When we talk about Android versions we refer mainly to the versions of the operating system (for example Android 9 or Android 10), even if the picture is much wider than we think: even between Android systems of the same version there can be significant differences, especially if we look at the Android versions between different smartphone manufacturers (for example Samsung and Huawei). Just to understand the differences that can be shown between the various Android systems, in this guide we will show you all the versions of Android available at the moment and, among these, which Android system is the best . In this way, the next time we go to buy an Android smartphone, we will already know which one to take based on the characteristics and needs.
Which Android smartphone has the best system
Given the presence of many different Android systems, in the following chapters we will discover all the currently available variants, so that we can grasp the strengths and weaknesses of each version.Pure Android or Vanilla
Android Vanilla is the original version, that is distributed by Google on the Android.com website or on smartphones produced directly by Google (currently the Pixels). It does not present any superfluous personalization or app: the only system apps are those provided by Google to access its services.
This version of Android is fast and snappy, also thanks to the optimizations designed by Google and also available later as updates. Updates are the strong point of this version: smartphones with Android Vanilla will be the first to receive the new Android releases and the innovative features designed by Google for the operating system, without having to buy a new phone every year (currently all Pixels have 3 years of updates guaranteed from the release date). Unfortunately, this version of Android also has some flaws: being devoid of customizations it could appear "very bare" from the point of view of the integrated features, to the point of having to often install third-party apps to have basic functions available on the other versions of Android (especially those released by other smartphone manufacturers).
If we are interested in pure Android, we recommend that you take a look at our article on Pixel 4, the Google smartphone with pure and optimized Android .
Android One
Android One is the pure version of Android released by Google for other smartphones other than Pixels.
This version has the same advantages seen on pure Android for Pixels : high system speed, presence of only the Google system apps and constant updates (guaranteed for 2 years from the release date). This version of Android receives updates a few weeks after the Pixels, so in fact they are the cheapest method to always have Android updated without necessarily having to buy a Pixel (which still comes with a very high price).
In addition to sharing the strengths, it also shares the flaws of pure Android: customizations are not allowed, so the system can appear bare from the point of view of the integrated features, which we will have to remedy with third-party apps.
If we are looking for an Android One smartphone, just click on the Amazon search available here -> Android One Smartphone.
Android Go
Another variant of pure Android is Android Go, dedicated to low-end smartphones with very little RAM memory (it can also run with an amount of RAM equal to or less than 1 GB).
In this operating system, the Google-branded system apps are extremely light, since they take up very little memory when they are active and exchange very little network data compared to normal counterparts, so as to be fluid even on new budget smartphones. The platform provides (in the Play Store Go) other "Go" apps, ie optimized to run on these smartphones with little memory while maintaining an enviable fluidity. This platform is constantly growing and could one day become the reference point for ultra-cheap smartphones under € 100.
READ ALSO: Android Go smartphone with optimized performance for less than 100 Euros
Android customized by the manufacturers
The various smartphone manufacturers that adopt Android customize the system according to their needs, adding new system apps, a new launcher, new features in the settings menu and new features (not infrequently absent in the pure Android version).
These are undoubtedly the most popular Android systems, but they also have marked differences with pure Android or between versions of Android by different manufacturers.
They tend to be fast only on very powerful devices (given the large number of system apps to be managed at startup) but allow to obtain a large number of features, bringing Android to a better usability level than the pure versions seen a little while ago .
The only real sore point are the updates : in addition to having to receive the update from Google (complete with approvals), the manufacturer must also update its apps and customizations : it is therefore not uncommon for these devices to receive new versions of Android with delays of months or even a year after the release of the same version on pure Android!
Currently the best custom Android systems are:
- OxygenOS : this customized version of Android is available on OnePlus smartphones; this Chinese manufacturer provides very powerful Android phones from the hardware point of view, a user interface equal to the pure one, no superfluous app and very few customizations. It is currently the fastest receiving updates after pure Android.
- MIUI : the customized version of Android available on Xiaomi smartphones; it is deeply personalized in all its aspects, to the point of resembling more to iOS than iPhone compared to pure Android (of which it only maintains Google apps and compatibility with Android apps). This operating system receives many updates, even on the cheapest smartphones, and manages to integrate all the news even on older Android versions (in fact, the Android version number is practically superfluous on a Xiaomi).
- EMUI : this customized version of Android can be found on Huawei and Honor smartphones; it comes with a simple to use interface and with various system apps developed exclusively by Huawei for its devices. Discrete update times for new versions of Android, as well as the introduction of new features.
- One UI : even if the name may say nothing, it represents the Android version present on all modern Samsung. It replaces Samsung Experience and TouchWiz, which had so much disappointed on previous Samsung models, presenting itself as a much more fluid system, with redesigned system apps and with unique interface features (to make S-Pen, the Galaxy nib work too Note). Updates have improved over time, but Samsung rarely updates cheaper models or that have more than 2 years on their shoulders.
- Zen UI : this customized version of Android can be found on all Asus smartphones. It is highly customized in every aspect, presents a series of Asus-exclusive system apps and proves to be fast enough and responsive. On the updates side we are not on the best levels, following a policy very similar to Samsung (only the most recent).
- LG UX : as the name suggests, it is the customized version of Android provided on LG smartphones. It is highly customized and sufficiently fluid for each usage scenario, in addition to integrating a large number of features. Again, the update policy is incomplete, where only high-end smartphones can hope to receive constant updates over the 2 years since the product was released.
- Flyme OS : this customized version of Android can be found on Meizu smartphones. It looks like a highly customized system, to the point of approaching the interface of the iPhone compared to pure Android. Few proprietary system apps and a good number of updates, able to always introduce new features.
- Xperia UI : from name we can immediately understand that this version of Android is available on Sony smartphones; it looks like a responsive system, full of Sony system apps and with a good update policy.
Android customized by independent developers (Custom ROM)
In addition to the versions customized by the manufacturers, we can download for free from the Web versions of Android edited and optimized by independent developers, which release them as Custom ROM (i.e. as ROM that can completely replace the manufacturer's operating system).
These customized versions can "bring back" smartphones abandoned by the manufacturers, so that they can continue to use them with newer Android versions. They receive constant updates and are often faster and more snappy than the original ROM (especially due to the absence of useless system apps). The defects of these ROMs are often related to hardware incompatibilities or small problems with the interface, but nothing that cannot be solved with a targeted update.
If we want to deepen the topic, we recommend you read our guides to the Best Android Custom ROM versions for each smartphone and How to install a Custom Android ROM .
Conclusions
Telling which phone has the best Android version today is difficult, because it depends a lot on personal tastes and needs in terms of functionality and frequency of updates.The most important thing is that the system is updated to a recent version or that it regularly receives the security patches released by Google ; currently this is possible on Pixel smartphones, on Android One smartphones, on Xiaomi and OnePlus smartphones (which update their phones also to integrate only the security patches released by Google).
If our smartphone has a few years on its shoulders, we can try to change ROM (as seen above) or follow the advice described in our article How to speed up Android on each smartphone .
If, on the other hand, we have already replaced the old smartphone with a new one, we can use the old phone in various ways, as described in our guide to different ways of using the old Android phone .
