In comparison to many third-party Android devices, which ship with a manufacturer's customized user interface and bundled apps, these devices run near-stock versions of Android with limited modifications, and a focus on Google services (although they may still feature software enhancements to support the features of included hardware, such as cameras).

The Android One program began in 2014, and was first positioned as a reference platform for low-end devices targeting emerging markets such as India.

In the years that followed, the Android One program expanded to target more territories and global releases, and to include mid-range and high-end devices as well.

[7] In 2014, Android One phones initially rolled out in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal,[8] Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Myanmar[9] and other South Asian countries.

[13] In 2016, SoftBank announced they would be the first carrier in Japan to introduce an Android One phone in the country, namely the Sharp 507SH which was released in late July 2016.

[14] On May 25, 2017, Turkish smartphone brand "General Mobile" released the next addition to their fully committed portfolio of Android One phones, the GM 6.

[citation needed] In February 2018, HMD Global, the maker of Nokia smartphones, announced that it had joined the Android One program.

[121][122] With the release of the Xiaomi Mi A1, Google is bringing a unified and consistent hardware and software experience to the developing world.

The flagship smartphone which runs on Android One was first made available on Jumia, one of the largest online retail stores in Nigeria.

Infinix Hot 2 comes with a 1.3 GHz Quadcore processor, 5-inch HD double glass screen, dual-SIM support, 16 GB ROM and Android 5.1.1 Lollipop pre-installed.

[138][139][140] The Snapdragon 410 devices are rebrands of the Longcheer L8150, which is based on the Qualcomm Seed reference design, explaining their similarities.