First, they run smooth, pure Android versions and second, they get timely software updates well ahead of other phones
running skinned versions of Android.
Not exact matches
The Venue 8 7000
runs a very stock
version of Android 4.4 KitKat — Dell promises an update to Android 5.0 Lollipop is coming in the future — with software navigation buttons for Home, Back and Task Switching, and no custom
skin.
The new Nook Tablet is
running on the companies
skinned version of Android, but this time it has a modern iteration of the OS with 4.2.2.
Every single tablet that Barnes and Noble has even released
ran a heavily
skinned version of Google Android.
It's quite possible that the new Nook Tablet will have a Microsoft tie - in, perhaps even an Xbox Live option for movies and music, but our source indicated that the new Nook Tablet will continue to
run on a heavily
skinned version of Android, not Windows 8.
So when I thought of how I could have a Galaxy S phone tweaked by Google, no annoying
skins, and
running the newest
version of Android it sounded perfect.
The Kindle Fire HDX 8.9
runs on a heavily
skinned version of Google Android.
You would never know it though, since the company
runs their own
skinned version of it that prevents sideloading in your own apps or accessing an internet browser.
So that any phone that met the hardware specs would all be
running the same
version, with the manufacturer
skins on top operating via API's and such.
Wi - Fi, Apps, and Performance The Nook HD +
runs a highly
skinned version of Android 4.0.
The HP Pro Slate 8
runs a standard
version of Android 5.0 Lollipop with no custom
skins or significant modifications, apart from the built - in pen support.
The $ 299 slate's aluminum shell and metallic, beveled edges may look straight out of Cupertino, but it
runs a lightly
skinned version of Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
A dedicated camera button is on - board as well; it's not clear what OS the phone will
run, but it will likely be Android 5.0 Lollipop, hopefully with an option to switch between Lenovo's
skinned version and stock Android as was found on the Vibe Z2 Pro.
Technically, Amazon's $ 199 Kindle Fire tablet
runs on Android, but it's a specially
skinned version customized by Amazon.
The Tab 2 A10
runs Lenovo's
skinned version of Android 5.0 Lollipop.
Although the Fire 7 technically
runs on Android, it's a heavily
skinned Amazon
version.
All three of these tablets are affordable for many, and all three are
running a
version of Android - some more heavily
skinned than others.
Running Android 5.1 Lollipop with a light -
version of thecompany's Vibe UI
skin on top, the dual - SIM dual - 4G Lenovo K4 Note bears a 5.5 - inch full - HD (1080x1920 pixels) IPS display with a pixel density of 401ppi, and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection.
The bigger HTC Puccini comes pre-installed with tablet optimized operating system Android 3.1 Honeycomb OS, the
version of Google's software that's been built specifically for tablets, but the HTC Flyer is still happily
running Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread OS
skinned with its own Sense user interface.
While Amazon's tablets
run the company's Fire OS, a
skinned version of Android, you can't get access to the Google Play store unless you hack the tablet.
To integrate this here, the company introduced Ecosystem UI as the
skinned version of Android to
run on their handsets.
If you do decide to go with an Android device, make sure you do a little research and look at the
version of Android it
runs, the manufacturer
skin on top, and the manufacturer's record for software updates.
The Tab S2 is
running a TouchWiz -
skinned version of Android 5.1 Lollipop.
The P8 Lite
runs an identical
version of Android 4.4 with Huawei's comprehensive, iOS - clone
skin on top.
In comparison, the MediaPad M3
runs a much less familiar
version of Android, which is obscured by Huawei's EMUI
skin.
The device
runs on Android
version 4.2.2, albeit with LG's custom
skin slapped on top — no stock Android here — which is competent but a little disappointing given Google's recent unveiling of Android 4.3.
The Galaxy Note 3
runs on Android 4.3, the latest
version (although «Kit Kat» 4.4 was announced only yesterday), with Samsung's Touchwiz
skin slapped on top.
Most China - based smartphone manufacturers embark on two types of software upgrades: Updates to the custom Android
skins that
run on top of Android, and upgrades to the underlying Android
version.
The Mate 9
runs the latest
version of Android 7.0 Nougat, although Huawei has put its own EMUI 5.0
skin over the top.
With otherworldly hardware compared to the Nexus 5, and both devices
running the same base Android
version, there's only one thing to blame for the Galaxy S6's poor performance — a bloated manufacturer
skin.
Samsung's new flagship
runs on Android
version 4.4 (KitKat), but of greater note is the new TouchWiz
skin that's been layered on top.
The Indian
version of the handset
runs the MIUI V5
skin on top of Android KitKat.
Nokia 8 will
run stock
version of Android 8.0 Oreo, with no
skins or changes in the user interface.
Having a near - stock
version of Android allows older SoCs like this to
run cleaner than they would with a
skinned OS.
Back in July, Xiaomi officially announced the latest
version of its custom
skin, MIUI 9, along with the Mi 5X, the first smartphone to come
running this new software out - of - the - box.
This isn't a feature, but it's an updated
version of the beloved OxygenOS
skin that
runs on top of OnePlus 3 and 3T handsets.
Even though the phone is
running the latest
version of Android, the default
skin looks jaded.
The smartphone
runs stock
version of Android 8.0 Oreo, with no
skins or changes in the user interface.
Software-wise, a
skinned version of Android Oreo will
run the show out of the box.
And the loudest narrative you'll hear is how long the wait is for new Android updates to reach Galaxy devices — either as a result of Samsung's TouchWiz
skin supposedly taking longer to update, or because the company simply doesn't care about its customers enough to make sure their devices are
running the latest Android
version.
The Honor View 10
runs on Android 8.0 Oreo, with the EMUI 8.0
skin on top — the most current
version of Huawei's
skin.
Huawei has improved its EMUI Android
skin significantly over the years, and this year they're re-numbering the
skin to match the
version of Android it's
running on.
In a surprise move Xiaomi announced the Mi Max, a massive device with a giant 6.44 - inch 1080p screen
running MIUI 8, the latest
version of the company's Android
skin.
This means it
runs a stock
version of Android, without the company's MIUI
skin on top.
At the moment, the phone has
version 4.1
running the show, but those who have received the update to Android 7.0 Nougat via devices such as the Huawei P9 will tell you that the new OS is based on a newer
skin — EMUI 5.0.
Many custom
skins aren't as obnoxious as they were in the early days of Android, but there are undeniable advantages to getting a device
running the cleanest, fastest and most secure
version of Android you can get.
The whole show is
run by a
skinned version of Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), with ASUS» ZenUI on top.
The handset will supposedly ship with Android 7.1.1 Nougat out of the box and
run an updated
version of LG's Android
skin, LG UX 6.0 interface.
It
runs a heavily
skinned version of Android 4.4 KitKat while the majority of its competitors
run a near stock
version of Android 5.0 Lollipop.
Like the Vivo V5, Android Marshmallow
runs the show, but there is a newer
version 3.0 of the FuntouchOS
skin used on top of the stock Android OS.