Is there an Android phone available that comes without any pre-installed bloatware, offers long-term support, and ensures access to the latest Android versions?
Ask HN: Stock Android phone free of bloatware?
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Re: Ask HN: Stock Android phone free of bloatware?
#2Why not simply installing lineageos or AOSP instead?
Re: Ask HN: Stock Android phone free of bloatware?
#3Why not simply installing lineageos or AOSP instead?
Because with this question I am testing if there is a market for this.
Re: Ask HN: Stock Android phone free of bloatware?
#4Google Pixel: what you’re wanting is exactly why it was made.
(Added bonus: you can shed even more bloat by installing Graphene OS, something that requires a Pixel at the moment.)
Re: Ask HN: Stock Android phone free of bloatware?
#5Honestly, the Pixel phones are probably the best compromise between your requirements. While Samsung gets slightly longer support, the bloatware, IMO, is just too much (depends on your definition of bloatware though). Plus the Pixels are first for latest Android and are generally well-supported with third-party ROMs (Lineage, Graphene, AOSP, etc). So my suggestion is the Pixels, (the "a" series for a less expensive choice).
Re: Ask HN: Stock Android phone free of bloatware?
#6Google Pixel: what you’re wanting is exactly why it was made. (Added bonus: you can shed even more bloat by installing Graphene OS, something that requires a Pixel at the moment.)
From what I know, Google typically provides support for Pixel phones for about 3 years, which is relatively shorter compared to the 5-year support period offered by Apple for iPhones. I wonder if there are better alternatives available.
Re: Ask HN: Stock Android phone free of bloatware?
#7Honestly, the Pixel phones are probably the best compromise between your requirements. While Samsung gets slightly longer support, the bloatware, IMO, is just too much (depends on your definition of bloatware though). Plus the Pixels are first for latest Android and are generally well-supported with third-party ROMs (Lineage, Graphene, AOSP, etc). So my suggestion is the Pixels, (the "a" series for a less expensive c…
Indeed. I was wondering if perhaps there are other choices out there.
Re: Ask HN: Stock Android phone free of bloatware?
#8Google started a program back in 2014 to encourage other hardware vendors to build just such things. It is alas, now on hospice care, with death imminent:
Re: Ask HN: Stock Android phone free of bloatware?
#9Honestly, the Pixel phones are probably the best compromise between your requirements. While Samsung gets slightly longer support, the bloatware, IMO, is just too much (depends on your definition of bloatware though). Plus the Pixels are first for latest Android and are generally well-supported with third-party ROMs (Lineage, Graphene, AOSP, etc). So my suggestion is the Pixels, (the "a" series for a less expensive c…
Indeed. I was wondering if perhaps there are other choices out there.
What about the Pixel lineup isn't fulfilling your tastes?
Re: Ask HN: Stock Android phone free of bloatware?
#10The Pixel is the closest.
The reason you don't see long term support on Android is because of Qualcomm. Qualcomm wants manufacturers to build on new chips, so they deprecate older chips and stop support. Most manufacturers don't want to hire kernel and hardware devs.
Samsung can pull off longer support because of Exynos and they have a lot of inhouse expertise to extend support on old Qualcomm chips.
It's all money. They don't want you keeping a phone for 5 years.
Apple can do it because they lock you into their walled garden where they can double and triple dip on getting your money.
They also build their own chips.