8 things users dont like about Android

Many people are die-hard Android fans and they cherish the platform. However, there are still some annoying aspects of Android that make users shake their heads in dismay.

• 10 Ways You're Ruining Your Android Experience Without Even Knowing It

Table of Contents

• 8. There is no easy way to check battery health
• 7. Disappointing Standby Battery Life
• 6. Available features change too much
• 5. PC integration is still bad
• 4. Junkware still exists
• 3. Advertise everywhere
• 2. Software updates take a long time
• 1. Poor resale value

8. There is no easy way to check battery health

When it comes to smartphones, battery health plays a huge role in how long your phone will last. Unfortunately, Android doesn't provide a simple, built-in way to check your battery health.

While some manufacturers, like Samsung, provide basic battery health indicators, most Android phones force you to rely on third-party apps or dig through hidden diagnostics menus to see how your battery is doing.

This makes it difficult to know when you need to replace your phone’s battery, which is something you can easily do on your iPhone, Mac, or even Windows laptop. While this isn’t a huge deal, having detailed information about your battery health right on your device would make things a lot easier.

7. Disappointing Standby Battery Life

While most Android phones now have fast charging capabilities, their battery life in Standby mode remains disappointing. If you’ve used both Android phones and iPhones over the years, one thing that always stands out is how well the iPhone conserves power in Standby mode. On the other hand, you’ll always wonder why your Android phone’s battery drains so quickly, even with minimal use.

It's frustrating to leave your Android phone fully charged overnight, then wake up to find the battery drained by 10-20% for no apparent reason. The main culprit here is poor software optimization.

Sure, you can limit background activity or enable powerful battery optimization features, but then you'll run into other issues like delayed notifications, sync issues, or even poor performance.

6. Available features change too much

Unlike the iPhone, where features are implemented uniformly across all devices, you never know exactly what you're getting or missing when you buy a new Android phone. Since the Android operating system is used by so many different brands — Samsung, Google, OnePlus, Xiaomi, etc. — each manufacturer decides which features to include, tweak, or even remove.

For example, one of the most popular Android features, Circle to Search, is only available on certain Android phones and tablets. Likewise, Samsung phones have some features that other Android phones don't have, and vice versa.

Even if two phones run the same version of Android and have similar specs, they can still feel significantly different depending on the brand. This inconsistency can make it frustrating if you decide to switch to a different phone brand, because the experience is inconsistent.

5. PC integration is still bad

Android users can't help but envy the way iPhone users enjoy features like AirDrop , iMessage syncing, and Continuity between Mac and iPhone. For all the progress Android has made over the years, it still lags far behind iOS in this area.

Android users often have to rely on third-party apps to get a similar experience to Windows. This may not be a big deal for everyone, but as someone who works on a computer all day, it's a big miss.

Sure, some manufacturers like Samsung offer a more cohesive experience. But that’s only useful if you’re using a Galaxy phone with a Galaxy Book laptop. And while Microsoft’s Phone Link app improves things a bit, it still feels clunky compared to Apple’s seamless ecosystem.

4. Junkware still exists

Another big problem with Android phones is bloatware – pre-installed apps that you don't ask for and, in many cases, can't even be removed. This is especially common if you buy from a carrier or certain brands.

This isn't just a problem with budget devices. Even top-of-the-line Galaxy phones come pre-installed with apps from Samsung, Google, and Microsoft.

Sure, you can uninstall or at least disable some of them, but that takes time. Worse still, on certain phones, the only way to actually remove the bloatware is to use ADB commands—a process that isn’t very user-friendly.

The only exceptions here are the Pixel and a few other devices that offer a cleaner Android experience, but not everyone wants—or can afford—a Pixel.

3. Advertise everywhere

If you've ever used a budget Android phone that doesn't run stock Android , you know how annoying ads can be. From lock screen ads to annoying notifications and pop-ups, some Android devices simply ruin the experience with ads.

Many manufacturers — like Xiaomi, Oppo, and OnePlus — push promotions into their budget phones to help generate sales. Even Samsung, considered a premium brand, has been known to offer ads through its Galaxy Store notifications and Samsung Push Service.

While some of these ads can be disabled through settings, that's not always possible. The Play Store is also now flooded with "Sponsored" content, making it harder to discover apps that are actually useful.

2. Software updates take a long time

Unless you own a Google Pixel, the time between Android updates can feel like a century. The situation gets even worse when carriers get involved—first, manufacturers tweak updates for their custom skins, then carriers do their own testing, further delaying the rollout.

Even within the same brand, update releases can vary depending on region and hardware variants. Worse still, most Android phone manufacturers are often vague about their update schedules, leaving you with no idea when—or if—you’ll get the latest version of Android.

While companies like Samsung promise long-term software support on their flagship models, the pace of these updates leaves a lot to be desired. By the time your phone finally gets the latest version of Android, Google may have already announced the next major update.

1. Poor resale value

Perhaps the biggest downside to owning an Android phone is its poor resale value. Sure, most people don’t buy phones with the intention of selling them later. But for those who like to upgrade every few years, this is a big deal.

Android devices depreciate much faster than iPhones. With new phone models flooding the market every year and fierce competition between brands, prices often drop quickly – sometimes just months after the phone is released.

Of course, there are a number of factors that affect a phone's resale value, such as the brand, condition, and demand for the phone. However, you'll often find that flagship Android phones depreciate much faster than iPhones.

Ultimately, no operating system is perfect. Despite its many strengths, Android does have some annoying flaws that even the most dedicated Android users among us can’t deny. Still, people love using Android, and hopefully these issues will improve in the years to come.