Flashback: a look back at the "pure Android" Google Play Edition phones and why they failed

10 October 2021
While the idea was excellent on paper - the same high quality hardware, none of the bloat - Google did everything it could to kill the GPE program.

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • TL%
  • 10 Oct 2021

The closest anyone will get to using pure Android is to flash an AOSP rom with no customisations on their phone.

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • Hkr
    • 10 Oct 2021

    This was a failed attempt of Google trying to pull up an Apple stunt.

    With a bit more focus, the GPE program would have been a success, if targeted at the not-so-tech-savvy and elderly people. Now, it's the same thing going on with Pixel, Motorola, Sony and Asus... though only the Pixels and a few Motos have tasted victory.

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • vGE
      • 10 Oct 2021

      Custom skins took over but Android is quite good to use now in stock form. Earlier it lacked many features

        • 7
        • 7hh
        • G{5
        • 10 Oct 2021

        Stock android is meaningless nowadays. Most manufacturers dont put too much bloatware crap on their phones now.

          All of these brand is not so popular in the market and they are using stock android, it means skinned android is the best. When skinned android can provide good updates (security patch and OS), good looking UI, many feature etc what is the reason for buying Android one or stock android?