Google’s Android One handsets have typically been aimed at emerging markets. The idea is to provide customers who are on tight budgets with an Android smartphone that has an affordable price tag, no bloatware, as well as access to timely updates. In a way you could almost think of Android One handsets as the a Nexus/Pixel phone.
However interestingly enough it seems that Google has decided that maybe the US would be perfect for such devices. In a report from The Information (paywall; via The Verge), they claim that they have learnt that Google will be bringing the Android One platform over to the US in which one of the goals is to address the update problems.
As it stands the market is already flooded with budget Android devices, but with Android One, just like the Nexus and Pixel handsets, Google will have more control over what goes into these phones. A good example would be Huawei’s decision to load Amazon’s Alexa onto the Huawei Mate 9 which apparently caused some tension between the company and Google.
So by bringing Android One devices to the US, Google can ensure that more phones will be under their control, or at least that’s the theory. Whether or not the US market will respond well to these budget handsets remains to be seen, but until the handsets are launched, do take it with a grain of salt.
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