The Truth Is That Android Is Cheap, Not Good

Android is both cheap and very good. A Nexus 4 stands toe to toe with iPhone hardware and Android 4.2 is the best designed and most innovative OS in wide use.

Nexus branding makes it easy to find both good Android and good pricing (even scalper's pricing is hundreds of dollars less than an off-plan iPhone).

If the gripe is with cheap devices with trailing-edge versions of Android, both Google and the OEMs can share the blame. Google could do more to eliminate excuses OEMs have for not keeping up with the latest versions, and reward the ones that do with an expanded Nexus branding program. But consumers still have the choice of buying Nexus devices.