What is the difference between Samsung and Android phones?

If you're not tech-savvy, it's easy to get confused about different operating systems, manufacturers, device models, and specifications. One such example is that people consider Samsung and Android to be synonymous, which is not entirely accurate.

Let's learn the difference between Samsung and Android phones through the following article!

Samsung phones run the Android operating system

Android is a mobile operating system, while Samsung produces phones and tablets that run on Android. Simply put, Android provides a platform for your Samsung phone to run apps and services.

Just like Windows and macOS are desktop operating systems, Android is one of the two main operating systems for mobile devices. The other is Apple's iOS, which runs on the iPhone.

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However, other smartphone operating systems still exist. Some operating systems are defunct and no longer being developed, including Windows Mobile, BlackBerry OS, and Tizen.

Note that Android is not a company and does not make smartphones, just like Windows is not a company, Microsoft is.

Manufacturers often integrate Google Mobile Services (GMS) with Android, providing Google-licensed interfaces and applications such as Google Search and Google Chrome. However, Android and GMS are not intrinsically linked; The phone may run Android but still use proprietary apps and interfaces.

Google owns and develops Android, but the operating system itself is open source and free for other developers to use and customize.

How are Samsung phones different from other Android devices?

We've established that Android is an operating system, so how does Samsung customize this operating system? Samsung is a global electronics company that produces devices such as monitors, smart home appliances, and TVs. It also manufactures and sells smartphones, tablets and other consumer electronics.

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Samsung sells its smartphones under the "Galaxy" brand, divided into product lines such as Galaxy Z (foldable devices) and Galaxy S (high-end, high-performance devices). Although Samsung has experimented with other mobile operating systems, all Samsung Galaxy smartphones currently run the Android operating system.

One thing that differentiates Samsung phones from other Android-based phones is One UI (formerly known as Samsung Experience and TouchWiz). One UI is a "skin" or layer of custom software that Samsung adds on top of Android to make its Galaxy devices stand out from other options.

One UI is considered one of the best Android skins because it has many features, customization options, and Samsung apps and services that Android doesn't offer. Some of these features include Edge Panels, Modes and Routines, Secure Folder, and Bixby voice assistant. In fact, many of Samsung's software innovations have been applied to the core Android experience.

Are all Android phones the same?

No, all Android phones are not the same. Samsung is just one of many companies that uses Android for its devices. Other major smartphone manufacturers include Google, Sony, Motorola, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo.

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Just like Samsung, all these major smartphone manufacturers add their custom skins on top of Android. This helps them differentiate their devices, stand out from the competition, and offer something unique to their customers.

Some Android skins are primarily about aesthetics, while others focus on providing more functionality. You can learn all about Android skins and why companies prefer them over Stock Android.

The core, unchanged Android experience developed by Google is called "Stock Android". In the past, it was rare to find a phone that could offer the Stock Androidv experience. It's a bit more common these days, especially with Google's Pixel phones competing with Samsung's offerings.

Do Samsung phones evolve with Android?

Android is an ever-evolving operating system. Google releases a new major version every year. For a long time, Android named its versions after desserts (Nougat, Oreo, Pie), but now they name their versions with numbers like Android 13 and Android 14.

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As Android evolves, so does Samsung's One UI. Generally, Samsung rolls out a new major version of One UI for every major Android upgrade, but the company also releases minor updates during that cycle. For example, the One UI 6 update has many features based on Android 14, but the newer One UI 6.1 update will unlock Galaxy AI features on older Samsung phones.

Your Samsung phone will not receive Android or One UI updates indefinitely. Samsung typically supports its new devices with these major updates for four years after release. After that, your phone will only receive important security updates, although those will eventually stop.

It's worth noting that Samsung is improving on the software support front, promising seven years of Android updates and major security updates for the entire Galaxy S24 line.

However, because Samsung phones use a custom interface, they won't receive updates as quickly as Google Pixel phones running Stock Android. Additionally, how quickly you receive the One UI update depends on your location and phone carrier.

Does Samsung make the best Android phones?

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Now that you know the difference between Samsung and Android, should you buy a Samsung phone that uses Android? That comes down to personal preference, although there's a good reason why Samsung sells the majority of Android phones. According to Statcounter, Samsung holds 23.69% of the global smartphone market share at the time of writing, second only to Apple.

There are plenty of Samsung phones to suit every budget; If you can afford it, try to choose the Galaxy S series which benefits from the best hardware, although the Galaxy A series is more affordable without sacrificing too many features.

However, if you're not a big fan of Samsung's custom One UI interface, consider checking out other manufacturers. The Google Pixel phone, with its Stock Android experience, might be right for you. Alternatively, you can completely ditch Android and switch to an iPhone - Apple develops both hardware and software with all the quality you'd expect from this renowned company.

The Galaxy S series launched in 2010, with the first phone in the line selling more than 20 million units. Although Samsung stumbled midway, the company revived the brand and was never afraid to innovate. Whether you want a flat screen, a curved screen, or a foldable phone, Samsung has something you'll like.