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Comment by FussyZeus | Hacker News Reader

> Not sure I agree with this. I've been on android for a while, so I'm sure I'm biased, but stock AOSP Android is pretty much perfect for me. Very minimal and aesthetically beautiful, but still powerful and customizable.

This is the go-to line for every Android fan. How many devices out there run stock Android? Is it possible to buy a device with stock Android? How much comp-sci experience are you going to need to make your device run stock Android?

What difference does it make how good the OS is if Google gives it's OEM's free license to ruin it?

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I use the Nexus, which runs stock android by default. This new pixel phone will probably also do so, being a direct (ish) google phone. I think its because if the cruft 3rd party OEMs have been adding that google has been making these phones.

So, yes, you can buy a device with stock android. It just has to be a google phone, not a 3rd party for the most part.

> I use the Nexus, which runs stock android by default.

Is this strictly true if google bakes their apps in (play music etc.)

Sure. You get the extra apps baked in, but the system itself is not being changed.

This was my understanding as well.

Except now, two issues: 1) More a quibble, but I'd say that people around here pushing AOSP makes the term "stock Android" a bit less clear.

2) Article claims the new Pixels will have some other variant of Android, based on current stock Nougat but with additional support baked in for things like their new VR headset and Google Assistant.

Which strengthens FuzzyZeus' point: determining which version of Android a given phone comes with (and which it can support, both now and in the future) is an extremely muddled game, with the OEMs and now Google itself not doing anyone any favors.

Unless google has changed paths recently, I'd imagine that the additional support is just hardware+apps. I don't think they modified the OS in any way exclusive to the Pixel. The same OS software will likely be available to any other OEM shipping that version of nougat.

Kind of ruins one half of the "choice" argument in favor of Android. "You can choose any Android phone you want, as long as it's a Nexus/Pixel!"

You can choose any android you want, even if its not a Nexus/Pixel.

It just might not be as good, because its not controlled by google. But, I do think that argument died a long a time ago because of the cruft OEM's have been adding to android and the common refusal to upgrade phones (though that has been getting better lately).

Other than Nexus/Pixel phones there are plenty of manufacturers that use flavours of Android that are very similar to stock. It's unfortunate that for many people the go-to alternative to the iPhone are Galaxy phones which only helps to tarnish the experience and overall impression most people have for Android.

I have second gen Nexus 7 tablet and Sony Z2. One is stock, one isn't, but both are pretty much the same. Great and unobtrusive. Love both devices. Manufacturer that keeps it cool on crapware can go a long way these days.

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