One of the main problems of Android is its fragmentation in different models from various manufacturers, which take the original operating system and modify it in aesthetics, pre-installed applications and settings, often blocking some features or adding unnecessary stuff. In addition, there is always a long wait before the smartphone is updated to the latest version of Android, provided that it will be released for your phone.
But Android is a great operating system that can be customized in all respects and that gives its best in its most recent original version Google, also called Android Stock or Android Vanilla .
This version is lighter, more efficient and easier to use, as well as receiving the latest updates without waiting for the manufacturer.
This version is the one that is installed in Google Pixel devices, but if we do not want to change phones, we see here how to have the real "Android Stock" of the latest version on any smartphone .
We will show you all the apps that we can install to transform our smartphone in order to have the functions and applications of the latest Stock version of Android (currently Android Pie), without having to unlock root and bootloader permissions.
Of course, by rooting Android you can install a custom ROM based on original Android such as, for example, the most popular LineageOS ; but if we don't want to change the phone too drastically, we just need to install the following apps.
1) System launcher
To get (almost) the original version of Android on any phone you must first change the home screen .
Technically, the application that shows the home screen is called the launcher; Samsung, Huawei and other houses install their launcher to differentiate themselves.
However, nothing prevents you from installing a different one that can be downloaded from the list of the best launchers for Android .
Among these two are the best and those that take up the appearance and functionality of the original launcher: Nova Launcher, which is always updated to reflect the changes of the latest Android version. visible below and also available in Nova Laucher Prime version.
Or alternatively Lawnchair Launcher, practically identical to Google's Pixel Launcher, suitable for all Android phones, including older ones and clearly visible in the image below.
They also add new features to Android and make it easier to manage applications and widgets directly from the main screen.
You can customize the settings to change the animations, the number of initial screens, the way folders appear and other things that generally cannot be done with the default launcher.
Those who want the original Android app can install the original Google Now Launcher on Android, downloadable from here -> Start Now applications .
This launcher is similar to that of the Pixels, but has few customizations and, honestly, you can't really recommend it.
2) Keyboard
Even the keyboard, the one to write on the touchscreen, is an application that can be replaced.
Google recently released the original Google Android keyboard application which can therefore be installed on any smartphone for free (only if it has Android 4.0 or later).
We can immediately download the Google keyboard from here -> GBoard .
The beauty of Android is that everything can be personalized so it is also possible to replace the keyboard of the device (mobile or tablet) with other alternative apps to change the writing method .
3) Download all Google applications
To have the original Android on any phone you must definitely install the original Google apps that are included in the Google Pixel smartphones.
The list of Google apps for Android include famous names such as Maps, Street View, Browser Chrome, Google Calendar, Gmail, YouTube, Google Earth, Google Drive, Google Home and Google Translate, not to mention the inseparable Google Voice Assistant.
To have a smartphone with Google Stock we will also have to install Google Contacts, Google Photos, Google Calendar, Android Messages, Clock and Google Docs, so as to effectively replace the system apps or apps assigned by the manufacturer for these purposes.
To surf the Internet there is obviously Google Chrome, which is now the default browser on new Android devices but, if it is not, we can always download it from here -> Google Chrome .
As a camera we can try to install Google Camera, however not the best and it is not always compatible with all smartphones (being designed only for Pixels, it could generate errors or very bad photos on other devices).
Alternatively, much better Open Camera, Open source application that works on any smartphone.
The app to listen to music on many Android smartphones is Google Play Music, with support for streaming music as on Spotify and the ability to upload your music to the cloud to listen to it anywhere.
Instead of Google Play Music you can try, as a simple app, Music Player for Android, based on the Android stock app of a few years ago (but kept updated)
4) Various changes: icons, backgrounds, lock screens, quick controls
To transform a smartphone into a real Pixel we will also have to install the original wallpapers, ringtones, notification sounds, alarms and emojis of the latest versions released (Android 8 Oreo and Android 9 Pie).
- Oreo wallpapers
- Android 9 Pie Wallpapers
- Oreo ringtones
- Oreo notification sounds
- Ringtones, Alarms and Sounds of Android 9 Pie
- Oreo alarms
- Emoji
So first you need to install a launcher like Nova (already recommended before) and then download the icon pack to your mobile phone, install it (if it is an APK) and select the new group of icons in the launcher settings.
Among the prettiest, in another article the best sets of free icons for Android are reported.
For fast Android controls, those to disable or enable WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS etc. you can install an app to have the Android control bar with switches and ON / OFF buttons
The lock screen is another application to change and you can download the Oreo one directly from Google Play with Ava Lockscreen .
The Power Shade application is designed to specifically emulate the look and functionality of the Anroid Pie quick settings interface and offers numerous options for changing the layout just like on Android Pie.
The app is incredibly easy to use despite the depth of the options available and completely renews the phone as Google has designed it into its Android stock.
Very nice is also the weather and clock of the Chronus application which takes up much of the clock style of the latest version of Android.
Other applications that replicate the functions of the latest Android Pie version are:
- Navigation Gestures to get control of scroll gestures
- VolumePie to have the same volume control as Android 9 Pie.
- Android P Rotation, to quickly activate screen rotation only when needed.
6) Essential components
Google runs an app called Google Play Services on all Android smartphones; this app is a fundamental piece of the Google ecosystem and can be updated independently or with an update of the entire operating system.
It is part of the new Android OS update program made so that you don't have to install it all over again when a new version comes out.
In practice, as seen for the keyboard case, Google intends to divide Android into small pieces (the various apps) that can be updated directly from Google Play.
Google Play Services is the background program that manages synchronization, location tracking and several other internal features without which Google apps and services would not work.
At this point, all that remains is to recommend you read the 20-point guide to Android to get started with your mobile phone or tablet.
