Phone that diverges from stock Android the least?

Lshermozle on 12/10/2015 - 11:50
Last edited 12/10/2015 - 11:56

I've been using the Nexus devices for a fair while and my N5 is now at the end of its life (smashed screen and hasn't been the same since the last screen replacement) so I'm looking around for alternatives. The N5X looks like it's going to be really expensive and has pretty lacklustre specs for the money.

The thing I love about the Nexus line is that they don't have any crappy vendor skins or other cruft that just messes with the experience. Samsung are particularly bad for this. What I want is good hardware at a reasonable price with as close to stock Android as possible (or very, very easily flashed, I guess).

I'm pretty keen on at least 32GB onboard, ideally more. High speed charging sounds great. Otherwise just a decent phone. And I don't want a phablet. The N5 is a great form factor.

Thoughts?

Mobile

Comments

  • CyberMurning on 12/10/2015 - 11:57
    -1

    all samsungs are fairly easy to root then many aosp or CM roms are available at xda forum.

  • ESEMCE on 12/10/2015 - 12:04
    +3

    Any of the Motorola's

  • xelfer on 12/10/2015 - 12:37

    Sony Xperia's can get pretty close. I easily root my Z3 and install stock roms without any Telstra stuff on it. Z5 is out soon too.

    • davlap on 12/10/2015 - 13:01

      Just got a z1, installed stock rom over telstra bloatware and there is heaps of sony stuff on there that I don't want

      • ESEMCE on 12/10/2015 - 13:32

        root and uninstall the crapware

        • shermozle on 12/10/2015 - 13:56

          And now you're off into lala land. I played with rooting and random images around the net. It took up way too much time.

        • ESEMCE on 12/10/2015 - 14:15

          @shermozle:

          Rooting =/ Random images from around the net

          It just allows you access to parts of the filesystem that are normally off-limits. In this case, to uninstall the crapware that many vendors like to include on "your" phone.
          If you're not keen to go down the Nexus path, you'll almost inevitably have to put up with Crapware installed by the phone manufacturer and/or Carrier. Rooting allows you to eliminate that.

        • iridiumstem on 12/10/2015 - 15:49

          @scubacoles: Technically speaking you can disable the bloatwares without rooting as well (though you can't remove them without root access. http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/software/debloater-r…

          Rooting allows you to do so much more than just remove bloatware, I'd root my phone if it is doable without tripping the KNOX counter or something similar. Though that said, I found my new phones to be alright without tweaking things around too much (other than things I could do without rooting that is). I've tried CM few times, but to be honest, I frankly think there is a hype on "pure Android experience" as well, though that's just me.

          I think the easiest way to get "pure Android experience" is by looking at AOSP based ROMs as people mentioned, which would remove so much limitations on what devices you can get. It's really easy in my opinion, follow instruction, usually done within 1hr and I am being extremely generous with time (excluding the time it takes to download crap though). Going with Nexus is also an option, but it does limit the devices you could get.

    • Diji1 on 12/10/2015 - 14:37

      I would label Sony app inclusions as "other cruft".

      Also fails what OP wants in the "very, very" easily flashed department (boot loader crap or whatever it is).

      Also in a line of devices with myriads of problems that Sony doesn't care about such as the "phantom input" issue and the low durability "it cracked in my pocket" issue.

      I make a point of telling people to avoid Sony Mobile devices.

  • bonezAU on 12/10/2015 - 14:03
    +1

    Nexus 6? Big phone but cheap now, there was a deal on the front page this morning if I'm not mistaken.

    • shermozle on 12/10/2015 - 14:39

      Yeah I have considered it, now that the price is sensible. But it's SOOOO big.

      • bonezAU on 12/10/2015 - 15:26

        It only took me a week or so to get used to it. I dropped it a couple of times when I first got it, hence the reason I didn't put my SIM in it until my leather wallet case arrived from Amazon :)

  • jdt1986 on 13/10/2015 - 23:45
    +1

    You might want to take a look at the Motorola Moto G and Moto X, certain models of the G and X WILL be getting Marshmallow (Android 6.0), and the Moto devices stick VERY close to a stock experience. I'll probably be getting a Moto G 2015 myself (the 2GB RAM variant), Good Guys will be selling them from the end of this month.

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