Here are the best smartphones offering a near-stock Android experience

Most phone makers add a custom UI on top of Android — such as OnePlus’ OxygenOS or Samsung’s One UI — with extra features and a different design. However, these so-called “skins” often come with pre-installed apps and extra flare, which impacts the overall user experience. That’s why there’s a demand for phones with stock Android, which a manufacturer hasn’t modified.

If you’re in the market for a phone running stock Android, you might be sad to hear true stock Android is pretty hard to find these days. Even Pixel handsets come with the Pixel UI launcher. Save for Android One handsets, which are affordable and meant for emerging markets, pretty much all devices have some modifications. This is why we’ll mainly focus on phones with a “near-stock Android” experience.

The best phones with stock Android

Editor’s note: We will regularly update this list of the best near-stock Android phones as new devices launch.

Google Pixel 7 series

The latest high-end Pixel series is excellent for those looking for a great camera system and a clean software experience. These two devices are made with premium materials and offer a design that will make most competitors jealous. The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro also sport Google’s latest Tensor G2 chipset, which isn’t the best on the market but is good enough for demanding users. They run Android 13 and are guaranteed to get three major OS upgrades.

To make matters even more enticing, the prices are very competitive. These are hands-down the best phones with a near-stock Android experience you can get. Another great thing worth highlighting is that they will be among the first to get the latest version of Android when it launches, as Google sends it out to its Pixel phones on day one.

Google Pixel 7 specs:

Pixel 7 Pro specs:

Google Pixel 7a

Those looking for a Google smartphone that will keep their wallet healthy should look at the Pixel 7a. It has enough power to keep most casual users happy, supports 5G, and is one of the best phones with a near-stock Android experience. It’s also one of the best budget phones overall.

You get a pretty sizeable 4,385mAh battery, which we managed to use through an entire day of casual usage. The battery was still at 20% by the end of day, so at the very least, you can use it for an entire workday on a single charge. It also comes with stereo speakers and an IP67 rating. Like all other Pixels, it also features a camera that is way too good for this price range and challenges even high-end phones. Especially since the newer Pixel 7a now has a 64MP primary sensor, a significant upgrade over the 12.2 camera on its predecessor.

Of course, Google had to make some sacrifices somewhere. The design isn’t as premium, and the phone is mainly made of plastic. That said, this time around, Google decided to add wireless charging, even if it’s pretty slow at 7.5W. The only bad news is that, while the phone is the most premium Pixel A handset Google has created, it also costs more at $499 MSRP.

The Pixel 7a still features a powerful Google Tensor G2 chipset, and a pretty modest 6GB of RAM. These performed very well in our tests, and we didn’t experience any hiccups. The processor can get pretty hot with heavier loads, though.

Pixel 7a specs:

Google Pixel Fold

The Google Pixel Fold signals the company’s entry into the world of foldable phones. Being a Google phone, it has a bloat-free and clean UI, making it one of the best phones with stock Android. At the very least, it represents what foldable phones with stock Android should be like, according to Google.

While mighty expensive at $1,799, it’s also a very capable device with all the bells and whistles you’ll find in a 2023 flagship. The Google Tensor G2 and 12GB of RAM will keep the device snappy, and performance won’t be an issue. This processor tends to get a bit too hot for our liking, but it performs.

The external display measures 5.8 inches but has a wider 4:9 ratio, making it more functional and easier to navigate. The internal, bigger screen measures 7.6 inches. Both have a 120Hz refresh rate, so everything will look silky smooth. We’ll have to run it through our tests before we talk more about battery life, camera performance, and the overall experience. Still, we at least know the experience will be as clean and straightforward as with any other Google handset.

You’ll have to wait for our full Google Pixel Fold review to learn more. Until we have it, you can check out our hands-on post to see our first impressions.

Pixel Fold specs:

ASUS ROG Phone 7 series

The ASUS ROG Phone 7 series consists of two phones. First, there’s the standard ASUS ROG Phone 7, which is still an amazingly powerful device. Specs include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 12-16GB of RAM, 256/512GB of storage, a large 6.78-inch display with a 165Hz refresh rate, and a substantial 6,000mAh battery.

The ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is a more capable version of the standard iteration. Most specs are actually the same, but the Ultimate edition comes with 16GB of RAM (no 12GB version) and 512GB of storage (no 256GB version). Additionally, it has an added 2-inch screen in the rear and a motorized air vent for improved cooling.

Both are great devices, even for the most demanding users, and ASUS is known for offering a very clean UI. There will be some gaming enhancements in software, such as the Armoury Crate app, but those can be hidden out of the way most of the time.

In our review, we praised the ROG Phone 7 for its impressive performance, amazing battery life (when not gaming), 65W fast charging, and a great selection of accessories. It still suffers from the common gaming phone downsides, though. These include a lackluster camera system and a bad IP54 rating.

ROG Phone 7 specs:

ROG Phone 7 Ultimate specs:

ASUS ZenFone 9

The ASUS ZenFone 9 is likely the best option for those who want powerful specs in a small package. Think of it as a mini flagship running a stock-like version of Android.

The ASUS ZenFone 9 comes packed with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, up to a whopping 16GB of RAM, and as much as 256GB of storage. It also features an excellent 5.9-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, an IP68 rating, and a 4,300mAh battery.

What’s best is that it’s also really affordable considering everything you get. This phone will keep up with the most demanding users while keeping your wallet healthy and your pocket spacious.

ZenFone 9 specs:

Sony Xperia 1 IV and 5 IV

Sony’s UI is super clean and keeps things as simple as they get. It works best on the company’s flagship Xperia 1 IV and 5 IV phones.

The Xperia 1 IV is the better of the two, offering a large 4K display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a potent chipset, a headphone jack, and even a microSD card slot. The battery comes in at 5,000mAh and supports 30W charging, getting it up to 50% in 30 minutes, according to Sony. It’s a great camera phone, offering super camera autofocus, stellar video capture, and a few unique content-creator apps. The speakers are great as well.

The Xperia 5 IV offers a bit less, coming with a smaller display with a lower resolution, a slightly weaker camera system, and less RAM, among other things. But it does cost a lot less, making it a more reasonable buy than its super-expensive big brother.

By the way, you might want to wait for the Sony Xperia 1 V, which has already been officially announced and will launch in July.

Xperia 1 IV specs:

Xperia 5 IV specs:

Moto Edge 30 Fusion

Those looking for a capable and good-looking device that won’t absolutely break the bank should consider the Moto Edge 30 Fusion. It costs significantly less than $1,000, which is the current standard for high-end products. You can usually get it for about $600-$700. It packs quite a punch, too.

Specs include a Snapdragon 888+ chipset, up to 12GB of RAM, a 4,400mAh battery, and a 6.55-inch Full HD+ screen with a smooth 144Hz refresh rate. It’s a very powerful device at a fair price, and like all Motorola phones, it comes with a near-stock Android experience.

Moto Edge 30 Fusion specs:

Nothing Phone 1

The Nothing Phone 1 is the first handset released by the company founded by Carl Pei — co-founder of OnePlus. It stands out due to its design, highlighted by the Glyph Interface at the back that lights up when you get a notification.

It’s a mid-range device that offers a software experience close to that of stock Android. The primary camera is decent, and the display is quite nice. You also get wireless and reverse wireless charging, two rear cameras, and stereo speakers.

The biggest negative is the availability — while the phone is available in Europe, it wasn’t released in the US. You can usually find it imported, though.

Nothing Phone 1 specs:

FAQs

If you’re unhappy with any of these phones, maybe it’s time to consider going another route. The great thing about Android is you can customize it to your liking. Check out our list of the best Android launchers available.