The Android operating system is the most popular mobile operating system in the world. Any phone that runs Android is often referred to as an Android phone.
Android phones are classified as smartphones, mainly because they can do a lot more than just make calls or send and receive text messages. The Android operating system allows you to install a wide variety of apps, and essentially use your device as a mini-computer.
In this article, we'll go into an in-depth understanding of what Android phones are, and how they're different from other phones.
What Is an Android Phone?
To better understand Android phones, it's important to understand what Android really is. At its core, Android is an open-source, Linux-based mobile operating system. It was developed by the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of different companies that's headed by Google.
Android was first released in 2008 and was created to power touchscreen mobile phones. A tablet version was released soon after, and since then, the design language between both mobile and tablet versions has been similar.
Hence, any phone that's using Android as its operating system is an Android phone. Even though Google develops and owns Android, the operating system is not exclusive.
As open-source software, it means that anyone with development experience can download Android and customize it according to their liking. The Android Open Source Project lets anyone download the source code or review documentation related to new releases.
Are All Smartphones Powered by Android?
Not all smartphones are powered by Android, even though it accounts for over 70% of the global market share. Android's closest competitor is iOS, Apple's closed operating system, which accounts for 27.5% of the market.
Essentially, what this means is that almost seven out of ten mobile devices that you come across worldwide will be powered by Android, although in the US it's more like four in ten.
Android is popular amongst developers and manufacturers because it's open-source and highly customizable. Any company looking to manufacture mobile phones and customize the Android operating system according to their needs.
The biggest example of this is Samsung, which uses Android for almost all of its devices. But, instead of running vanilla Android, they use a custom software overlay known as One UI. This means that while the core Android operating system remains the same, Samsung can push updates, introduce new security features, and add its own apps as part of One UI.
Most manufacturers customize Android with their own skins. It helps the brands to differentiate themselves from each other.
The Biggest Android Phone Manufacturers
Samsung isn't the only manufacturer in the market. Unlike Apple, which exclusively manufactures all devices running iOS and keeps tight security controls, any company can use Android.
In April 2022, the biggest Android phone manufacturers by global market share according to AppBrain were:
- Samsung (34.7%)
- Xiaomi (14.1%)
- Oppo (10.0%)t
- Vivo (9.2%)
- Huawei (8.1%)
Huawei was, at one point, the second-largest Android phone manufacturer, until Google severed its ties and blocked Android from running on its smartphones due to privacy concerns. As a result, the company began shipping phones with its own operating system, HarmonyOS. This is also a customized version of Android but comes without any Google apps.
How Do You Know if a Phone Is Running Android?
Despite custom skins and launchers, the basics of Android are still the same. For instance, all Android devices have the Play Store and built-in apps from Google. But, if you still want to check, the best thing to do is to go to Settings, and then check About Phone. You'll see the Android version running on your device.
For almost a decade, Google named new Android releases after desserts in alphabetical order. For instance, some previous Android versions include Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, and Jelly Bean.
However, in 2019, the company shifted to a generic naming convention, adding a number to denote each new release, starting with Android 10. Android 12 was released in 2021.
Does Android Also Make Phones?
Android is not a manufacturer; it's the name of an operating system. However, Google, the company that essentially created and manages Android, does release its own line of Pixel devices.
These are often seen as the closest thing to an official Android phone, and the Pixel devices are the first in line to receive the latest Android updates. However, they do still contain a number of features that you won't find on other Android devices, mostly built around Google's AI and machine learning skills.
Should You Buy an Android Phone?
If you need a highly flexible, customizable smartphone, then yes! Android phones are also available in different price ranges, so if you need a budget-friendly device, any phone you buy will probably be running Android.
However, if you're interested in buying an Android phone, it might be a wise idea to look at its list of features, especially if you want to future-proof your purchase for a year or two.