Discussions all about Android skins

[ian87w]

Not sure if we have a thread about this, but I think we should have a thread discussing the various Android skins on the variety of OEMs out there. Android is not just about the hardware, but the software also makes the experience.

And stock is boring. On a more serious note, I dislike stock Android as it's actually not as customizable as the various other OEM skins. It took ages for dark mode to come to stock Android. Even today, it still cannot do things like twin apps, nor have features like call recordings built-in. Having said that, I do like stock Android's SMS app for it's spam filtering feature.

Anyway, my personal favorite will be Samsung OneUI. We have gone far from the days of TouchWiz. Samsung OneUI is probably the most feature packed skin that is also stable and consistent. Samsung's implementation of the twin apps and call recording also feels bug-free from my experience. The only annoyance might be performance, at least when compared to Huawei's eMUI.

Second favorite is Huawei eMUI. Appearance is not as sleek as OneUI, and a bit messier, typical of the skins from the Chinese OEMs. But performance is just great from what I have experienced. I never experience any slowdowns at all when I had my Honor View 10. Even on its last day before I traded it in, it is still as smooth as day one. In contrast, I can already feel certain lagginess on my Galaxy A71 (it's very slight, but it's there).

What are your guys' favorites?

 

[juice3250]

I have used Android a lot. I started with Motorola Droid X2 in 2011, then Samsung S3, Google Galaxy Nexus, Lg G4, G6, Samsung S9, then last the Pixel 4xl. My two favorite skins were One UI and Stock Android. I used to root my S3 and Galaxy Nexus back in the day. I got bored with all the roms and customizations. It became an unhealthy addiction. Although, looking back I’m grateful that I learned a lot about that tech. If I were to switch back to Android, which I am thinking or doing in the fall, I would either go to Samsung or Google. I wasn’t impressed with the Pixel 5 so I bought the 12 pro. I find myself missing some features or Android that made it easier to do. Android was more more intuitive and more closely resembles using a pc. So I’m way more familiar with it. But definitely the only two UI’s or skins I would consider are One UI and Stock.

 

[kkh786]

Tried most of the UI flavours out there over the years but Samsung One UI is my current favourite.. hence my recent phones have all been Samsung flagships!

 

[forestinjersey]

Only really used OneUI from the above, its ok. I'd always go Pixel if I can

 

[nickdalzell1]

I preferred Samsung's TouchWiz Nature UX at the time. One UI is so different to be alienating. I miss the nature and skeuo combo--perfect UI for me at the time. Keep a few older Galaxy Tabs from that era alive just to keep the experience going. The Samsung Galaxy S5 was peak Samsung in regards to features as well--Waterproofing, fast charging via USB 3.0, IR blaster, Removable battery, Expandable storage, Headphone jack, Fingerprint sensor, Heart Rate sensor, great camera, wireless charge compatible via replacement back cover.

What is up with all the downgrades they call modern phones today?

 

[Vegastouch]

Dont use any of those. Didnt like Touchwiz and One UI,i havent had a SS phone with it yet. Last Galaxy i had was the S9
I always use Nova Launcher and use a icon pack of my choosing or i just use the Pixel skin but even with my Pixel i use Nova more.

 

[Vegastouch]

I preferred Samsung's TouchWiz Nature UX at the time. One UI is so different to be alienating. I miss the nature and skeuo combo--perfect UI for me at the time. Keep a few older Galaxy Tabs from that era alive just to keep the experience going. The Samsung Galaxy S5 was peak Samsung in regards to features as well--Waterproofing, fast charging via USB 3.0, IR blaster, Removable battery, Expandable storage, Headphone jack, Fingerprint sensor, Heart Rate sensor, great camera, wireless charge compatible via replacement back cover.

What is up with all the downgrades they call modern phones today?

Its purpose is to keep you complaining about and repeating the same things over and over and over again.

 

[raymanh]

My chance to jump in and ask which skins have screen off features and double tap to turn off screen. I know Oppo's ColorOS does this but any others?

 

[Vegastouch]

My chance to jump in and ask which skins have screen off features and double tap to turn off screen. I know Oppo's ColorOS does this but any others?

Wouldn't it be easier just to hit the power button to turn it off? Seems pretty easy to me.

 

[mi7chy]

My chance to jump in and ask which skins have screen off features and double tap to turn off screen. I know Oppo's ColorOS does this but any others?

OneUI 3.1 has double tap to turn screen off. What do you mean by screen off features like proximity sensor screen off or overriding it?

A lot of those functions can be enabled with this Gravity Screen app.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.plexnor.gravityscreenofffree

Wouldn't it be easier just to hit the power button to turn it off? Seems pretty easy to me.

Saves wear and tear on the power button plus easier workflow.

 

[Vegastouch]

Saves wear and tear on the power button plus easier workflow.

?‍♂️ OK, ....ive never had a power button wear out and i keep my phones between 2-3 years.

 

[mi7chy]

?‍♂️ OK, ....ive never had a power button wear out and i keep my phones between 2-3 years.

It doesn't happen often but it does happen. Rather avoid it if there's a better/easier alternative. I don't use touchpad click either and prefer single-touch to select and double-touch to hold/drag. Beats physical click hold and drag which is awkward.

 

[sracer]

I've owned far more Android-based devices that I can remember. There were some pretty clunky UIs, but I found TouchWiz to be one of the worst from a major Android manufacturer (even though the silver lining was the multitasking).

Fast-forward to today, I think that Samsung's One UI is the best (especially with DeX). And although ChromeOS is improving to support both tablet and clamshell devices, Samsung's One UI w/DeX on their S Galaxy tabs provides a superior experience for using an Android tablet as a tablet and a netbook-like device.

 

[nickdalzell1]

Meh. One UI is not only a boring name but it's a bland UI without any real character.

I much rather enjoy the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 with full tablet-UI from the era of skeuo, nature, and classic tablet apps (not blown up phone apps). Samsung pretty much lost me when they took the eco-centric nature theme away--nothing frome the Galaxy Theme store is remotely close and most are just skin deep (icons only). Even the sound effects can't be modified after One UI 2.x (I was able to modify the ringtone of my A01 but none of the rest). I don't like the 'spacey' theme of the standard sounds today. I miss the whistle, bird chirps, droplet touch sound, alarm music from the forest, etc. At least I can sideload those onto my iPhone and enjoy.

TouchWiz connected the digital world and the natural one quite well (at least for me). One UI is just sterile, spacey, and totally distanced from nature. Makes the phone feel foreign instead of a connection to one's world.

 

[ian87w]

My chance to jump in and ask which skins have screen off features and double tap to turn off screen. I know Oppo's ColorOS does this but any others?

MiUI and eMUI has a one icon widget to lock the screen and turn it off. So it's just one tap. I love this feature, easier than the double taps.
On Samsung OneUI, you can enable the touch assist ball feature, and it has an option to lock the screen/turn the screen off, so 2 taps (first tapping on the ball, second tap on the icon).

 

[ian87w]

?‍♂️ OK, ....ive never had a power button wear out and i keep my phones between 2-3 years.

It's just more convenient sometimes when you are holding a phone in a way that the power button is not that easy to press. Eg. when I have my phone on a table, I can use the lock-screen widget feature of MiUI to lock the screen without having to handle my phone to press the power button. Just options for the user.

 

[Mistborn15]

If I ever had to leave iPhone, it'll only be for a Galaxy. Their software is so polished and feature-rich. Double pressing button to launch camera is something I didn't know I needed till I used one

 

[MarkX]

MiUI and eMUI has a one icon widget to lock the screen and turn it off. So it's just one tap. I love this feature, easier than the double taps.
On Samsung OneUI, you can enable the touch assist ball feature, and it has an option to lock the screen/turn the screen off, so 2 taps (first tapping on the ball, second tap on the icon).

Three are also a number of apps in the Playstore which provide this feature, one of which I use on my Pixel

 

[ian87w]

Three are also a number of apps in the Playstore which provide this feature, one of which I use on my Pixel

Yup, although having it to be a first party feature will certainly be easier.