Android 10 It marked a turning point in the development of mobile operating systems, presenting itself as a version packed with new features and fundamental changes in terms of privacy, security, gesture navigation, customization, and resource optimization. However, beyond its improvements, many enthusiasts and technology experts are looking at a less visible but equally relevant aspect: Android 10 features that were left out or that never saw the light of day after their time in beta versions, as well as the evolution of Android throughout its history and the competitive context compared to other layers and customizations from manufacturers.
Taking an in-depth look at these removed features, along with a thorough review of all the features, improvements, and differences in Android 10 compared to competitors and previous versions, allows us to understand both the limitations such as potential of this operating system within the Android ecosystem.
Android 10 Highlights: What Did It Really Bring?
Before we dive into the features that Google left behind, it's worth remembering the key features of Android 10 that were part of its official version, positioning it as one of the most influential updates since its origins:
- System-level dark mode, allowing for a more comfortable viewing experience and energy savings on OLED displays.
- Strengthened privacy controls: Granular settings for location, permission control, and restricted access to clipboard and media data.
- Smart reply to notifications and automatic subtitles on video content, increasing accessibility.
- New gesture navigation system, more intuitive and closer to the industry standard.
- System updates via Google Play (Project Mainline), facilitating bug fixes and security patches without relying on the manufacturer.
- Optimized compatibility with foldable displays and emerging technologies.
These improvements, combined with the consolidation of the Android brand as a visual and conceptual identity, represented a further step towards the balance between customization, to maximise security and your enjoyment. y performanceHowever, the development of Android 10 was also marked by the absence of components and features that promised to revolutionize everyday use but were, for various reasons, dismissed or postponed.
Removed features in Android 10: What Google dropped after the beta
During the beta phases, Android 10 It attracted the attention of enthusiasts for a number of innovative features that, unfortunately, never made it into the stable version. We take a detailed look at the most significant ones:
1. Automatic dark mode scheduling
One of the most requested objectives by users has been the dark mode automation, especially on devices with OLED displays. The Android 10 beta allowed users to schedule times to enable or disable the dark theme (for example, based on sunset and sunrise), something that was maintained in customization layers from manufacturers like Samsung with One UI, but which Google removed from the final version of pure Android. This decision surprised the community, as automation represents both a functional and aesthetic advantage, facilitating eye health and energy savings.
2. Automated rules and contextual action scheduling
The possibility of creating rules for scheduling automatic actions was another feature detected in the first developments of Android 10. With this system, the user could predetermine routines, for example, activate driving mode and open specific applications when connecting the terminal via Bluetooth to the car, or automatically silence the device upon arriving at work. Although these possibilities are available through third-party applications such as Tasker, native Android hid them behind special permissions and, in practice, they were only accessible in rooted Pixel devices.
3. Native screen recorder
La screen recording It's been a native feature in most Android customization layers for years. Google initially included a hidden screen recorder in Android 10 beta, with the intention of officially integrating it into its pure system. However, the feature disappeared in the public version, forcing users to rely on third-party apps.
Interestingly, this omission was accompanied by Google's refusal to implement other requested features such as scrolling screenshot, a feature that allows taking full screenshots of long pages or lists, and which is still a pending issue in some models with pure Android.
4. Other historical functions removed or modified in recent versions
The evolutionary process of Android has involved both the incorporation and the elimination of classical functions which for many users represented a differentiating advantage:
- Notification ticker: Notification preview in the top bar, replaced by floating notifications (Heads Up).
- Widgets on the lock screen, present in versions like Jelly Bean and removed in Lollipop.
- Option to move applications to the microSD card, very useful on devices with little storage, limited by new security policies and the abandonment of adoptable external storage in many recent models.
- Android Beam: NFC-based system for sharing files between devices, permanently removed in Android 10 in favor of more agile options such as Nearby Share (based on Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and WebRTC).
- USB connection as mass storage, replaced by PTP/MTP protocols and the inability to use the device as a real “pendrive”.
- Recording phone calls: Restricted in terms of permissions due to privacy and regional regulations, making it necessary to rely on manufacturers that offer the feature natively in some markets.
- Customizing navigation and home screens: Since Android Pie, home screen customization (changing the order, choosing the main one, etc.) has been limited to the official launcher and the option remains only in third-party launchers like Nova Launcher.
- Selecting a camera to capture images in third-party apps: Since Android 11, the feature is restricted to the official camera, preventing the use of alternative camera apps in shared contexts.
These examples show how Android has been simplifying and shielding its experience, prioritizing the to maximise security and your enjoyment., the privacy and interface consistency, but at the cost of sacrificing the flexibility and customization that characterized the system in its early stages.
Android fragmentation: how it affects the adoption of new versions and features
An inherent aspect of the Android ecosystem is the fragmentationThe diversity of manufacturers, models, and customization layers means that not all devices receive updates immediately or uniformly. In fact, for a long time, versions like Android 10 have been the most widely used worldwide, even after the release of newer versions like Android 11, 12, 13, and 14, due to:
- Uneven update rates according to the manufacturer.
- Limited support for older terminals, which often run out of updates after two or three years.
- Google Play Services Policies to extend the lifespan of applications and security beyond system updates.
According to the most recent figures, Android version distribution still shows a significant presence of Android 10 on active phones, surpassing the most recent versions in many cases, especially in markets where device renewals are less frequent. This directly influences the availability and actual use of advanced features and the need for developers to maintain backward compatibility.
Stock Android vs. Custom Layers: Who's Driving Innovation?
Historically, Pure Android (or "Stock Android") has been rated for its stability, simplicity y quick updates, especially on Google Pixel devices and, previously, the Nexus family. However, the pace of innovation in new features has often been led by manufacturers such as Samsung (One UI), Xiaomi (MIUI), Huawei (EMUI), or Oppo (ColorOS), which integrate exclusive features and advanced customizations long before they become standardized in the base system.
Clear examples of this have been:
- Programmable dark mode, available in One UI and other layers long before pure Android.
- Native screen recorder, extended screenshots, and advanced notification management present in MIUI and EMUI.
- Advanced home automation options, multitasking, game modes, battery optimization, and deep customization manufacturer exclusives.
This has generated a perception where the system Pure Android seems to be trailing from its own derivatives in terms of end-user-oriented innovation. However, Google's adoption of features often entails greater standardization, optimization, and security support, which strengthens the foundation of the ecosystem.
News, history, and evolution: How Android has changed since then
To contextualize the importance of the changes introduced (and those discarded), it is essential to review historically how the Android operating system has evolved since its inception, observing the arrival and disappearance of functions:
- First era (Android 1.0 – 2.3): Focus on core functionality, first native apps, widgets, simple notifications, Google integration.
- Consolidation (Android 3.0 – 4.4): Holo interface, evolved notification bar, multitasking, basic permission management, first customization features, lock screen widgets.
- Upgrade (Android 5 – 8.1): Material Design, Project Volta (battery optimization), multi-window support, quick settings, Project Treble (update modularization), first measures against call recording and moving apps to SD, permissions and security reinforcement.
- Maturity (Android 9 – 11): Gesture navigation, granular permission and location control, Digital Wellbeing, accelerated updates via Google Play, privacy and data control improvements, enhanced visual experience (dark mode, dynamic themes), legacy disappearance (Android Beam, lock widgets, notification ticker).
- Latest versions (Android 12 and later): Material You (automatic color matching), increased modularization, advanced customization, proactive security (real-time malware detection, private space), support for foldable devices, built-in AI, increased emphasis on privacy, and cross-platform experience.
This tour shows the constant tension between simplification for the average user, to maximise security and your enjoyment. in the face of new threats and the demand for customization and flexibility typical of advanced users. Each version incorporates new arrivals and removes features as market needs and technical or legal challenges change.
Updates and Risks: What Happens If Your Phone Stops Support?
With each Android lifecycle, millions of devices stop receiving updates, both at the discretion of manufacturers and due to compatibility and resource constraints. This poses several risks and limitations:
- Lack of security updates, open vulnerabilities and increased exposure to malware.
- Progressive incompatibility with new applications and services, especially on devices with versions lower than Android 8.
- Loss of functions and access to new benefits (For example, Google will stop updating Play Services on older models, and apps like WhatsApp and streaming platforms will gradually become unsupported.)
- Fragmentation of experience and condemnation to planned obsolescence, forcing the device to be renewed for security and functionality reasons.
Google has also implemented mechanisms such as Google Play Protect and independent updates of the main apps through the Play Store to extend their useful life, but the evolution of hardware and new system demands accelerate the functional expiration of models that are more than 3 or 4 years old.
Issues detected after updating to Android 10 and how to address them
Not only the removed features have been the subject of debate around Android 10. Numerous users of various brands (Google Pixel, OnePlus, Xiaomi, etc.) reported stability issues After updating to this version:
- Freezing applications: When an app crashed, it was sometimes impossible to close it, open multitasking, or operate the device, forcing you to lock and unlock the device to regain control.
- Incompatibilities with third-party launchers: Although not exclusive to the official launcher, the instability affected both native launchers and Nova Launcher and Action Launcher.
- Performance issues on mid-range devices, with lag, forced closures and loss of fluidity in animations.
While these bugs have largely been fixed through patches and successive updates, they highlight the importance of backing up before updating and monitoring developer and community responses to potential critical bugs in new releases.
List of phones that received Android 10: most compromised manufacturers
The rollout of Android 10 was particularly significant due to the variety of brands and models that received it, including:
- Google Pixel (all generations since Pixel 1).
- OnePlus: 5, 5T, 6, 6T, 7, 7T, 7 Pro, 7T Pro, 8 series.
- Samsung: Galaxy S, Note, A and some M families.
- Xiaomi and Redmi: Mi, Mi Note, Mi Mix, Redmi Note, and Poco series.
- Huawei and Honor: Mate 20, P30, Honor 20 and other major models.
- Nokia: Nokia 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 series.
- Oppo, Vivo, Asustek, Sony Xperia, LG and other manufacturers committed to global updates.
The update pace varied by manufacturer and model range, with the Pixels remaining the benchmark for speed and Android One models serving as a stable alternative for those seeking long-term support and a pure experience.
What do users think about the evolution of Android?
Opinions about Android and its customization layers have evolved in line with changes to the operating system:
- Many users value the Simplicity, speed, and cleanliness of stock Android, as well as priority access to security updates and experimental features.
- Others prefer layers like One UI, MIUI or EMUI for the wealth of advanced features, customization and exclusive utilities not present in pure Android.
- The main claim continues to be the speed in the arrival of updates and the agile incorporation of useful functions detected in the competition.
- Security and privacy control in permissions have become differentiating factors, especially in markets with high concerns about the handling of personal data.
The flexibility to choose between different layers maintains Android's essence as an open system, although the trend is toward greater standardization and control by Google to avoid excessive fragmentation.
Many Features removed or deprecated in Android 10 have returned in later versions (for example, the screen recorder was finally implemented natively in Android 11 and dark mode scheduling has appeared through manufacturer-specific solutions or in recent versions). The current pace of development, focused on to maximise security and your enjoyment., IA y customization, leaves the door open for Google to recover and standardize those features that are most in demand among users, such as advanced routine scheduling, intelligent storage management, cross-platform customization, and exclusive functions for foldable devices and wearables.
Android's journey shows a constant evolution toward a balance between innovation, agility, and security, adapting to technological changes and user demands. Although some features are lost along the way, the Android community always finds ways to supplement and reinvent them through apps, mods, and future versions of the system.
