Google is threatening to remove the last big reason people choose Android over Apple, and… they are on the wrong sideload of history.
Keep Android Open: https://keepandroidopen.org/
https://developer.android.com/developer-verification
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/a-new-era-for-choice-and-openness.html
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/11/android-developer-verification-early.html
Can’t come at a worse time. People are just learning to make things through vibe coding, and they’re gonna want to put their own apps on their phones and their friend’s phones.
If Google embraced their side loading, it could become an even bigger selling point.
Holy shit that’s a terrible idea and the best reason I’ve ever heard for banning sideloading.
You say selling point but really it’s an exploitation point.