What is naked Android? Many users may have heard a similar formulation, but understanding the true meaning of pure Android is not so easy. In fact, this is a smartphone that differs from most devices in certain system qualities. It is worth noting that pure Android has been in increasing demand among people in recent years, which is why some companies have begun to produce them more and more often. What exactly is this Android, its features, and whether it is worth buying - all this is discussed in the article.
What is pure Android
Pure Android
Pure or naked Android is the name given to smartphones sold to consumers in the form in which companies produce it. The main advantage of such devices is that they do not contain “heavy” programs that fill the system.
In addition to the above point, pure Android has other positive qualities. These include:
- There are no additional programs and applications that take up a lot of space on the phone and are very difficult to remove.
- The user has the opportunity to independently remove bloatware software. This software is not always necessary.
- Many people like the interface. Everything is quite simple and clear, and most importantly, exactly as Google originally intended.
- It is extremely rare to encounter problems with the operation of programs and applications. Everything is optimized.
- Fast work. This advantage is ensured precisely by the fact that the system is not overloaded, and, accordingly, uses the phone’s capabilities to their full capacity.
More and more people prefer pure Androids for the reason that the additional proprietary shell takes up too much space on their mobile device. In addition, the system slows down, valuable megabytes are lost to unnecessary applications, which are very difficult to remove.
Standard interface
Interface differences
GrapheneOS (first image) and Android 11 (second image)
The GrapheneOS interface is almost no different from pure Android 11. Everywhere in the system there are the same inscriptions, icons and buttons, there is even a dark theme. Corporate gestures have not gone away either. Only the square corners of some elements are highlighted: shortcuts, quick settings curtains and notification cards. In bare Android 11, these corners are slightly rounded.
Which devices have bare Android
Pure Android smartphones are being produced by an increasing number of manufacturers in 2022 and 2022. It is worth saying that for leading companies this is a very difficult decision, since a large amount of money and time was initially invested in the development of individual parameters.
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Some companies are still not going to give up their personal technologies. For example, it is impossible to find a device with pure Android from Samsung, LG and other leading brands. Most often, the bare system is implemented by less popular companies. This decision is the result of the fact that devices from these companies have lower characteristics. Small amounts of memory and a weak battery simply cannot support a full-fledged system. This would simply cause slowdown and freezing.
Devices from Nexus and Pixel are phones only running bare Android. The only built-in applications that a user may encounter on these devices are products from Google. The interface fully corresponds to what was originally intended.
Important! As practice shows, the absence of any additional shells allows programmers to quickly install the required firmware version. Accordingly, the system operates more smoothly and quickly.
A significant advantage of devices from Nexus and Pixel is that their developers release ready-made firmware updates much earlier than other companies (about 6 months).
In fact, absolutely any manufacturer can produce a variant of phones with pure Android. This is also a beneficial option for buyers as clean phones are less expensive. However, as already mentioned, not all companies are ready to deal with such a product.
Naked Android on Xiaomi
There are manufacturers who are ready to combine two product options. For example, Xiaomi released smartphones in 2022 that were not burdened with their standard MIUI shell. These phones have also become popular.
Another company that prefers a clean system is Micromax. However, in this case there is one significant nuance. On smartphones from this company, developers install a large number of standard programs that cannot be removed.
Advantages and disadvantages of pure Android
If we talk about shortcomings, then pure Android is not without them. However, there are not so many of them, and for some users they will not be such at all. In particular, smartphones with pure Android have relatively little functionality. Reduced number of settings. For example, you cannot swap touch buttons.
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Additionally, there are fewer core features that manufacturers add to their branded devices. For example:
- On MIUI, the user can set a password for any application.
- On Flyme you can create separate, so-called work zones.
- EMIUI phones provide a wide range of options for working with screen settings. In addition, a system has been installed that allows you to control the device using double clicks, gestures, and so on.
Note! In this situation, only the user himself will be able to say how significant a disadvantage it will be that his naked phone will not be able to carry out such operations.
On the other hand, if a person lacks certain applications or programs, he can install them himself. Expanding functions will be very problematic.
On the other hand, bare Android smartphones have a lot of advantages. Main positive points:
- fast work;
- absence of unnecessary software;
- good support from the Google system;
- established and uniform interface style;
- timely installation of updates, and in some cases, they appear even earlier.
Google support
Implementation of additional content for gadgets
An example of a theme for a Xiaomi smartphone (Source: miithemes.xiaomi.blogspot.com)
Some smartphone manufacturers are constantly looking for additional monetization for their gadgets. They sell them below the market, so they need to increase their earnings by any possible workaround. For example, Xiaomi offers home screen themes and other supporting content for the device. Usually all of it is absolutely free, because to a large extent it is created by ordinary enthusiasts who post their creations for everyone to see. But companies control the platforms for such exchanges and turn them into money through advertising.
Is it possible to install pure Android on any phone?
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Many users, having learned about pure Android, wonder whether it can be installed on an existing device. Of course, this raises some doubts, but the answer is positive.
In fact, a pure version of Android can be installed on any type of mobile device. However, there are some nuances. Each mobile device model will require its own flashing option. This can only mean one thing - if the user does not have sufficient knowledge and skills, it is better not to do it yourself.
Models that will receive Android 8 and 9
The new operating system is installed on the device along with the proprietary Fly shell. So, Android 8 will come with Flyme 7, and Android 9 will come with Flyme 8.
But not all of their products include new operating systems, so they are not found often. So, Android 8 and 9 are available for models :
- Note 8;
- X8;
- V8/V8 Pro;
- 16/16X/16 Plus;
- Pro 7/Pro 7 Plus;
- Pro 6S/Pro 6;
- M3;
- MX5;
- M2 Note;
- M6T/M6s/M6/M6 Note;
- M8C;
- 15/15 Lite/15 Plus;
- E3.
not become available for these devices - some models already have it out of the box, others receive it at the beginning of the year, and others - closer to the end.
Owners of other devices can only rely on custom firmware , but even they are unlikely to correct the situation, because they will have significant flaws. Although this does not mean that the future Android 10 will not be implemented in the remaining gadgets.
How to install naked Android on a smartphone
It is recommended to install a different firmware version using a personal computer. This will require a fairly powerful PC, preferably with a 64-bit operating system. In addition, you will need the smartphone itself and a USB cable for connection.
To reinstall the firmware on a mobile phone, you will need a special program. It is best to select it depending on the version of the mobile phone. So, for example, if we are talking about Xiaomi cell phones, then it is best to use a program called XiaoMi Flash.
Important! This is not just about installing zero Android. If you need to install new firmware on your mobile phone, you will need your own program to work. Flashtool is often used for Sony devices, and Odin for Samsung devices. You can also use a universal application called TWRP.
The general format for installing a new system on a phone is as follows:
- First of all, you need to download the file with the new firmware. This can only mean one thing - a person will have to independently look for the necessary version of the system.
- Download the installation program, load it on your computer.
- Connect devices using a USB cable.
- Before you begin the process of installing a new system, you will need to delete old data. The program will prompt you to do this. It is recommended to save basic information on an external storage device or computer.
- Start the installation process of the new system. Wait until the download is complete, and then the phone will reboot.
TWRP program for installation
Is pure Android really that good and is it worth purchasing? A matter of taste, really. Some people will find such phones convenient and practical. Others will miss the familiar interface and additional settings that come with the proprietary shells of different devices. In other words, the user can only decide whether the user needs to reinstall or buy a smartphone with bare Android.
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The theme of nature permeates MIUI 11
As part of this material, we have already talked about Windows Phone, an operating system on the basis of which smartphones looked almost the same. Android gives you the opportunity to go wild, and manufacturers are happy to take advantage of it. They try all possible ways to attract additional user attention. For example, in the notorious MIUI 11, the direction of unity with nature appeared. The shell has received a whole set of thematic content, which is needed only to provoke discussion in any user community, and it will definitely be in the comments below.
