What Are Android Skins? Even Android Users doesn’t Know it

If you put almost all the Android smartphones of different manufacturers side by side, it is easy to see that it does not match easily. I’m not just talking about exposed exterior design features. When you open the screen, you will see that each operating system has its own style.

A special “skin” created by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) has been shown to work on the Android operating system. These volumes change many aspects of the phone’s user interface (UI) from menu design to home screen shortcuts.

Did you know that Android on a Samsung phone is not like Android on a Google Pixel phone? They both use the same operating system but look completely different.

Love skins makers on Android device

Not all Android devices are the same, but we’re not just talking about hardware looks. Many Android device manufacturers use their own skin to make their operating systems unique.

There are a few things to do with Android, especially before you dive into skins. Let me explain what skin is, why manufacturers can adapt to Android, and what they mean for the entire Android ecosystem.

Android Stock

Android Stock also known as “Authentic Android” or “Vanilla Android”, is a static operating system developed by Google. From the current Lollipop to the HTC T-Mobile G1 1.0, the design of Android has undergone significant changes over the years. Today, Google Material Design gives Android Lollipop a unique look.

You can find the Holo UI (short for holo) on many Android devices 4.0 or later find holo first appeared on the Android 3.0.0 Honeycomb tablet and then on the Android 4.0.0 Ice Cream Sandwich phone.

Before entering the skin, it is important to understand the essence of the operating system. Android is an open source operating system developed by Google. “Open source” is what makes Android skins possible.

Google replaces and updates Android, then releases the source code for the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). This source code is what many people call Android “stock” or “vanilla” which is a very early version.

• More info: How to Synchronize Between Windows 10 and Android for Sharing Photos Wirelessly

The big manufacturers like Samsung, LG, OnePlus and others are starting with local Android. However, the Android code is open source, so you can change it to your liking. However, you must meet certain requirements before you can install Google applications and services on your device.

When a new version of Android is released, the manufacturer must adapt it and transfer it to their device. Android Stock is just a starting point for creating other companies.

Android Skin overview

Android skins are more easily described as modified versions of native Android. There are several popular Android skins:

• Samsung One UI
• Google Pixel UI
• OnePlus OxygenOS
• Xiaomi MIUI
• LG UX
• HTC Sense UI

A few corrections are made when it comes to Android skin. For example, Google Pixel devices do not run native Android, but Google’s User Interface (UI) is highly customizable. Samsung Galaxy devices on the other hand share the same user interface and are very different from existing Android devices.

But here’s the problem: Skins aren’t just a visualization for Android. In fact, they are all unique versions of the Android operating system.

Everything from the settings menu and the lock screen to the notification window has changed somehow. Most Android skins do this. The brightest tool is on the surface.

But skin is more than aesthetics. Samsung phones have many software features that other devices do not have. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Fold has customizable features of a folding screen. Leathers not only allow manufacturers to distinguish their appearance, but also provide special features to distinguish their devices.

As mentioned above, manufacturers must meet certain requirements if they wish to enable the Google Play Store and other Google services on their devices. Google sets these requirements to ensure that Android applications run seamlessly across different interfaces.

For this reason, Android devices that come with Google services usually work the same way. It may seem different but in most cases it has everything where you expected it to be. This means that if you switch from Samsung Galaxy phone to OnePlus in OI with oxygen, all the apps will work.

The fact is that the Android skin is a modified version of the Android operating system. However, these changes are still possible if you have Google service on your Android device.

Android Skin make slow down the updates process

Android Skin is always disputed when it comes to timely renewal. Most Android devices receive the latest update just months after Google released the latest update. Is the skin responsible for this problem? I do not know.

As described above, when Google releases the Android update, the company shares the source code with the Android Open Source Project. The device manufacturer must run a special patch and send it to the device.

Google Pixel devices can minimizes the software changes and fix it, so this is a plus. Google can easily bring the latest updates when your Pixel devices are available. But manufacturers like Samsung have a lot to do.

• Don’t miss: What Makes Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 So Special As High-End Android Chipset

More than just Android Skins

Android skins more than just Android Skins, that don’t worry about the Android version number until you use the version. Your Samsung device does not have the latest version of Android, but you have the latest Samsung One UI installed.

For example, Amazon devices lag behind many versions of Android, but no one pays attention. It helps similarly when reviewing any user interface, Oxygeno and other interfaces.

If you always need the latest version of Android, use your Google Pixel phone. All other tools are always a bit behind, but as mentioned above, for most people, this is not really important.

Special features on Android skin

The most popular feature of the material is its bright and colorful design. The app drawer, notification window and settings menu have a white or transparent background and colored icons. Almost everything in the material is fluid, but it’s made for fun thanks to the subtle animations that unlock the screen, open the app drawer, and open the notification window. There are bright colors across the user interface. The settings menu includes application icons and a number of pre-installed applications.

Transparency is a great element theme with a transparent menu bar, lock screen and notification shadow. Also, there is plenty of space here so the text is more visible.

The Android Stock may vary from device to device depending on the version of the operating system. Previous versions, especially Jelly Bean and KitKat, use the Holo UI. Newer phones that will soon release Lollipop or soon include Material Design.

The most amazing feature of Android is Google search. At the top of each home screen there is a permanent Google search bar that is not easy to remove and you can turn on Google Assistant by swiping from the bottom of the screen.

Because the purpose of Android is not to overload the phone with extra features. You can add your desired additional functionality by downloading the application or adding a widget to your desktop.