Everything seems well thought out, which can most definitely not be said for many
other Android skins.
Xiaomi has cleaned up its Android MIUI skin greatly over the past year or so, and while it's a long way from being a «stock» style experience like OnePlus» Oxygen OS, you do get a neater on - screen interface which borrows elements from iOS as well as
other Android skins.
If software customization is your thing, you won't find much of it here compared to
other Android skins.
When compared to
other Android skins on the market, the Monte Carlo's custom OS feels rather lightweight.
However, stock Android seems behind
other Android skins when it comes to well - performing cameras and powerful, easy - to - use camera software.
MIUI allows for a very high level of control and customization throughout, something that isn't easily available with
other Android skins.
From the iPhone, to Touchwiz (going back to the GS III mind you), to
other Android skins from Blu, ZTE, LG and more, software has never given us a bad impression.
OPPO's ColorOS just doesn't have the same amount of polish that
other Android skins have.
Overall Google seems lost, completely lacking design direction and just cherrypicking little elements from
other Android skins and iOS.
Samsung's TouchWiz and
other Android skins have long included a similar feature, but it's now integrated into stock Android.
This will provide you the quickest way to switch the rear and front cameras, which is quite amazing, and haven't been seen on
any other Android skin.
Not exact matches
Without any
skins, bloat or
other alterations to
Android getting in the way, the Pixel 2 puts the full force of Google's smart programming in your hand.
Running on a heavily modified custom
skin called the «Flyme OS 2.0», the MX2 is in a league of devices that don't look or function anything like the stock
Android interface but retains the app base and
other Android advantages.
Everything just works, and with the
skinned UI that the company provides, it is far from the Vanilla
Android experience that Acer, Asus, Samsung, and every
other manufacturer provides.
Unfortunately,
Android's ability to support user interface
skins and
other customizations may interfere: The new voicemail feature doesn't work on the HTC Vivid, AT&T's (s t) first phone to get the
Android 4.0 update.
It's reportedly called the Kindle Fire and that it will have a dual core Texas Instruments OMAP processor, a 7 inch color, backlit display, and the
Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system — although the software will be
skinned so that it looks little like
other Android devices.
Unlike
other tablet manufacturers that put their own company's
skin over the original OS, Sony has only added features to the
Android 4.0.3, without taking anything away.
This means that it does not have any of the
skins or extra software that all of the
other tablet companies put on top of the
Android operating system in order to make theirs different from the rest.
HP's first stab at
Android is understandably minimal, which will appeal to a large swath of
Android enthusiasts, but it lacks some genuinely useful features
other companies have added through
skinning.
All three of these tablets are affordable for many, and all three are running a version of
Android - some more heavily
skinned than
others.
Like
other heavy
Android skins, ASUS's custom UI can be a bit laggy at times.
Now, Fiat Chrysler is using
Android 7.0 to support its Uconnect software, taking over the job of designing and maintaining its own custom
Android skin, and fully integrating Andriod's app support and
other features on a core level.
Samsung has cut way back on its once laughably complex settings menus and some
other features of its
Android skin.
MIUI is so heavily customized that it takes Xiaomi much longer than
other companies to completely revamp its
Android skin, which is why it's a generation behind when it comes to
Android versions.
Installing themes will customize your lockscreen, homescreen, app drawer, and all
other areas of your
Android skin.
Other companies take note: this is how you do an
Android skin.
On the software side of things, the Axon Phone offers a very clean
Android experience in comparison to the far more heavily
skinned iterations seen with
other ZTE devices.
This has been one of the biggest omissions from
Android (and is included in every
other skin) over the past few years.
LG's custom
skin is still on top of everything, and while some
other Android OEMs like Lenovo / Moto have been cutting down on duplicate apps, LG remains happy to include multiple options for gallery, music, and so on.
But, as I mentioned, Moto's touch is very light when it comes to
skinning, which also means that you can rest assured you won't be affronted by too many options or the unnecessary bloatware offered by so many
other Android manufacturers.
The G5's
Android skin, while sleek, can't match the power of stock
Android (not sure power is the right word here), and even lacks the standard app drawer featured in almost every
other build.
Each and very aspect has been modified and it results into something that can be a tad overwhelming at first, especially if you're accustomed to stock
Android or even one of the
other skins such as HTC's Sense or Samsung's Touchwiz.
For years Sony's
Android skin has been one of the lightest and least offensive of any OEM
skin, replacing only a few icons or
other smaller nuances here and there with Sony's own style.
Working in conjunction with Nextbit OS, the Robin's
Android skin, Smart Storage would sync apps, images and
other data to the cloud.
We might see more battery life than
other devices with similar mAh ratings thanks to Sony's minimal
Android skin.
It's worth noting that stock
Android isn't better or worse than
skinned versions of the OS used by Samsung, LG, and many
other companies.
People that have never owned an iPhone will tell you that Apple devices are restrictive and bland, while
others might say that stock
Android is boring compared to manufacturer
skins like HTC's Sense, despite never having owned a Nexus or Pixel.
No
other manufacturer seems interested in under 10k for OS update (Xiaomi fanboys, please note MIUI and
Android updates are different plus another subjective round of Stock vs Custom
skin Android).
Contrary to how some
other OEM
skins tend to be, the additions in this version of
Android are really useful.
On the one hand, you have the largely Stock
Android Nougat on the Moto G5s Plus, on the
other you have the heavily EMUI 8
skinned Android Oreo on the Honor 9 Lite.
One
other possible issue affecting this is Huawei's own app management processes featured in its EMUI
skin, which overwrites
Android Doze.
Credit can also be given to the iteration of
Android here, which is closer to stock Marshmallow than most
other phone
skins.
While
other key
Android manufacturers either plump for stock
Android or increasingly try and
skin in a very restrained fashion, Huawei's EMUI still feels like it lags behind even if it has come on a lot in terms of usability over the last couple of years - the app drawer is back if you want it.
Unfortunately, just as we encountered with the previous iteration of EMUI in the Mate 10 Pro, what useful additions there are have been cloaked in a dated
skin that follows none of the design principles that make modern
Android look as clean and fresh as it does on
other phones.
Google's stock
Android often gets a free ride from
Android geeks who flock to Nexus and Google Play Edition devices, avoiding devices running Samsung's TouchWiz, HTC's Sense, and
other manufacturer
skins.
Many
other OEMs already bake the feature on to their proprietary custom
skins over
Android.
Cons: • So - so battery life • Camera may be good for selfies, but less good for
other types of photos • Button configuration disliked by some • HTC Zoe takes up too much space • Not everyone likes Sense, HTC's
skin for
Android
About half of that reminds us of the Surface, and the
other half is painted to look like the Surface — including the custom
Android skin laid out like Windows.
Other features include a 16MP front - facing camera, a 3,750 mAh battery with fast charging capabilities, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and
Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box with Huawei's EMUI 8.0
skin on top of it.
Its tweaks and extras are essentially a
skin like any
other Android phone.