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Do Google pixel phones offer an unadulterated, bloatware free Android experience?

by sizzle 8y ago

frankhorrigan 8y ago
Yes, that was always the draw of the Nexus and Pixel lines. "Vanilla Android." Really hope that's still the case, though I've switched back to iPhone for a number of reasons.
- sizzle 8y ago
  I used to buy Nexus phones and jailbreak them for SU root privileges so I could deny apps (mostly by google) from using permissions without my consent on app launch. With that being said, I'll be switching to an iPhone for privacy reasons, starting with my next phone and I've been a loyal Android user since Google started with the G1. How times have changed...
  - rhizome 8y ago
    You can use LineageOS for a zero-GOOG experience from first run without uninstalling anything.
gilrain 8y ago
As long as you don’t consider bundled Google apps bloatware, yes.
- nextos 8y ago
  You can always build your own AOSP (which is essentially Android minus Google). In case of Pixels, this is particularly easy. I use a Pixel to avoid Google, which is a bit paradoxical.
- flukus 8y ago
  And as long as you don't consider google a spyware company, which they are.
robocat 8y ago
FYI I have a Nokia 7+ and it is fairly good for giving a pure Google experience ("Android One"), without being quite so expensive. Also HMD Global seem to be reliable at giving the security updates OTA. I haven't looked at the newer Nokia 7.1.
- kingosticks 8y ago
  I'm not sure I'd go with a Nokia after https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/03/hmd-admits-the-nokia-7-plus-was-sending-personal-data-to-china/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/03/hmd-admits-the-nokia...
  - robocat 8y ago
    Sure, awful, but HMD Global fixed the problem which I respect. My other choices are Google (expensive, multiple Nexus letdowns in past), Samsung/LG (awful software), Chinese phones (crapware, I don't trust), Sony (abusive relationship), a bunch of other brands with other reasons I dislike, or iPhone (costly and I don't like the UI).
    - kingosticks 8y ago
      True. And i totally agree with your roundup of the main alternatives. I went for a Chinese phone last time and it's probably the best one I've had in terms of quality and features. But Lord knows what stuff I'm sending back to China. I've been meaning to try lineage out.

Do Google pixel phones offer an unadulterated, bloatware free Android experience?

by sizzle 8y ago

Do Google pixel phones offer an unadulterated, bloatware free Android experience?

Yes, that was always the draw of the Nexus and Pixel lines. "Vanilla Android." Really hope that's still the case, though I've switched back to iPhone for a number of reasons.

sizzle 8y ago
I used to buy Nexus phones and jailbreak them for SU root privileges so I could deny apps (mostly by google) from using permissions without my consent on app launch. With that being said, I'll be switching to an iPhone for privacy reasons, starting with my next phone and I've been a loyal Android user since Google started with the G1. How times have changed...
- rhizome 8y ago
  You can use LineageOS for a zero-GOOG experience from first run without uninstalling anything.

gilrain 8y ago

As long as you don’t consider bundled Google apps bloatware, yes.

nextos 8y ago
You can always build your own AOSP (which is essentially Android minus Google). In case of Pixels, this is particularly easy. I use a Pixel to avoid Google, which is a bit paradoxical.
flukus 8y ago
And as long as you don't consider google a spyware company, which they are.

robocat 8y ago

FYI I have a Nokia 7+ and it is fairly good for giving a pure Google experience ("Android One"), without being quite so expensive. Also HMD Global seem to be reliable at giving the security updates OTA. I haven't looked at the newer Nokia 7.1.

kingosticks 8y ago
I'm not sure I'd go with a Nokia after https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/03/hmd-admits-the-nokia-7-plus-was-sending-personal-data-to-china/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/03/hmd-admits-the-nokia...
- robocat 8y ago
  Sure, awful, but HMD Global fixed the problem which I respect. My other choices are Google (expensive, multiple Nexus letdowns in past), Samsung/LG (awful software), Chinese phones (crapware, I don't trust), Sony (abusive relationship), a bunch of other brands with other reasons I dislike, or iPhone (costly and I don't like the UI).
  - kingosticks 8y ago
    True. And i totally agree with your roundup of the main alternatives. I went for a Chinese phone last time and it's probably the best one I've had in terms of quality and features. But Lord knows what stuff I'm sending back to China. I've been meaning to try lineage out.