Is Samsung an Android?
You might be seen that most of the latest Samsung smartphones refer they are “being powered by Samsung“. These smartphones run the Android operating system but use their own Samsung interface runs on the top.
The Samsung software often adds additional features and changes the design elements currently unavailable on stock Android OS. However, Samsung smartphones and tablets still offer all the primary Android functionality that users have come to expect.
Is it Samsung Android?
Most Samsung brand smartphones are run over the Android operating system with added Samsung design elements and features. When we talk about the wide range of Samsung smartphones, technically, Samsung isn’t the complete Android. Instead, many users say that the Samsung phones are Android phones just because they support Android apps and run on Android OS.
Samsung also manufactures the Microsoft Windows Mobile smartphone that runs on the Windows mobile operating system instead of Android. Even up to some past years, Samsung has used operating systems such as Tizen, and Bada, in their smartphones.
However, the latest and modern Samsung smartphones are running on Android OS with a few more added elements.
What Is Samsung One UI?
Samsung One UI is a smart custom interface installed on Samsung Galaxy devices running on Android OS. It helps to customize and modifies the Android operating system so that manufacturers can change its menus and settings. One UI also offers a new user interface that reduces eye strain and makes devices easy to use.
One UI has officially announced at the Samsung developer conference in 2018 for its Android devices running on Android 9 and above. This interface replaces the previous Samsung-modified Android interface and Samsung Experience.
Samsung is regularly updating its One UI interface, and its latest version, 4.1, was launched in February 2022. A minor update is done in 4.1 from its 4.0. Features like Smart Calendar, Smart Widgets, and redesigned pattern picker allow the option to choose how much virtual RAM users need from 2, 4, 6, or 8 GB.
Which Phones Are Androids?
Because of the open-source Android OS, Android smartphones and tablets are manufactured by various companies. Google manufactures some Android devices, such as Pixel smartphones. Other brand manufacturers of Android smartphones and tablets are OnePlus, Motorola, and Samsung.
Since the Android operating system is open-source, Android smartphones are manufactured and published by various manufacturers worldwide. On most of the product’s packaging, they mentioned the Android operating system as a description of the phone.
Difference between Android and Samsung
We mentioned that Android is an operating system and Samsung is an electronics device manufacturer. It is ridiculous to compare these two together.
Samsung is an international electronics company that manufactures devices like monitors, smart home appliances, smartphones, TVs, etc. Also, Samsungs sells its smartphones under the brand name Galaxy, which further splits into a product such as Galaxy S (series), Galaxy Note, and Galaxy Z (series). All Samsung Galaxy smartphones use and run on the Android operating system.
Do Samsung Phones Evolve With Android?
Android is an evolving operating system that releases a new version every year. Initially, Android named its OS versions the name of sweet treats (KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmallow, etc.). But they changed this naming format and started naming their versions in numeric ways, like Android 10, Android 11, and Android 12.
Mostly it is found that the main version of One UI is released on each major upgrade in Android. Android releases a new version, and Samsung updates its One UI interface. But One UI releases its minor updates in the same cycle.
Samsung typically supports its devices with Android and One UI major updates after the release of a few years. Your Samsung phone may not receive Android or One UI updates frequently. Your phone will only receive important security updates, although those too will eventually stop after some year.
What is Samsung Knox?
Samsung Knox is multi-layer security protection built into the software of the Samsung phone that uses Android. Some of the Galaxy devices also have hardware isolation to give better security. If one app’s data on your phone is exploited, it does not allow access to the rest of the phone. Samsung Knox helps protect your data from exploitation by isolating your data and reducing the impact of exploits.
The feature of Samsung Knox is built into the software of most Samsung devices that are released using Android, so if you have been using a Samsung for the past few years, there may be a chance that you are taking advantage of these protections.
Is Samsung Better Than Apple?
Samsung and Apple are the viral products in most electronic categories. Judging which company’s products are better depends on which item you buy and their features.
The use of Samsung Pay and Apple Pay digital payment systems depends on the company’s product you are using.
When comparing a Samsung Galaxy smartphone and iPhone, the Galaxy offers a more expressive screen, but iPhone may be less expensive. In similar comparisons of the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy wearable device, the ecosystem you’re using is considered when choosing the items.
If you use Samsung devices like smartphones and tablets, it makes sense to buy a Samsung Galaxy watch to use the same app store and account. In the same way, if you are using the Apple ecosystem, buying an iPad or Mac makes sense for it.
Is Samsung preparing to leave Android?
A new operating system called Fuchsia has been developing in Google’s laboratories for a few years. Some people may remember that Samsung has contributed to Fuchsia’s development. A new gossip is spreading that Samsung took a few steps ahead and decided to say bye to Android in favor of Fuchsia. It might be possible that the future Samsung phones may not run over the Android operating system.
However, these changes are not going to happen anytime soon. Sources specify that Samsung will take a few years more to adopt this new open-source OS from Google. And it is too early to say that Fuchsia OS will be included by One UI or other Samsung features.
Samsung may be getting a leg up on its competitors already
Switching from Android OS to Fuchsia is not as Samsung comes up with its own. It is part of Google’s master plan to move on a new platform built from the ground level. Unlike the Android operating system, Fuchsia doesn’t use the Linux kernel; instead, it works on a new code called Zircon.
Google is working on Fuchsia to run various smart gadgets, such as smartphones, tablets, wearables, IoT devices, etc. It was already used as a pilot run for the Nest Hub.
Android OS always had some twist that Fuchsia could be addressed on it. The switching of Samsung to Fuchsia doesn’t go too soon, and it will take some years. So don’t expect the Android operating system to be going too soon from Samsung.