Question: There are a lot of system apps in my mobile that I do not use, and have no intention of ever using. I know that is is possible to [uninstall system apps and bloatware with root](https://android.stackexchange.com/questions/6851/how-can-i-uninstall-applications-that-are-locked-by-phone-vendor), but is it possible without root?

Are there any non-root options that will help me to deal with unwanted system applications?

Answer: 
No, that is impossible -- as only root can make the system partition writable (which is required to delete a system app, which is stored there). However, using ICS (Android 4.0) or above, you can at least "freeze" them (make it "invisible and unusable") -- and, if you later decide otherwise, also unfreeze them again (see e.g. [How to Remove / Disable the Bloatware Apps in the HTC One X](http://androidadvices.com/remove-disable-bloatware-apps-htc/) or [Bye-bye, bloatware: Disable system apps in Android Ice Cream Sandwich](https://blogs.computerworld.com/article/2471733/mobile-apps/bye-bye--bloatware--disable-system-apps-in-android-ice-cream-sandwich.html)).
I agree with Izzy's answer mostly, however *technically* it is possible to do so without.

Background:

* System apps reside at /system/app/\*
* /system is a separate partition that is mounted read-only during normal use
* Some phones (HTC) even lock the flash partition to disallow any write
* Normally one gains root on the normal system to make /system writeable and remove stuff with root rights there
* Rooting is the process of becoming root on the normal Android system and make this persistent by installing some file (/usr/xbin/su and such)

To remove apps without rooting one would have to not root his phone but find another means to remove unneeded apps from /system

* On Google Nexus devices one would unlock and boot a temporary custom recovery to do that (no rooting of the normal Android instance)
* With Samsung devices one could use the same approach like CF-Root does (download partition, modify, write back)
* Or just run an exploit withouth the rooting procedure afterwards and use that temporary root to do all needed cleanup

Bottom line: Rooting and then doing it is far easier. I just wanted to explain that it is indeed possible technically