TouchWiz irradication

silvagti · 14 May 2016 at 09:35

I feel the pain of everyone else on here. I love the clean snappy performance, slick UI and immediate updates of stock android but it frustrates me means basically being forced to buy a Nexus device which typically narrows you choice down to one or two handsets.

I really like my Nexus 5x but it does frustrate me that there are better handsets out there like the S7 which I'd buy over it were it not for the OEM custom UI and lack of prompt updates on them.

I'm not prepared to spend £500 on a flagship phone that doesn't get OS updates until 6-12 months after they're released though so personally I'll stick with Nexus branded handsets for the foreseeable future.

It's a shame OEM's dont give you the choice when you buy a phone of either their custom version or stock Android.

Skeeter · 14 May 2016 at 13:49

There are plenty of OEMs shipping phones with near stock Android on it. I'd say that OEMs that apply their own custom UI are in the minority.

The slow speed of updates is a problem on anything not Nexus though, that's certainly true.

FishLicker · 14 May 2016 at 15:33

The only way is to use a ROM like Cyanogen, you can make the Samsung look stock(ish) without rooting, but TouchWiz will always be lurking beneath, stealing your RAM and slowing the phone down.

Is TouchWiz still rubbish these days? I've never owned a Samsung since the S3 (and that was one overrated phone IMO).

I agree with the sentiment that its frustrating that all phones don't have a stock Android version. I always loved the Nexus but they are always a compromise.

Huntyz · 14 May 2016 at 16:20

Touchwiz really isn't that bad on the s7, Its a fast phone too

You can use themes to change the way it looks as well as good lock

mark43 · 14 May 2016 at 18:04

Skeeter said:
The slow speed of updates is a problem on anything not Nexus though, that's certainly true.

It depends if you see it as a major problem though, I used to but not really these days, I don't think things are progressing enough for me to care if I have to wait for an update.

mrk · 14 May 2016 at 18:27

In the past the issue was that Google's system apps were not on the Play Store, and you couldn't easily update system apps without root.

Since the last couple of major Androids updates this issue no longer exists and Google have been shifting as many core system apps as possible to the Play Store, and you can update others via side-load without rooting after downloading the apk from sites like apkmirror.

The desire to have a "clean" stock system is always going to be there for some, but I don't see it as something that would make or break a purchase for me because most major OEMs do such a good job of their tweaks to Marshmallow and allowing system wide themes to be applied to get closer to stock, but without losing the features of an OEM ROM.

Nexus18 · 14 May 2016 at 18:39

Another one here who is limited to nexus devices only now, clean stock android and fast + guaranteed updates matter to me too much. ****es me of the way OEM's take 6+ months just to get a minor update out

There are some android updates where I couldn't care less about getting quickly but it is the whole principle of it for me.

Android N is looking really good overall though, some much needed little tweaks and additions.

Skeeter · 14 May 2016 at 18:55

mark43 said:
It depends if you see it as a major problem though, I used to but not really these days, I don't think things are progressing enough for me to care if I have to wait for an update.

It depends if youve ever had it. People who have never had Nexus devices won't really notice, but having had a 5, 7 and 10, and being the kind of person who loves shiny new software, I'm less than extatic about using phones now that aren't Nexus.

Going from my N5 to my OPX meant a downgrade of Android

.

mark43 · 14 May 2016 at 20:24

Skeeter said:
It depends if youve ever had it. People who have never had Nexus devices won't really notice, but having had a 5, 7 and 10, and being the kind of person who loves shiny new software, I'm less than extatic about using phones now that aren't Nexus.

Going from my N5 to my OPX meant a downgrade of Android .

Yeah I have had a Nexus device, I came from a Nexus 4 and I did like getting quick updates, but only having a 4 I didn't get Marshmallow and so only got that when I purchased my S7, and honestly having to wait all that time to get M didn't bother me, I didn't feel I was missing out massively.

I totally get that its important to some people though, I just don't feel there is much of a leap between versions to worry me these days, not that it should take so long mind! I was very much in the sticking with Nexus devices camp, but don't regret the move.

Kanpai · 15 May 2016 at 11:32

mrk said:
"Material Dark" for... dark, "Android 6.0" for light.

Dark is nicer really, especially on AMOLED.

Or install Good Lock from the Galaxy Store, which gives a more feature rich than stock pulldown, but looking like an evolved stock UI.

Installed Good Lock the other, it's pretty awesome! I'm not too fond of the the "Keep" notifications though as I end up swiping the wrong way and then only realize a dozen notifications have accumulated in there, might just disable this feature but other than that it pretty much brings the UI close to stock paired with Material theme.

Pawnless Endgame · 15 May 2016 at 20:22

Deffo have a play around with launchers. If you're familiar with Windows shell replacements e.g. Litestep, Darkstep, Talisman etc, then launchers are the Android equivalent. I played around with Novo, Go and Apex, and finally settled with Apex.

Christo · 19 May 2016 at 21:50

Myshra said:
Good Lock by Samsung replaces the pulldown with a condensed and default android 2 finger pull down which is more functional than default android alone. There's light / dark 6.x themes in the theme app, Do nova for the rest.

Nice - thanks for the good lock suggestion giving it a go!