Android: Can Google finally clean up the bloatware problem?

While nothing is more exciting than unboxing a brand-new phone and setting it up, the prevalence of bloatware spoils the experience. Whether you have a Google Pixel or a flagship Samsung device, you cannot escape preinstalled apps. They take up your phone’s storage space, clutter the UI, affect performance, and drain battery life. Although you can remove bloatware by uninstalling unwanted apps, it can feel tedious. The bloatware problem remains even more persistent on budget and carrier-branded smartphones. It is clear that users are frustrated by the prevalence of preinstalled apps, so why isn’t Google making a better effort to clean up Android’s bloatware problem?