Stock Android is often viewed as the best version of Google’s OS. But is that really true? I’m here to argue that Android skins have more to offer.
Two of Android’s biggest strengths are choice and customization. While Apple is playing catch-up and adding widgets in iOS 14, Android phones have consistently introduced innovative features that empower users to customize their overall software experience. However, it’s not usually stock Android or Pixel phones that make the biggest leaps. In my view, custom Android skins have often been at the forefront of innovation. This, combined with the sleek visual design of modern skins like Samsung’s One UI, is why I prefer Android skins to the “pure” stock Android experience. HTC was without a doubt one of the early Android UI pioneers. Who can forget that rainbow-colored wallpaper and weather clock widget? I may be biased because my first smartphone was the HTC Desire HD, but to me, it was iconic. Sense may have been over-the-top in many regards, but that’s why I loved it. The smooth animation of clouds dissipating when unlocking the phone, the intuitiveness of its default browser, and the huge variety of customization options made for a fantastic user experience. Next to it, the stock Nexus S seemed plain and boring, even with its live wallpapers. The slightly better performance did not seem like a worthy trade-off to me. Yet, I never would have stuck with the HTC skin for so long if it didn’t offer some great features along with the bling. For example, flipping over a ringing phone to silence it has been a staple of the Taiwanese manufacturer since 2010. Stock Android, on the other hand, finally included the option in Android 9 Pie. HTC also beat Google to the punch with the “Find my phone” feature, which was available through the Sense website years before the stock OS finally caught up. However, not all skins were made equal in the early days of Android. Samsung’s TouchWiz was notorious for being a bloated mess. The skin came with a multitude of preinstalled apps and features no one asked for (or ever used).
