Android One is effectively dormant. No new devices have launched since a Japan-exclusive Kyocera handset in early 2023, and no OEMs are (from what I've seen) actively developing Android One handsets. This FAQ is retained for historical context. See What is Android One? for the full background.
Android One and Android Enterprise Recommended were two different programmes with some overlap in their focus on security and consistency.
Android Enterprise Recommended is an active validation programme ensuring devices meet Google's minimum enterprise requirements - including hardware specifications appropriate for enterprise use. OEMs must publicly disclose the end date for security update support per device. OEMs maintain their own UIs, bundled apps, and value-adds. Note that Google dropped the mandatory 90-day security update and minimum OS upgrade requirements from the programme several years ago.
Android One went further on the software side. Devices in the programme used a system image developed with Google, offering a near-stock experience with minimal bloat. Security updates were required every 30 days, and devices supported two major OS upgrades - commitments that were stronger than AER at the time.
When combined, the two programmes offered a strong proposition: a clean, fast device with enterprise validation and aggressive update commitments.
In practice, the distinction is now historical. The Android ecosystem has matured significantly since Android One's peak. Leading OEMs like Samsung and Google now ship up to seven years of updates on flagships, with several years of support increasingly common on mid-range devices, making the update advantage Android One once held far less relevant. AER remains the active programme organisations should focus on for device selection, alongside checking the specific OEM's published update commitments for each device model.