Android is with no doubt the most dominant operating system in the world. Controlling more than 74% of the smartphone market share, Google continues to champion mobile operating system and shows no sign of retreating. While most people might see it as nothing, giving so much control and power to one company can be quite devastating. The recent Huawei fiasco is a clear example of this.
It’s time that major smartphone manufacturers start developing Android alternative operating systems just like Apple. In this article, we are going to take a look at the operating system, why we need Android alternative, and then check out some of the options that are available to us.
However, before taking a look at the best Android Alternatives available in the market, let us first see the reasons why we need a worthy Android alternative in the market.
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Why Android Alternatives Are Needed?
Most Android users surely love the operating system, as the market share suggests and Google is really working hard to keep the Android momentum going. But as with most things in life, we should have options. There are a number of reasons why we need an Android alternative.
i. Security
Google has been criticized across the globe for not making Android really secure and reports have suggested that Android is most prone to malware and viruses.
ii. Delayed Update
There are also issues of Android fragmentation. For your information, devices running different Android versions leads to bad app performance, development problems and security issues. For example, the latest version of Android, Android 9 Pie, is still running on about 10% of the devices. Though, Google is trying to solve this problem using Project Treble which was introduced with Android Nougat and new additional features which are being tested in Android Q. And while things have improved, it’s nowhere near enough.
Even if you don’t mind the OS fragmentation, security risks, and delayed updates, you should consider the dominance of the Android operating system in the world. Since there is no other big Android alternative (not taking iOS into account) operating systems in the market, Google has too much control over the smartphone market.
The recent Huawei fiasco, where Google restricted Huawei from using Android, is a big eye-opener for all of us. I understand that Google’s decisions was based on US Government’s order, but it still shows what too much power in the hands of one company can mean.
Millions of Huawei and Honor smartphone users will stop receiving OS and security updates in the future. Huawei is working on its operating system HongMeng, which is slated to release this fall to counter this fallout, but that is not something all smartphone manufacturers can do. Keeping all these points in mind, it will be great to have healthy competition in the market and currently only these Android alternative operating systems can give us a chance.
Best Android Alternative Mobile Operating Systems
1. iOS
Android and iOS have been competing against each other since almost eternity now. Android and iOS both enjoy a great user-base and there’s nothing really to fight about. Google has the volumes, Apple has the profit. And while Apple will never share iOS with any other company, it is currently the biggest Android competitor on the market.
Overall, it all boils down to your choice of the ecosystem. iOS is not an alternative for everyone as such, considering the premium price Apple charges for its iPhones and iPads and it also doesn’t solve many of the Android problems that we discuss above. But if you want a mature mobile OS to match Android right now, then iOS is indeed your best bet.
Pros:
- Beautiful UI
- Smooth operation
- Regular Updates
- Great quality of apps
Cons:
- Locked-down OS
- Devices are costly
2. SIRIN OS
Most of us might have forgotten about blockchain after the boom ended but the core community is still there and the technology is slowly and surely developing. If we really want to challenge Android’s dominance and create a secure mobile operating system, then blockchain is one of our biggest chances. One company that remains at the forefront of this technology is SIRIN Labs and they have already manufactured a blockchain smartphone called “Finney†which works on their own SIRIN OS.
The operating system is fully based on blockchain and is secure enough to act as your blockchain wallet. The best part about SirinOS is that it will still users to access Google Play which means they will be able to access all the Android apps that they already use and love. What sets SIRIN OS apart is the enhanced security of the entire device and the built-in cold wallet accessible via the Safe Screen.
The phone is available to order right now for $899. So, if you want to check it out and have some extra cash, you can buy it.
- Secure with blockchain technology
- Allows access to Google Play Store
- Easy to Use
Cons:
- Still comes with early adopter’s risks
- The phone is a bit pricey
3. KaiOS
KaiOS is on the verge of becoming one of the largest mobile operating systems in the world and chances are that you have never heard of it. I can understand that as KaiOS is meant for ultra-budget devices which generally come with low-end hardware. Currently, you can find KaiOS in the Nokia 8110 (Banana phone), MTN Smart Feature Phone and most of the Reliance Jio phones being sold in India. KaiOS basically is a web-based operating system which uses apps that are developed on the web-friendly HTML 5 platform.
While Google has launched its Android Go program to target the ultra-budget market, KaiOS still remains at the forefront, at least, as far as the Indian market is concerned. I can also hope that once KaiOS captures the ultra-budget segment of the smartphone market, developers will proceed to challenge Android’s authority. You should keep an eye out for this one, as it has a big potential of becoming a worthy Android alternative.
Pros:
- Lightweight OS
- Supports Web-based apps
- Continually updated
Cons:
- Not ready for the main Android smartphone market
4. Ubuntu Touch
Another operating system that I am hopeful will become a powerful mobile operating system just like its desktop counterpart is Ubuntu Touch. As its name suggests, Ubuntu Touch is the Ubuntu operating system which is optimized for touch-friendly devices like smartphones and tablets. The biggest benefit of Ubuntu Touch is that it’s an open-source operating system which can be used by any smartphone manufacturer, thus democratizing the operating system.
Another great thing about Ubuntu Touch is that while it is adapted to run naturally in a mobile touch-screen environment, it is also capable of functioning as a desktop computer in “desktop modeâ€. The OS also comes with all basic open-source apps like messaging, calendar, chat apps like Telegram, music app, weather, maps, and more. Overall, it’s a good mobile operating system which is an open-source Android alternative that everyone wants.
The operating system is currently maintained by the community so it depends on donations to keep the development on. If you want to donate and support this, you can do it from its website.
Pros:
- Open-source operating system
- Comes with all the basic apps
- Can function as a desktop
Cons:
- Cannot match the third-party app support of Android
- Being developed by the community, it depends on our contribution to keep on functioning.
5. Tizen OS
Among all the upcoming mobile operating systems, Tizen has got the most fame, thanks to Samsung’s backing. Tizen was born after Nokia decided to kill Meego, which was an OS developed by Nokia and Intel. Well, Intel went to Samsung and they partnered to bring Meego back to life as Tizen OS. While Tizen looks similar to Samsung’s Android skin TouchWiz, it’s vastly different under the hood. The OS works mostly like Android but there are a lot of gestures for intuitive interaction. Tizen OS is an HTML5 OS, which should make it a lot easier for developers to develop apps.
Pros:
- Great HTML5 support
- Intuitive gestures
Cons:
- Third-party app support is negligible
Custom ROMs/Android Forks
There are mobile operating systems trying to become an Android alternative and there are custom ROMs based on Android. You must be wondering why we are placing custom ROMs as an Android alternative since they are more or less Android. Well, the recent past has given rise to various custom ROMs and companies that are building their own OS based on the Android code.
Operating systems developed with the base-Android code are called as Forked Android Operating Systems and while they may be Android, they are as distinct as they could be. Custom ROMs and Android forked OSes have tried replacing Google services with various other alternatives to make them unique.
Well, let’s check out the best custom ROMs and forked Android operating systems which give Android a run for its money:
6. LineageOS
We start off with the biggest name in the custom ROM scene – LineageOS. While many of you might not be familiar with the name, LineageOS is actually the same custom ROM that started as CyanogenMod. Back in the fall of 2016, Cyanogen Inc. announced that it was discontinuing development and shut down the infrastructure behind the project. Since then, the developer community has kept the project alive, but under the name of LineageOS. Built on top of Google’s AOSP code and adding their own custom code to it, LineageOS works as a standalone ROM as well as the source code for many other custom ROMs out there.
It has the biggest developer team under its name and officially has support for over 190 devices. The ROM includes basic but useful features that include but are not limited to customizing the status bar, changing the overall theme, editing the navbar and much more. While Google’s AOSP is barebones, LineageOS gives it a sense of customizability while maintaining stability. The ROM offers build for Android Marshmallow (6.x) and Nougat (7.x), with support for Oreo (8.0) coming soon. Also, the list of officially supported devices includes offerings from Samsung, HTC, Motorola, LG, Xiaomi, OnePlus and more.
- Based on Android AOSP
- Supports existing devices
- Stable and Usable
Cons:
- Depends on Google Play Services for apps
7. Paranoid Android
Paranoid Android is one of the most acclaimed custom ROMs of all times. The development team focuses on bringing a polished and refined experience while using minimum resources. While it may not boast of the plethora of features and customization that other ROMs offer, Paranoid Android or PA, does promise a smooth user experience. It comes with its own unique features such as Hover mode, which allows the user to view and interact with their notifications from any screen, (which was then integrated into AOSP as part of Heads-up notifications).
It also offers its own version of the PIE menu, as well as a fully immersive mode for Android. Paranoid Android has long been regarded as the main project from which Google has brought over a lot of features, one biggest feature being the Ambient Mode, which was present in PA as Peek. The recent PA update brings features like pocket mode, gesture control, recent app locking, Pixel style launcher, and more.
Pros:
- Based on Android AOSP
- Supports existing devices
- Stable and Usable
Cons:
- Depends on Google Play Services for apps
- Not as customizable as some of the other Android ROMs
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What Do You Think of These Android Alternative Operating Systems
That ends our article of the best Android alternative operating systems that you can check out right now. Do see the list and let us know which operating system can pose a serious challenge to Android in the coming future. Share with us all your thoughts in the comments section below.
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