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| Does Google still pioneer the Android One Program? Or is it a long lost forgotten story? |
Android One, Google's initiative to provide a streamlined and consistent user experience for Android devices, was introduced with much fanfare in 2014. The program aimed to offer affordable smartphones with stock Android, timely updates, and an overall seamless user experience. As time passed, the initiative faced its fair share of challenges and adjustments.
In this article, we explore the journey of Android One, its evolution, its downfall, and whether it still exists in the ever-evolving landscape of the mobile industry. Like seriously, what the hell happened to Android One?
The Genesis of Android One
The Android One program was born out of a desire to address some of the key issues that plagued the Android ecosystem, primarily fragmentation and delayed software updates. Google partnered with various manufacturers to create budget-friendly smartphones that run on a pure version of Android that was clutter-free. This meant users received regular security patches and OS updates directly from Google, similar to the experience on the tech giant's Pixel devices.
Initially, Android One was considered a successor of former Google Play Edition and Nexus programs, which similarly featured third-party devices co-developed or vetted by Google, with stock Android and quicker releases of updates.
As smartphone penetration grew in developing markets, dozens of smartphone brands popped up to capitalize on a growing audience. Some of the notable brands were Xiaomi's Mi, Motorola's Moto One, HMD Global's Nokia Mobile, Infinix and other small brands back then.
The Initial Promise
At its inception, Android One held tremendous potential, especially for users in emerging markets where affordable smartphones with decent performance were in high demand. By offering a consistent user experience and faster updates, Google aimed to make Android more accessible and user-friendly to a broader audience.
In addition to software benefits, the Android One program guaranteed at least two years of major OS updates and three years of security updates, which was a significant advantage over many other budget devices. It did seem like a win-win situation for both users and manufacturers. However, not every brand was equipped to give users that quality user experience and sometimes the phones had poor hardware, firmware, or both.
My personal experience with an Android One smartphone.
Now as I reminisce back to the time I actually owned an Android One smartphone in 2019 - 2022, some of these Android One smartphones did serve well up to a certain point. I testify to that because the third Android smartphone that I ever owned and invested in was the Nokia 6.1. It was perfect at the time and slightly more costly than my previous Infinix phone.
Here's how my interest in owning that Nokia phone happened; my father bought his Nokia 7 Plus in late 2018 and I was quite fascinated by the hardware and software capabilities. The phone had incredible cameras, fair battery life and a sleek design. I decided to go for the Nokia 6.1 the following year. Both of us have been loyal to the Nokia brand for years and were excited to see what came next since Nokia smartphones got back on the market and shipped with the Android operating system.
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| Nokia 6.1 (left) and Nokia 7 Plus (right) |
So, the context of how Nokia got back in the market; In February 2018, HMD Global, the maker of Nokia smartphones and feature phones, announced that it had joined the Android One program. Nokia 6.1, Nokia 7 Plus, and Nokia 8 Sirocco were among the first batch of Android One phones from HMD. The first two sold well in Europe, Asia, Middle East and African markets. Hence the timing of Android 9 Pie made most users adapt to the OS up to date at the time.
Challenges and Evolution
While the Android One program garnered some attention, it faced several hurdles that slowed down its progress. One of the key challenges was competition from manufacturers who preferred to use their customized versions of Android (commonly known as "skins") on their devices. These skins often brought unique features and branding but led to delays in receiving Android updates, defeating the purpose of Android One's timely updates.
The other thing was some of these devices tend to have a poor longevity lifespan. Like Nokia 7 Plus, for example, it had a faulty USB-C port and the RAM processing was tedious making the phone more sluggish than it was when the device got old.
Moreover, some users in certain regions showed a preference for devices with additional customization and pre-installed apps, which often compromised the stock Android experience that Android One provided. This led manufacturers to pivot their strategies away from Android One devices in favour of more customized offerings.
Additionally, the initial selection of devices under the Android One umbrella had limited appeal, mainly consisting of budget smartphones. As a result, Android One struggled to make a significant impact in the mid-range and flagship smartphone segments.
The Current Status of Android One
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| Assuming the Android One website exists, this portal has been stuck in 2020. |
As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, Android One was still in existence, though its prominence had diminished over time. Many of the early Android One partners had gradually shifted their focus to other product lines or customized Android devices. However, Google continued to work with select manufacturers to release new Android One devices sporadically.
In 2020, Xiaomi discontinued its only Android One lineup, the Xiaomi Mi A series, ending with the Xiaomi Mi A3. As for HMD Global, the long-lived delivery of promised clean, secure and up-to-date software for their Android One-powered smartphones didn't work out since 2020. Nokia is still in the market, just not in the Android One program anymore and now their phones have pre-loaded extra apps on their phones.
The fate of Android One beyond 2021 is uncertain, as Google's approach to the program may have evolved further. It's possible that Google made adjustments to the initiative or integrated some of its core principles into its broader Android ecosystem strategy.
Conclusion
The Android One program, which began with great aspirations to revolutionize the Android user experience, has encountered challenges along its journey. Despite facing competition from customized Android offerings and limited diversification across smartphone segments, Android One persisted in providing a stock Android experience on affordable devices.
As of 2021, while Android One may have lost some of its initial lustrous, it continues to exist in some capacity. However, its long-term future remains uncertain as Google continuously adapts its strategies to meet the ever-changing demands of the mobile industry...but none of that mattered to me when I got a Samsung Galaxy smartphone because of the better software experience and timely security and software updates.
Whether Android One evolves into something more substantial or eventually phases out, the program's mission to provide a seamless and up-to-date Android experience will have undoubtedly left its mark on the Android ecosystem and the way manufacturers approach their device offerings.