mdf: *Super* interesting post, thanks @NikT.

I haven't been anywhere near Samsung in ages - I've been one of those puritan stuck firmly in the (near) stock Android camp. Now I'll need to give it another look, but would be keen for any thoughts on how they stack up on the non-removable factory apps/bloatware nowadays? This has always frustrated me something chronic; even Xperias (which I otherwise really like) have some rubbish that I wish I could remove instead of just disabling.

There's really not much, just one app per telco which can be disabled and the Microsoft Office suite which is reasonably handy for most folks. We're fairly lucky in NZ as the telcos aren't intent on shipping a lot of guff with devices and aren't as OTT intrusive/pedantic as their notorious Australian counterparts. Samsung have significantly toned down the number of preloaded apps as well and even offer a screen in the setup wizard through which you can select which of their apps to download - calculator, email, browser and so forth - if you'd prefer to use Google's preloaded suite.

I'm in favour of most of the Samsung apps these days, especially the browser which is A+ excellent and leagues better than vanilla Chrome.

Not so fondly recalling Sony's software circa Xperia Z2 when they mapped the swipe up from the home button to their "What's New" app instead of Google Now.

It is handy to know the ADB commands to disable apps as this is still useful from time to time - ADB shell pm uninstall [app package name] - for example disabling HiBoard ("com.huawei.intelligent", that thing to the left of the main homscreen) on Huawei devices running EMUI 9 will give you Google's Discover feed instead.

I could go on about how Android, iOS, and Windows have all been built in the US with US users in the forefront and software design/UX is now a form of cultural imperialism, but then we'd be here all day. Suffice to say, again, I'm glad we get so much choice, especially here in little ol' NZ.