Why We Love Android

What is Android? We all know it is an operating system for smartphones and tablets. To some, it is nothing more than the type of phone they happen to use. To others, there are a myriad of reasons why Android is our smartphone platform of choice. It represents freedom. It represents choice. It represents the ability to be unique.

Android, and Google’s AOSP (Android Open Source Project), has enabled us to be able to use our devices the way we want to. Some smartphone manufacturers define how you can use your phone, close off the source code so you can’t tweak and modify it the way you want, nor can other manufacturers take that same code and build their own devices the way Android manufacturers can. The nature of Android and it being open-source encourages competition and innovation in the smartphone space. Companies such as Samsung, HTC, LG, Huawei, and so many others have been able to take Google’s “stock” Android code and add new features, special customizations and their own skins to conceive their own interpretation of Android. This can make using an Android phone from each manufacturer the same, great overall Android experience, but thanks to this openness of the platform, one phone could have a completely different software design and feature set than the next.

The Android community is another reason we love Android. Android users love the fact that they can customize and use their devices however they see fit. Did you get an Android phone and you don’t like the default messaging or calling apps? No problem, you can find one that suits your tastes among the millions of apps available on the Play Store. Do you want to use a browser other than the one that came pre-installed on your device? Not a problem, you can download your browser of choice and set it as the default. So many Android users have even completely changed the version of Android their phone is running. It gets technical, but on devices with unlockable bootloaders, a savvy user can replace the version of Android they are currently running with custom ROMs, which are typically community-built forks of Android. Examples of community-built ROMs are the infamous CyanogenMod and its successor, LineageOS, Paranoid Android, Copperhead OS, and Resurrection Remix, just to name a few. Some of these custom ROMs even have new tweaks, customizations, and features that the community has put in that are not available on stock Android. ROMs can be a great way for device owners to truly own their device. The community usually updates their ROMs with new features, software upgrades, and security patches. This can also allow for continued software updates to dated devices that no longer directly receive OTA updates from their manufacturer, who typically will support devices for around 2-3 years.

What is another huge reason we love Android? It is so easily accessible. Some Android devices can be purchased for as low as $50, making a smartphone a real choice for so many people who can’t afford a premium device. Cheaper Android devices allow people to be able to stay connected, communicate, get online, and have access to the internet and a world of apps and information when they need it. Premium Android devices are available, of course, to anyone who can afford them, but this accessibility to anyone is another thing that makes Android great. The lowest priced iOS device can be found for roughly $300, while a low-priced Android device is available to just about anyone for around $50. This is another reason why Android is loved by so many, and yet another reason why it is currently the number one mobile operating system in the world.

These are just a few of the reasons we as Android users love the platform we have chosen. From its open nature, to its customizability, to how it pushes mobile innovation, to its easy accessibility to anyone with a few bucks to spare. Android has something for everyone, and whether you are rich or poor, a student or a businessman, a developer or someone who just loves to surf the internet and consume content--there is an Android phone or tablet for you!