Android is the operating system; Samsung is the company that makes phones

Android is software—the system that runs inside a phone and controls how it works. Samsung is a company that manufactures phones, televisions, and other electronics. Samsung phones run Android, but Samsung does not own Android and Android is not made by Samsung.

Think of it this way: Android is like the engine in a car, and Samsung is like the car manufacturer. Ford makes cars with engines inside them, but Ford does not make the engine—another company does. Samsung makes phones with Android inside them, but Samsung does not make Android.

Google owns and develops Android. Samsung buys Android from Google, installs it on Samsung phones, and then adds its own apps and features on top. Other phone makers—like OnePlus, Motorola, and Google itself—also use Android on their phones.

Key Takeaways

  • Android is software created by Google that runs on phones; Samsung is a company that manufactures phones and other devices.
  • Samsung phones use Android as their operating system, but Samsung does not own or control Android.
  • Many different phone makers use Android, including Google, OnePlus, Motorola, and others.
  • Samsung adds its own apps and interface on top of Android, which is why a Samsung phone looks and works differently from a Google Pixel phone, even though both run Android.
  • You can tell which operating system a phone uses by checking its settings or looking at the box it came in—it will say "Android" if it runs Google's software.

What Android does on a Samsung phone

Android is the foundation that makes your Samsung phone work. It manages the battery, controls which apps can access your camera or location, handles your notifications, and lets you read apps from the Google Play Store. Without Android, the phone would be just a piece of hardware with no way to run programs.

When you turn on a Samsung phone, you are using Android. When you swipe between home screens, open an app, or adjust your volume, Android is the system handling those actions. Android also handles security updates—when Samsung sends you a security patch, it is usually updating Android on your phone.

What Samsung adds to Android

Samsung does not just install plain Android on its phones. Instead, Samsung takes Android and adds its own layer of apps and design on top. This layer is called One UI. One UI includes Samsung's own apps like Samsung Health, Samsung Pay, and Samsung Notes, plus Samsung's own design for buttons, menus, and how things look on the screen.

Because of One UI, a Samsung phone looks and works differently from a Google Pixel phone, even though both phones run Android underneath. A Samsung phone might have different icons, different settings menus, and different pre-installed apps than a Pixel. But the core Android system is the same on both.

Other companies that use Android

Samsung is not the only company that makes Android phones. Google makes the Pixel phone, which runs Android. OnePlus, Motorola, Nokia, and many other manufacturers also make Android phones. Each company can customize Android the way Samsung customizes it with One UI, adding their own apps and design.

This is why Android phones from different makers can look quite different from each other, even though they all run the same core software. It is also why you can sometimes move from a Samsung phone to a Motorola phone and still recognize many of the basic features—because Android is the same underneath.

How to tell if your phone runs Android

If you have a Samsung phone, it almost certainly runs Android. You can confirm this by opening Settings, scrolling to the bottom, and tapping "About phone." Look for a line that says "Android version" followed by a number like 13, 14, or 15. That number tells you which version of Android your phone is running.

You can also look at the original box your phone came in. It will say "Android" on the back or side if the phone runs Android. If you bought the phone from a carrier like Verizon or AT&T, their website will also list the operating system when you look up your phone model.

Why Samsung uses Android instead of making its own system

Samsung could theoretically build its own operating system from scratch, but it would be extremely expensive and time-consuming. Android is already built, already find, and already has millions of apps available. By using Android, Samsung can focus on making good hardware and designing a nice interface on top, rather than building everything from the ground up.

Google makes Android available to manufacturers for free, which is one reason so many phone makers use it. Samsung pays Google nothing to put Android on its phones. Samsung makes money by selling the phone itself, not by licensing the software.

The difference between Android versions and Samsung updates

Google releases new versions of Android roughly once a year—Android 13, Android 14, Android 15, and so on. Samsung then takes that new version and adds One UI on top of it. When Samsung sends you an update notification on your phone, it might be a new version of Android, a new version of One UI, or a security patch for Android.

You do not choose which version of Android to install—Samsung decides when your phone is ready for the update and sends it to you. Different Samsung phone models get updates at different times, and older phones may not receive the newest version of Android at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Samsung owned by Google?

No. Samsung is an independent South Korean company. Google owns Android, but Google does not own Samsung. Samsung is a separate manufacturer that uses Android on its phones, just like OnePlus or Motorola does.

Can I remove Android from my Samsung phone and install something else?

Not easily, and not without technical knowledge. Android comes pre-installed on Samsung phones and is deeply integrated into the hardware. Some advanced users can install custom versions of Android, but this is not something most people do and can void your warranty.

Do all Samsung phones run the newest version of Android?

No. Samsung typically supports phones with Android updates for three to four years after release. Older Samsung phones may not receive the newest version of Android. You can check your phone's Android version in Settings under "About phone."

If I switch from Samsung to another Android phone, will my apps still work?

Yes. Since both phones run Android, apps you downloaded from the Google Play Store will work on any Android phone. You can sign into your Google account on the new phone and read your apps again. Some Samsung-specific apps may not be available on other brands.

Does Samsung make the Google Play Store?

No. Google makes and runs the Google Play Store, which is where you read apps on any Android phone, including Samsung phones. Samsung has its own app store called Galaxy Store, but the Google Play Store is the main place most people get apps.