Why are we still fighting smartphone bloatware in 2025?
Why are we still fighting smartphone bloatware in 2025?
I was excited to dive into my new smartphone only to once again waste precious time uninstalling bloatware before I could enjoy it.
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Only on Android and Windows.
Zero issues on Linux and MacOS
iOS doesn't come with any preinstalled Apple bloatware either. Oh, wait.
It’s hardly intrusive, no pop ups or “hey I’m here” notifications. You can uninstall most of them in seconds without special tools.
Android crapware is much more deeper, it’s not stuff your grandma can uninstall.
Can you uninstall Apple TV, Apple Music, Books, FaceTime, Fitness/Health, Podcasts, and News?
Can you disable Safari or the App Store?
Can you install non–Apple-sanctioned apps?
Which isn't to say Android's situation is great for various manufacturers, just weird to not include iOS.
Yes for all of the first group.
No for Safari.
My need to install “unsanctioned” apps on my phone is on par with my need to install random apps on my PS5. Zero. YMMV.
Open source android apps has entered the hallway, I'm sorry but the amount of cool, open-source privacy respecting apps on android is MAGNITUDES higher than IOS, I wouldn't like having a locked down phone on my hand, it's painful. My need to use "unsanctioned" apps is on par with wanting to eat fruits after cutting them in even pieces instead of biting on the whole. It's a strong preference thing because I would not like having to eat whole apples(for example) EVERY TIME I eat.
It’s hardly intrusive, no pop ups or “hey I’m here” notifications. You can uninstall most of them in seconds without special tools.
If that's your definition of bloatware then this point:
Android crapware is much more deeper, it’s not stuff your grandma can uninstall.
Is pretty silly as Android has less apps built into the OS, and I can actually go into settings and disable them very easily. Specific phone carriers might add bullshit on top of that, but that's not Android doing that
Android is giving the carriers the option to do that. They don’t need to give the tools for crapware installation
Implying that we should not give anyone any freedom just because it can be abused, Developers can make better and more privacy respecting OS than vanilla android and we should just flush all that drown the drain and instead shove everything vanilla into everyone's ass. GREAAAT!
Android crapware is much more deeper, it’s not stuff your grandma can uninstall.
...
installs custom rom
not every person can-
Their problem.
Wait a second, iOS is chock full of garbage that you can't uninstall whatsoever. At least on Android you have a chance to get rid of everything.
With the exception of Safari, you can uninstall every application using the standard process.
Can you do that for Android carrier crapware that’s preinstalled? Just tap on it and choose uninstall?
I never buy phones from carriers, always directly from manufacturers, so no idea. Manufacturer bloat can be deleted pretty straightforward.
You do understand that you’re not in the majority?
The root problem is that Android lets carriers “enhance” their devices with crapware and also make it hard or impossible to install without technical know-how
While also, making device cheaper, if I can get the same device with the same specs with a diffrence of 100usd with extra bloatware(plus bootloader unlocking capabilities), you know what I'm buying
I don't know anybody buying those crappy carrier deals, to be honest. They had a place and time in the early 2000s, but beyond that they seemed to die out mostly. Maybe still a thing in the US, no idea.