nearly
stock Android Marshmallow backdrop.
This is despite the polarizing opinions held by many for and
against Xiaomi's MIUI UX — a skin that modifies a lot of
stock Android's core functionality, sometimes for better and sometimes for worse.
This comes as a competitive feature and makes Skype a strong competitor
against Google Hangouts that available as a
stock app on all
Android devices.
Speaking of
stock Android, the skin Sony is using on the Xperia Z3 definitely feels dated up
against the latest Material design language.
At Rs 13,999, this phone will struggle
against the likes of the Moto G4 Plus or the Moto G5 which seems to be offering a better screen and
stock Android.
Meanwhile, Huawei's EMUI interface is better than it once was — but when it's up
against Google's
stock Android in the Pixel XL, it can't win on that front either.
Android purists will be pleased to learn that the Moto G and Moto G 4G are running the
stock version of
Android, with Motorola opting
against applying an overlay - claiming instead that it's focused on things which add real benefit to users.
Another minor improvement over
stock Android: the lock screen allows users to view notifications by just holding their thumb
against the display is another functionality that slightly improves the user experience with the Moto E4.
Nokia's asking price of $ 749 may be steep for some, but when you combine its excellent hardware with Zeiss - engineered dual cameras, fast silicon, and a
stock Android One software experience, you're met with a solid contender
against the Galaxy S9.
Against Motorola, which essentially ships
stock Android, and Sony, which takes a very hands - off approach, the Find 7a just doesn't come close.
The handset's rich HD screen, sharp camera and stunning battery life all hold their own
against popular phones such as the Galaxy Note 4 and iPhone 6 Plus, and the inclusion of CyanogenMod provides a more attractive and robust experience than
stock Android.