Samsung to trim Google apps bloat in future smartphones

Samsung Galaxy devices come pre-installed with many apps from Google, Microsoft, and Meta. While the apps vary by country or region, you may have noticed a bundle of Google Apps on your new Samsung Galaxy.

Well, this may change in the future.

Samsung may get the freedom to install selected Google app bloat on Galaxy phones. The Android maker is facing a lot of trouble given its monopoly in the search market. US DoJ proposed that Google should sell off Android and Chrome.

Google won’t easily lose its control over Android and Chrome. The company proposed a few changes that would shuffle the Android landscape. There are many cross-proposals from Google, while the most interesting is about apps.

Simply put, Samsung would be able to decide which Google applications to be pre-installed on Galaxy phones. If this happens, the company would get a free hand to promote its app ecosystem, which is already available on Galaxy phones.

Google’s remedies proposal in DOJ’s search distribution case

Google proposed additional flexibility for Android OEMs to preload any Google app independently of preloading Google Chrome and Google Search.

If Google goes ahead as it said in its remedies, Samsung may not be forced to ship Galaxy phones with pre-installed apps like Google Drive, Google Home, and YouTube Music.

Apps like Google Maps, Google Search, and YouTube will continue to be included on the OS level as there’s no famous alternative in Android or Samsung.

Samsung phones may have the least impact even after DoJ accepts remedies proposed by Google. Both firms enjoy deep collaboration on hardware and software as well as the Android ecosystem.