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Why Samsung and Huawei (should) remain faithful to Android

AndroidPIT tizen on samsung devices
© nextpit, TIZEN

Rumor has it that Samsung and Huawei are developing their own smartphone operating systems to compete with Android. It's an interesting idea, but one I believe is highly unlikely. Why? Allow me to explain.

Net Market Share recorded in June 2016 that Android accounted for over two thirds (65.58 percent) of the "Mobile / Tablet Operating System Market Share". Gartner reported that in the first quarter of 2016, Android accounted for 84 percent of "Worldwide Smartphone Sales to End Users by operating system." 

Statista claims that "Android accounted for around 85 percent of all smartphone sales to end users worldwide in the beginning of 2016." The remaining percentages are accounted for mainly by iOS, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, while other operating systems play only very minor roles.

In short, Android is the most widely used mobile operating in the world, and by a substantial margin.

AndroidPIT huawei p9 review 3647
Huawei will stay with EMUI. Version 5.0 is already in development. / © NextPit

So, if Samsung or Huawei were to invent their own operating systems, they could potentially steal a slice of that big Android pie, but how much would be theoretically possible? Diving a little deeper into those figures shows that it's actually Samsung and Huawei who have the greatest potential.

The same Gartner survey above shows that Samsung sold 23.2 percent of all smartphones in Q1 2016. Statista suggests that this figure could be as high as 24.5 percent. Huawei is found to have sold around 8.2 to 8.3 percent, depending on the survey. 

Despite their popularity, would Samsung or Huawei dare to turn their backs on Android?

Samsung is represented in most markets around the world but it still makes use of Google services like Maps, Search, and especially the Play Store.

Samsung customers have become accustomed to these Google products and rely on being able to use them with a Galaxy device. The number of Play Store apps is a major argument for why the Korean manufacturer should remain faithful to Android, with between two and 2.25 million to be found there as of July 2016. This is something Samsung would find incredibly hard to compete with.

androidpit play store 6
Google's Play Store is the linchpin of Android. / © ANDROIDPIT

Huawei's outlook is quite different. In China, Huawei has already opened up its own App Store. This is editorially maintained and, similar to the App Store from Apple, subject to strict quality controls. In an interview with the Huawei vice president of Mobile Business Changzhu Li, we learned that Huawei sees Android's biggest weakness to lie in its apps and not in the operating system itself.

Thus, it would be more likely that we will see the Huawei App Store in the West before we see a Huawei smartphone with an operating system other than Android.

Why Huawei recently hired an OS expert, who had previously worked for Nokia, has no doubt played a part in the current rumors. Oft-mentioned concerns, like Google wanting to make the Android ecosystem less open, further compound this. But, ultimately, operating system experts are likely to improve Huawei's Android-based EMUI software first and foremost. It's generally agreed that there is plenty work to be done here, despite my own counter-arguments.

Android is only really good on smartphones

There are areas where Android is currently in use but for which it is not optimally suited. These include smart TVs and wearables. Android TV is failing because of the poor implementation of Play Store apps which don't scale well for TV.

Android Wear fails because it's almost identical to the smartphone Android software, which is cumbersome for smartwatches and unnecessarily demanding in terms of resources and energy.

AndroidPIT Samsung Gear S2 12
Tizen is the biggest advantage of the Samsung Gear S2. / © NextPit

In the field of wearables and home entertainment, Samsung can now score points. Samsung has already developed a mature and slim operating system for smartwatches with Tizen, which in many ways outshines the Google alternative.

But a switch to Tizen on Samsung smartphones could still prove an unnecessary risk. Smartwatches are currently a relatively niche product; Android is anything but that.

Final thoughts

The Android system gives manufacturers just enough room to make their own adjustments and improvements. Thus, Huawei, Samsung, HTC, Sony and all others can differentiate themselves and create their own selling points. At the same time, they continuously help to improve the core Android software and build a stronger system than Google alone could ever do.

For manufacturers, Android is a compromise, but an effective one, offering diversity, freedom and compatibility. Samsung and Huawei may be mighty, but I doubt they're ready to stand on their own two feet; especially not in the interests of their consumers.

Written with contributions from Eric Hermann from AndroidPIT.de

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Scott Adam Gordon

Scott Adam Gordon
Editor

Originally from the UK, Scott graduated in Popular Music Studies at Newcastle University and attributes much of his success there to his beloved Samsung Galaxy S2. His current aim is to write cool things about Android. And he loves it.

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  • 6
    mark griesser Jul 17, 2016 Link to comment

    Your last paragraph you state "For manufacturers, Android is a compromise..." Maybe you said that because that sort of statement seems fitting in the type of article you wrote or maybe you believe that. Personally I'm not certain how using the best OS in the world is any type of compromise. Also I don't believe that any of their reasons that you stated were very valid.

    There really is only one reason why Samsung and Huawei want to use their own OS, money. They're crunching numbers thinking that between the 2 of them they can combine forces garner 40% of the play market with room to grow and make a killing. Ofcourse I'm speculating but don't we all? I'm a loyal Samsung customer but it frightens me to think of them having 100% control of my phones operating system. Mainly because of the crazy sh*t they do already. Any entity that insists on placing content on one's phone that is not essential to its functioning and makes it so one can not remove it is arrogant to say the least. I have T-mobile, love the company but they do that as well. One example, I have never once used my phone to get a weather report nor a forecast, yet since my first G1 that service has been running in the background on every phone I've owned....


  • Nyo 1
    Nyo Jul 15, 2016 Link to comment

    Tizen has come in all of the major products of Samsung. You're late with your predictions.


    • 6
      mark griesser Jul 17, 2016 Link to comment

      My first Samsung product was an Galaxy S4. Ive had the S5, S6 Edge and S7 Edge. None of them have had Tizen, all Android. So maybe you're posting from the future but in July 0f 2016 in the U.S. with T-mobile(its what I know) his prediction has not come to pass yet.


  • Keziepaulo 4
    Keziepaulo Jul 11, 2016 Link to comment

    Samsung shouldn't try any nonsense, or I get a full money back for my Note 4.


  • Francesco V. 20
    Francesco V. Jul 10, 2016 Link to comment

    Another, third option that I see for Android to stay free and continue to exist would be to hide itself. Let me explain.
    What Google (Alphabet) is very good at is to provide smart, excellent APIs. They might be at the heart of any mobile or immobile OS, as for the IoT.
    In essence, new blends of OSs can be created freely by manufacturers, but still using Android/Google APIs for all the hard work. This might come in hand for freeing the manufacturers from the costs of developing their own OSs entirely, might be great for compatibility with whatever app developers want to create across an OS-multiverse, and might free Android from the impasse of choosing by which dead it wants to die.


    • 6
      mark griesser Jul 17, 2016 Link to comment

      I'm not sure what you're implying but Android isn't going anywhere and it will continue to be free. Speaking of surviving and all that is crazy. It's the most robust dominant mobile platform on the planet.


      • Francesco V. 20
        Francesco V. Jul 17, 2016 Link to comment

        Too big to fail? Well, I guess history and statistics show the opposite ;-)

        mark griesser


  • Björn Bidar 5
    Björn Bidar Jul 9, 2016 Link to comment

    They should use Sailfish OS, Meego was pretty decent and successful even when looking at the ban of sales in mayor markets in Europe and in the US. They UI concept is much better than android. I think it would be better working on one Linux based OS than splitting it in two. Also they Jolla guys from Nokia have more experience than Samsung.


    • 6
      mark griesser Jul 17, 2016 Link to comment

      That's a matter of opinion. I haven't personally used sailfish but I don't like its major selling points. Plus I don't think it will ever get a strong foothold based on reports I've read.


  • CJ Brown 29
    CJ Brown Jul 8, 2016 Link to comment

    I understand why Samsung and Huawei would <3 to develop their own OS - BUT - unless they want to join Microsoft Mobile (as another "point and laugh at that epic fail")? They are better off continuing to partner with Android / Google ...

    If these Manufacturers actually paid attention to Consumers (same goes for the Carriers), they would lose the bloatware (or give Consumers the option to remove it without us having to visit a smartphone repair shop and have it done) ...

    C'mon Samsung, c'mon Huawei - Innovation - this should be what you strive for !

    mark griesserFrancesco V.


    • 22
      ljhaye Jul 12, 2016 Link to comment

      I think creating your OS does show the ability to innovate.


    • 6
      mark griesser Jul 17, 2016 Link to comment

      Ain't that the truth. I think part of the problem is that the hardware is more than staying ahead of the demands of the software and so its kind of carte blanc for developers. They're thinking, "Look at all the speed and memory. Its more than anyone could have imagined. What can we cram in here?"

      The problem with that mentality should be fairly obvious but with everyone going hog wild with EVERYTHING, next thing you know resources are depleted.

      Francesco V.


  • Android D. 3
    Android D. Jul 8, 2016 Link to comment

    I am using Galaxy J7, Can i update my phone to Android N.


    • Keziepaulo 4
      Keziepaulo Jul 11, 2016 Link to comment

      Not yet time. Keep your fingers crossed. Remember, Nexus smartphone will go first!


  • Ahm AD 5
    Ahm AD Jul 7, 2016 Link to comment

    Android N is still only for Samsung galaxy s7 in Samsung thats not good


  • 13
    Dazzler Jul 7, 2016 Link to comment

    The problem is, the only thing that Samsung phones ever get slated for in reviews is their own software additions on top of Android! The closer they get to stock Android, the better the reviews get! I think they would be dumb to ditch Android, Windows Phone has great features but is slowly dying off due to a lack of key apps, Blackberry are dead in the water almost, there is probably not room for another OS!

    KeziepauloFrancesco V.


  • 2
    John Doe Jul 6, 2016 Link to comment

    Mr. Gordon doesn't understand that Tizen phones are already for sale, has been on sale for 2 years. This is not the case of if, but when, with Tizen phones. Samsung is already going Tizen native for all its product lineup including TVs, fridges, smartwatches, home security, routers, and its phones are the last hold outs that will eventually see a conversion to Tizen around 2020, because this is when IoT takes off big and Tizen is IoT native, at least Samsung kind of IoT standard.

    Francesco V.


    • 22
      ljhaye Jul 6, 2016 Link to comment

      Don't forget Samsungs VR ambitions are also independent of Google's and they have no interest in being victim of another computing duopoly.


  • 10
    Kunal Narang Jul 6, 2016 Link to comment

    I think a big plus for Android is that it's open source. If Google ever decides to take this advantage from the smartphone OEMs, then they have their own alternatives. Moreover, Android has a seasoned veteran in the form of the Play Store which has been refined and improved over the years. The sheer amount of variety you get on the Play Store is not available on any other platform. So, Android will not go down without without a fight.


  • 6
    LadyImpactOhio Jul 6, 2016 Link to comment

    I have an iPad full size and an iPad mini. And a Samsung phone. Android is by far the superior operating system.

    Sergey Moraru


  • GrimJimCrowley 14
    GrimJimCrowley Jul 6, 2016 Link to comment

    If Samsung had it's own OS I'd use it. They already have an app store, and if they are able to add QC to the apps they put out then they'll run even better on their phones (like Apple apps). I know this goes against the spirit of Android phones, but I think what we all really want are phones that run well.

    Francesco V.Scott Adam Gordon


    • Scott Adam Gordon 31
      Scott Adam Gordon Jul 6, 2016 Link to comment

      "They already have an app store, and if they are able to add QC to the apps they put out then they'll run even better on their phones (like Apple apps)."

      It's a good point.


    • 2
      John Doe Jul 6, 2016 Link to comment

      GrimJimCrowley

      Samsung already has Tizen phones, called Z1 and Z3. It is not for sale in the US, but it is available in India/South Asia and in Russia.

      Tizen killed Android One in India and Bangladesh because Tizen phones are near iPhone fluid on low-end hardware unlike Android One phones.

      GrimJimCrowley


      • 22
        ljhaye Jul 6, 2016 Link to comment

        That is correct, a matter of fact Tizen is also gaining marketshare in the middle east. Scott did you properly research this article? Also don't forget the influence of the EU and their incessant antitrust claims against both Google and Android. Being open source is becoming a liability in both Russia and the EU and Google wants to control the Google play version of android in complete autonomy. So when the mythical Pixel phone arrives with a proprietary version of Google's android the Android OEM's will be left scrambling and again thats another reason why they are looking at controlling their own OS. Not to mention the recurring revenue that comes with it, as hardware alone is a losing proposition.


      • 3
        Gagan Singh Jul 11, 2016 Link to comment

        Tizen killed Android one in India? You must be kidding. Android phones from motorola, lenovo, xiaomi, honor and asus killed android one.


  • Vinicius. G. Romero 15
    Vinicius. G. Romero Jul 6, 2016 Link to comment

    Only thing that I'm pissed off right now with our beloved operating system is the Android 7.0. final name... Nougat. Ugh.

    Luis SalvatoreSergey MoraruScott Adam Gordon


    • Scott Adam Gordon 31
      Scott Adam Gordon Jul 6, 2016 Link to comment

      Haha true ture


    • Pieter Uys 8
      Pieter Uys Jul 8, 2016 Link to comment

      Maybe drown your sorrows by overdosing on a bottle of Nutella.


  • Carmelo Rivera 20
    Carmelo Rivera Jul 6, 2016 Link to comment

    4 out of every 5 cellphones sold in the world is an Android device. I 💚 Android.

    Scott Adam GordonDwarfer66Vinicius. G. Romero

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