Android One
For a long time, the weakest point of the Android operating system has been the untimely software updates. The main reason is that smartphone manufacturers build their own themes on the operating system in order to offer more features to their customers and differentiate their products from the competition.
In order to solve this problem, Google launched the Android One program in 2014.
As part of this program, Google sets some guidelines that manufacturers must follow. Some of the most important being:
- Google sets the standard for hardware and software.
- The phone comes with Android stock.
- Guaranteed system updates for two years.
- Security updates guaranteed for three years.
According to this program, manufacturers handle the hardware and design while Google controls the update cycle. To do this, Google has established partnerships with established manufacturers such as HTC and Xiaomi. Later, Nokia also joined the movement.
Initially, the initiative targeted emerging countries; The idea was to provide the best of Android at an affordable rate. That changed in 2020 when high-priced phones began being shipped with Android stocks under the Android banner.
Today, in 2020, many manufacturers produce multiple Android One phones. But which one is the best? Which one should you buy? Let's find out.
Best Android One Phones
Now that we're done with the details, here are some of the best Android One phones.
Please note that the list is not in a specific order.
Nokia 9 PureView
Luckily, if you lived under a rock; Nokia makes Android phones. In fact, some of the best Android phones on the market, I would say.
When Nokia returned to the smartphone game, instead of creating its own mobile operating system, they opted for Android (instead of the Android One program); something they should have done a long time ago. Now they offer Android One in almost all their phones.
Nokia unveiled its flagship device – Nokia 9 PureView – in February 2019. And its main feature is the rear camera. It has a 5 camera configuration at the back. They combine images into a single photo when you take a photo. It's worth considering if you like smartphone photography and want to improve your game.
From the point of view of specifications, it's good and powerful. You will not find the latest specs here since its launch earlier this year. Still, it is a very solid phone, conforming to specifications.
It includes a Snapdragon 845 processor, Adreno 630, a 5.99-inch P-OLED display with a resolution of 1440 × 2880, a 6GB RAM, a 3320 mAh battery and comes with Android 9.0, an Android Pie . The phone is also IP67 certified for resistance to dust and water.
Motorola One Vision
With a 21: 9 image format, Motorola One Vision has one of the best screens in the list.
Motorola has long been known for its operating system experience. I've always been a fan of their hardware and software. I remember the time when I had the Moto G3 a long time ago. Its use was pure bliss every day, and the best thing was the operating system. With Android One and Moto One Vision, Motorola took inspiration from this experience and amplified it.
The phone, launched in May 2019, includes a 6.3 "LTPS IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 1080 × 2520, an Exynos 9609 chipset, 4 GB of RAM, a 48 MP rear camera, a 5 MP front camera , a mounted fingerprint scanner, a fast charging 3,500 mAh battery and a delivery with Android 9.
Nokia 8.1
The Nokia 8.1 is a robust, well-designed and aesthetically pleasing Android One smartphone.
Launched in December 2021, it features a 6.18-inch 1080 × 2280 resolution display, Snapdragon 710 processor, Adreno 616 RAM, 4GB or 6GB RAM, SD card support up to 400GB, 12 and 13 MP, 20 MP front camera, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, 3,500 mAh fast charging battery (according to many users, lasts up to 2 days) and comes with Android 9 ; scalable to Android 10.
Nokia 7.1
Another quality Nokia phone under the umbrella of Android One is Nokia 7.1.
The smartphone has a 5.84-inch IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 1080 × 2280. It supports playback of native HDR10 content. Apart from that, the specs list looks something like this – Snapdragon 636, Adreno 509, 3GB RAM, SD Card Holder for up to 400GB, Dual 12 & 5 MP Rear Camera, 8 Front Camera MP, a 3060 mAh battery with fast charging, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC and Android 8.1; evolutionary to the next updates.
The cameras are ok and the phone has a big chin down. If it suits you, it's one of the best Android One smartphones you can buy.
Xiaomi Mi A2
I have been using the MI A1 for over 2 years and it's one of the best Android One phones I've used. But that's the old news now. If the system updates were still available, I would surely have recommended it; but this is not the case.
Then there is the MI A3, the last smartphone of this range. And, although the quality and design of the construction are excellent, I'm just not a fan of the screen.
The solution? Mi A2. I think it's the best part of Mi A1 and Mi A3.
The phone is pretty solid with regard to specifications. It has a 5.99 inch LTPS IPS LCD screen with a screen resolution of 1080 × 2160, Snapdragon 660, Adreno 512, 4 GB or 6 GB RAM, a rear camera 12 MP and 20 MP, a camera 20 MP front, 3000 mAh battery with charging and Bluetooth 5.0.
Nokia 4.2
At the moment, it should be pretty clear that Nokia manufactures some of the best Android One phones on the market. They target the basic segment with Nokia 4.2. That's why, for the price, the phone has serious value. It has a 5.7 "screen with a screen resolution of 720 × 1520, Snapdragon 439, 2 GB or 3 GB of RAM and a 3000 mAh battery.
Specifications may not look good on paper, but they need to be combined with Android, and you'll have an excellent daily driver.
Wrap
So that's the best Android One phones you can buy now. As all the phones mentioned above are in different price ranges, you will get different specifications. but the software experience remains similar. Plus, you can not go wrong with an Android One phone, so pick one and enjoy the Android experience as it is meant to be appreciated.
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