This is a comparison on mobile operating systems. Only the latest versions are shown in the table below, even though older versions may still be marketed.
Feature | Android | iOS | HarmonyOS | Tizen | KaiOS | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | Mobian[1] | Plasma Mobile | PureOS | PostmarketOS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Developed by | Google, Open Handset Alliance | Apple Inc. | Huawei | Linux Foundation, Tizen Association, Samsung, Intel | KaiOS Technologies Inc.(TCL) | Sailfish Alliance, Mer, Jolla and Sailfish community contributors | UBports and Ubuntu community contributors (previously Canonical Ltd.) | Debian on Mobile Team | KDE and Blue Systems | Purism | PostmarketOS community |
Market share[2][3][4] | 71.90% | 27.33% | 3% | 0.22% | 0.14% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
License | Base system is open source, but many devices use proprietary drivers for hardware support, and most Android operating systems include Proprietary apps (such as Google Play and other Google apps). | Proprietary, open source kernel and core | Proprietary except for open-source components | Partial; both proprietary and open-source components, assorted licenses | Proprietary except for open source kernel patches (formerly the MPL 2.0 B2G OS) | Free and open-source, but the UI and the SDK are proprietary and closed source | Free and open-source, mainly the GPL[7] | Free and open-source, mainly the GPL | Free and open-source, mainly the GPL | Free and open-source, mainly the GPL | Free and open-source, GPL |
Current version | 14 | 17.0 | 4.0.0.121 | 4.0.0.7 | 2.6.0 | 4.5.0.24 | 16.04 OTA-22 | 20210516 | 5.24.3 | 10.0 | 21.12 Service Pack 3 |
Development version | 14 | 17.1 | HarmonyOS NEXT DP1 4.0.0 | 6.0 M2 | N/A | Unknown | Unknown | 20220612 | Unknown | Unknown | N/A |
Current version release dates | October 4, 2023 | September 18, 2023 | September 26, 2023; 2 months ago | May 30, 2020[8] | September 12, 2023[9] | February 18, 2022 | May 16, 2021 | March 8, 2022 | October 2, 2021 | March 13, 2022 | |
OS family | Modified Linux kernel based | Darwin | Unix-like (modified AOSP) and LiteOS on OpenHarmony until HarmonyOS NEXT | Linux (based on a combination of Linux MeeGo and Samsung Bada) | Firefox OS / Open Web (based on Linux kernel) | Linux | Linux (based on Ubuntu) | Linux (based on Debian) | Linux (mainly based on KDE neon ) | Linux (based on Debian) | Linux (based on Alpine Linux) |
Supported CPU architecture | ARM (32-bit ARMv7-A and 64-bit ARMv8-A only), x86, x86-64[10] | 64-bit ARMv8-A only | 64-bit ARM, x86, x86-64, RISC-V and LoongArch | ARM, x86, x86-64 | ARM | ARM, x86-64 | ARM, x86-64 | 64-bit ARM, RISC-V, x86, x86-64 and LoongArch | ARM | ARM, ? | Convergence operating system |
Programmed in | C, C++, Java, Kotlin | C, C++, Objective-C, Swift | C, C++, Java and ArkTS | C++, Xamarin.Forms (.NET C#, F#, VB[11]) | HTML5, JavaScript | C++, QML, Python | Apps: HTML5, QML, Go, JavaScript, C++ System: C, C++, QML |
C, C++ | C++, QML | Python install tool and shell script packages | |
Public issues list | Yes[12] | 3rd party[13] | Yes[14] | Yes[15] | No[16] | Yes[17] | Yes[18] | Yes[19] | Yes[20] | Yes[21] | Yes[22] |
DRM-free[23] | No[24] since Android 4.1[25] and Android 4.3[26] and more restrictions on Android 4.4[27] | No – FairPlay | No – Huawei WisePlay[28] | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | ||||
Device independent system updates | Partial system updates since Oreo[29] 3rd party software like LineageOS[30] | Yes[31] | Yes[32] | No | For feature phones, not smart phones | Yes | Yes[33] | ? | Yes.[34] Intended for use on old mobile devices | ||
Wireless system updates | Yes | 5+[35] | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | ? | ||||
GPU accelerated GUI | 3+[36] | Yes | Yes. Since 3.0[37] | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ||||
Feature | Android | iOS | HarmonyOS | Tizen | KaiOS | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | Mobian[1] | Plasma Mobile | PureOS | PostmarketOS |
Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
While-in-use permissions | 10+ | 11+: Location only[38] | No | No | Yes | 3.0+ |
Per-app Internet access | No,[39] 3rd party software[40] | 7+: Cellular only;[41] 3rd party software on jailbroken devices[42] | No | No | No | No |
Per-app identity access | 8+[43] | 6+[44][45] | No | No | Yes | 2.0+ |
Per-app user data access | 6+[46] | 6+[47] | No | No | Yes | 3.0+ |
Per-app background execution | No,[48] 3rd party apps available[49] | 7+[50] | No | No | Background execution not allowed | 2.0+ |
Per-app notifications | 4.1+[51] | 5+[52][53] | No | No | Yes | 2.0+ |
Per-app location access | 6+[46] | 4+[54] | No | No | Yes | 2.0+ |
Per-app camera access | 6+[46] | 8+[55] | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Per-app microphone access | 6+[46] | 7+[56] | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Per-app shared files access | 6+[46] | 8+[57] | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Per-app network data usage auditing | 4+[58] | Yes[59] | ? | No[60] | No | Yes |
Fine grained storage usage | Yes[61] | 5+[62] | ? | No | Yes | Yes |
Parental controls | 4.3+ or 3rd party software[63] | Yes[64] | ? | No | No | 2.0+ |
Screen orientation lock | Yes[65] | Yes[66] | ? | 1.0.4+[67] | Yes | 2.0+ |
File manager | 6.0+[68] | 11+[69] | 3rd party software[70] | Yes[71] | Yes | Yes |
File manager write access to external storage | 6+ Or 3rd party software like LineageOS | 13+ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Multi-user | 4.2+, including phones 5+[72][73] | 9.3+: Education use only on iPad[74] | No | 3.4.0+ | No | Yes |
Guest mode | 5+[75] | 6+[76] | No | 3.4.0+ | No | Yes |
Guided Access | Yes[77] | Yes[78] | No | No | No | 3.0+[79] |
Do not disturb mode | 5+[80] | 6+[81] | No | No | No | 2.0+ |
App groups | Yes | 4+[82] | ? | 1.0.7+[83] | Yes | Yes |
Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
System wide base text size | Yes | Yes[84][85][86] | ? | 2.1.0+: Set text size[87] | 3rd party software[88] | Yes |
Monaural output | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
Always visible scrollbar | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Reduced Animations | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Official app store | Google Play | App Store | Tizen Store | Jolla Store | OpenStore | AppGallery |
Non-discriminatory stores | No, Some apps like Ad blockers are censored on Google Play[89][90] but developers can distribute apps from their own sources | No, Apple discriminates based on country[91] and own Apple policies[92] | ? | Openrepos.[93] Developers can distribute apps from their own sources, supports multiple app stores | Yes | No, Huawei discriminates based on country and own Huawei AppGallery policies for native based HarmonyOS apps. But OpenHarmony developers can distribute apps from their own sources[94] |
Common APIs for smartphones, tablets, and PCs | Yes[95] | Smartphone and tablet only[96] | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Official SDK platform(s) | Linux, macOS and Windows[97] | macOS using iOS SDK | Linux, Windows, macOS[98] | Windows, macOS and Linux[99] | Yes | macOS and Windows[100] |
Cost to develop for the mobile OS | Free | No, Requires Apple hardware.[101] | Free | Free | Free | Free |
Cost to publish app to official store | US$25 once to register to offer on Google Play[102] | US$99/year | Free | Free[103] | Free | Free |
Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Default web browser/engine | Blink | WebKit | WebKit | Gecko[104] | Qt WebEngine (based on Blink) | Blink, Webkit |
Major web browsers available[105] | Chrome for Android, Opera, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Samsung Internet | Safari, Chrome for iOS, Opera, Firefox, Microsoft Edge | Tizen Browser (Based on UC Browser) | Sailfish Browser (Gecko), Webcat (WebKit), Web Pirate (WebKit), others via Android (Firefox, Chrome, Opera) | Morph Browser | Huawei Browser, Microsoft Edge (Blink), UC Browser (Blink, V8), Opera browser (Blink, V8), Yandex Browser (Blink), Vivaldi Browser (Blink, V8) |
Browser can use its own engine | Yes | No[106] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Browser extensions | No[107] 3rd party software[108] | 8+[109] | No | No | No | No |
Browser direct Internet connection (increased resilience to outages) | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | Yes |
Browser undo close tab | Google Chrome for Android[110] | 8+[111] | No | No | No | No[112] |
Browser keeps windows open on shutdown or crash | 2.3+ Google Chrome[113] but not on the deprecated AOSP browser[114] | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Browser keeps windows open when cleaning cookies | Yes | 3rd party software[115] | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Browser search engine options | Baidu, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, Google, lilo, Peekier, Qwant, Wikipedia, Yahoo[116] | Bing, Google, Yahoo! Search, Baidu, DuckDuckGo | ||||
Browser find on page | 1.5+[117] | Yes[118] | Yes | 1.1.2+[119] | Yes | Yes |
Browser–email save images | Yes | Yes[120] | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Browser–email save PDFs | Yes | Yes[66] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Browser save audio/video | Yes, but only links, not embedded media | 13+;[121] 5+: 3rd party software[122] |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Browser save page | Yes, Google Chrome 55+[123] | 6+: Offline Reading List;[124] 3rd party software[125] | Yes | 4.0.1.48+ | Yes | Yes |
Browser save any file | Yes, Chrome for Android. | 13+;[121] 5+: When an app that can handle/open the filetype is installed (excluding audio/video – requires 3rd party software[126]);[127] |
? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Browser force enable zoom | Yes, Chrome for Android | Yes[128] | ? | ? | ? | No |
Browser text reflow[129] | No, removed on Android 4.4[130][131] | 5+: Only on pages with reader mode available[132][133] 3rd party browsers on prior versions[134] | No | No | No | No |
Browser Reader Mode | No,[135] 3rd party software[136][137] | 5+[132][133] | Yes | No[138] | No | No |
Browser open PDFs without storing | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Browser file upload | 2.2+[139] | 9+; 6–8: Limited |
Yes | 1.0.7+[140] | Yes | Yes |
Browser form navigation | Next button[141] | Previous, Next, AutoFill, and Done buttons[142] | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
Browser private browsing mode | 3.0+ with AOSP browser[143] or with Chrome for Android | 5+[144] | Yes | 1.1.6+[145] | Yes | Yes |
Offline web apps | Yes[146] | Yes[147][148][149] | No | ? | Yes | Yes |
HTTP Live Streaming | 3+[150] | 3+[151] | No | ?[152] | Yes | Yes |
WebRTC | Yes[153] | 11+[154] | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cut, copy, and paste | Yes[155] | 3+[156] | Yes[157] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Multi-Device clipboard | ChromeOS[158] | 10+[159] | No | No | No | Yes |
Undo | No[160] | 3+[161] | No | No[162] | Yes | Yes[163] |
Custom home and lock screen wallpaper | Yes | 4+[66] | Yes | Yes (incl. Ambience) | Yes | Yes |
Desktop sync | No,[164] but available using the vendor's companion/PC suite application such as Samsung Smart Switch & HTC Sense[165] | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes[166] |
Local full backup | Yes, via external computer[167] | Yes, using external computer or iCloud[168] | No[169] | Yes | Yes | Yes, using external computer via HiSuite or Huawei Mobile Cloud[170] |
Core data missing sync | Bookmarks[171] (before 4), SMSs and Settings[172] | ? | ? | ? | ||
Notification center | Yes | 5+[173] | 2+[174] | Yes | Yes | 2.0+ |
Push notifications | Yes[175] | Yes (Apple Push Notification Service) | 2+[176] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Screenshot | 4+ also available on earlier versions with customized firmware, such as Cyanogen Mod and on older Samsung Galaxy smartphones[177] | Yes[66][178] | Yes | 2.0.2+[179] | Yes | Yes |
iCalendar import | No,[180] but 3rd party app available[181] | Yes[182] | ? | 1.1.6+[183] | No | Yes |
Text/document support (read only; creating using third-party apps) | Microsoft Office, PDF, TXT/RTF | Microsoft Office,[184][185][186] iWork, PDF, Images, TXT/RTF, VCF | Read only: text files, PDF, HTML, Multiple office formats | Microsoft Office, OpenDocument, PDF, Text | Yes | Microsoft Office, WPS Office, Huawei Docs, PDF, Images, TXT/RTF, VCF and Multiple office formats |
Printer support | 4.4+ using Google Cloud Print[187] but not over USB unless proprietary vendor solutions such as HP Print Service are used[188] | Yes (AirPrint)[189] | No | yes, cups package is available | Beta|software release life cycle#Beta|Beta | Yes (Huawei Print,[190] AI Life [191] for HarmonyOS Connect Printers) |
Show remembered Wi-Fi connections | Yes | 16+[192] | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unified Inbox | Yes[193] | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes |
Email sync protocols supported | POP3, IMAP, MAPI | POP3, IMAP, MAPI, ActiveSync[194] | POP3, IMAP | POP3, IMAP, ActiveSync | ? | POP3, IMAP, MAPI |
Non-carrier-based integrated messaging | RCS via Google Messages | 5+ (iMessage)[195] | ? | 3rd party software | 3rd party software | 3rd party software |
Visual voicemail | 2.1+[196] | Yes | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
Call log duration | Yes[197] | Yes[198] | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Multiple mobile phones per contact | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Contact groups | 4+[199] or 3rd party software[200] | Via iCloud or 3rd party software[201] | Yes | No[202] | ? | Yes[203] |
Voice over IP | Yes (SIP)[204] or 3rd party software[205] | FaceTime; 3rd party software[206] | No[207] | 3rd party software | 3rd party software | MeeTime; 3rd party software[208] |
NFC payment software | Available on any device that supports the hardware. Google Wallet for NFC payments available in Play Store.[209] 3rd party banking and fintech apps also supported.[210] |
8+: iPhone 6/6 Plus and later (iPhone 5 and later if used with Apple Watch), limited to Apple Pay | Samsung Pay | No | No | Huawei Pay |
Tethering | Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot, USB, Bluetooth | 4.3+: Personal Hotspot (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB; carrier dependent) | microUSB, Bluetooth 3.0, Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot | Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot, USB, Bluetooth | Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot | Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot, USB, Bluetooth |
USB On-The-Go | 3.1+[211][212] | 13+;[213] 9+: Only for connecting cameras |
No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Direct file transfer over Wi-Fi Direct | 4+[58] and selected devices.[214][215] Also Nearby Share. | No, 3rd party software on jailbroken devices | No, was available on bada 2+,[216] but removed on Tizen | No[217] | No | Yes |
DHCP v4 | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
DHCP v6 | No | Yes | ? | ? | ? | No |
Direct file transfer over Bluetooth | 2+.[218] Also Nearby Share. | AirDrop: 7+: Between iOS only; 8+: Between Mac/iOS only. (Note: AirDrop utilizes Wi-Fi as well) |
No, was available on bada,[219] but removed on Tizen | Yes[220] but limited to images, videos and contacts | No | Huawei Share |
Direct file transfer over NFC | No, removed since Android 10 | No | 2+[216] | No | No | No |
Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non-English languages support | Partial[221] | Yes[222][223][224] | Limited (Search is not diacritical mark-insensitive) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Underlining spell checker | 2.3+[225][226] | Yes[227] | No | ? | No | Yes |
Built-in system-wide dictionary | Built into keyboard app. Available on every device.[228] | 5+[229] | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Autoexpanding text replacements | Yes | 5+[230] | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
Keyboard next word prediction | Yes, through the built in Gboard[231] or from the preinstalled vendor keyboards; Available on all devices | 8+[232] | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Keyboard cursor controller | Google Keyboard;[233][234] | 12+;[235] 9-11: Only on devices with 3D Touch;[236] |
No | No | Yes | No |
Optical character recognition input method | Yes, through built-in Google Lens or Bixby Vision[237] | 15+;[238] 11+: Notes app;[239] 8+: Only for inputting credit card details[240] |
No | No | No | Yes |
Third party input methods | Yes[241] | 8+ | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
Gesture text input | 4+[242] | 13+;[243] 8+: 3rd party software like SwiftKey |
? | No[244] | No | Yes |
Emoji support | 4.4+[245] | Yes[246] | ? | 2.2.0+[247] 3rd party software[248] | Yes | Yes |
Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Safe driving mode | 3rd party software | 11+[249] | ? | ? | ? | 2.0+[250] |
Turn-by-turn navigation | 2+[251] | 6+[252] | ? | Yes | 3rd party software | Yes[253] |
Offline maps | 3rd party software Google Maps,[254] Here WeGo | 6+[255] | ? | 3rd party software | 3rd party software | Yes[256] |
Alternative routes in maps | Yes[257] | 5+[258][259] | ? | 3rd party software | 3rd party software | Yes |
Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Audio playback | AAC LC/LTP 3GPP, HE-AACv1 (AAC+), HE-AACv2 (enhanced AAC+) AMR-NB, AMR-WB, MP3, MIDI (Type 0 and 1, DLS versions 1 and 2), Ogg Vorbis, PCM/WAVE, FLAC, WAVE, Opus[260] | AAC, protected AAC (from iTunes Store), HE-AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, WAV[261] | AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, MP3, Vorbis, WAV[262] | MP3, FLAC, AAC, eAAC, eAAC+, ALAC, AC3, DTS, Opus, Vorbis | ? | AAC LC/LTP 3GPP, HE-AACv1 (AAC+), HE-AACv2 (enhanced AAC+) AMR-NB, AMR-WB, MP3, MIDI (Type 0 and 1, DLS versions 1 and 2), Ogg Vorbis, PCM/WAVE, FLAC, WAVE, Opus |
Video playback | H.263, H.264 (up to Baseline Profile), H.265 HEVC, MPEG-4 SP, DivX, XviD, VP8, VP9[260] (WMV on 3rd party software like VLC media player) | H.264 (up to High Profile), MPEG-4, M-JPEG[261] | H.263, H.264, MPEG-4 Part 2[262] | MPEG-4, H264, H263,[263] although audio in recorded videos is out of sync[264] | ? | H.263, H.264 (up to Baseline Profile), H.265 HEVC, MPEG-4 SP, DivX, XviD, VP8, VP9[260] (WMV on 3rd party software like VLC media player) |
Wired video out | 4K on 6+[265] | Up to 1080p via HDMI[266] or VGA,[267] 576p/480p via component[268] or composite;[269] | No | No[270] | Yes | |
Wired digital audio output | 5+ USB Audio[271] | 7+: USB Audio[272] | No | No | Yes | Yes up to 4K |
Wireless video/audio streaming to set top boxes/TVs/speakers | 4.2+ Miracast,[273] but DLNA[274] only available on selected devices | AirPlay[275] | DLNA[276] | ? | Yes | Yes on Wireless Projection with Miracast |
Media player on-device playlist creation | Yes[277] | Yes[66] | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Media player video scrubbing | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
Media player audio scrubbing | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
Media player fine scrubbing | No,[278] 3rd party software like VLC media player, basic fine scrubbing removed on 4+[279] | Yes[280] | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
Media player double speed playing | 6+[281] | Only Podcasts[282] | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bluetooth keyboard | 2.3+;[283] previous versions via 3rd party software[284] | Yes[285] | No | Yes[286][287] | Yes | Yes |
USB keyboard | 3.1+[283] | With Camera Connection Kit[288] | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Interchangeable external memory cards | Yes[289] | Only for photo/video import with an optional accessory | Yes[290] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Camera focus at specified point | 2.3+[291] | Yes[66] | ? | 1.0.4+[292] | Yes | Yes |
Camera exposure metering from specified point | No,[293] available on some phones.[294][295] | Yes[296] | No | ? | No | Yes |
On device picture info (including Exif data) | Only date and location; more with 3rd party software[297] | Yes (15+);previous versions date and location only; more with 3rd party software | No | ? | Yes | Yes |
On device picture categorization | No[298] 3rd party software like TouchWiz[299] | 5+[300] | No | ? | No | Yes |
On device picture description and search | No[301] | 10+: Items/objects in picture;[302] 7+: Only date and location[303] |
No | ? | No | Yes |
Turn off shutter sound | In silent mode[304] | In silent mode[305] | In silent mode | In silent mode[306] | No | Yes |
Picture crop | Yes | 5+[307] | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Photo rotation | Yes | 5+[307] | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Photo red-eye reduction | 2.3+[308] | 5+[307] | No | No[309] | No | Yes |
HDR photos option | 4.2+, some manufacturers earlier[310] | Yes[311] | No | No[312] | Yes | Yes |
Photo/video import from memory cards | Yes | With Camera Connection Kit[288] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Video trim | 2.3+ | Yes | No | ? | No | Yes |
Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Multitasking | Yes | 7+;[313] 4–6: Limited[314] |
2+[176] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Quick app switching | 7+[315] | 9+: via 3D Touch;[316] 5+: only on iPad[317] |
No | No | Yes | Yes |
Document-centric multitasking | 5+[318] | 13+: can open different views of same app side by side[319] | No | No | No | 2.0+ |
Split-screen app usage | 7+, some manufacturers earlier[320] | 9+: only on iPad with 2 GB RAM or more[321] | Yes[322] | No [323] | Tablet-only | 2.0+ |
Desktop interactive widgets | Yes | 10+: App icons via 3D Touch and/or dedicated widget screen[324] | No | Yes | No | 2.0+ |
Lock screen widgets | Yes (Notifications and settings). Full Widgets on Android 4.2–4.4 only.[325][326] | Media player, voicemail, camera;[327] 5+: Notifications; 7+: Control Center 8+: Interactive Notifications[328] 10+: Full widgets[324] |
Media player; Notifications (SMS, call) | Yes | No | No |
Notification view widgets | 4.1+: Google Now and possible with 3rd party apps | 8+ | No | Yes | No | No |
Quick settings toggles | 2+[329] | 7+[330] | No | Via the Patchmanager app[331] | Yes | Yes |
Search multiple internal apps at once | Yes | Yes | Yes | No[332] | Yes | Yes |
Settings search | 5+ or 3rd party software like LineageOS[333] | 9+[334] | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Search all fields of internal objects | Only search Contacts name field but not any other field[335] | 6+[336] | Only searches contacts by name | First name, last name, nickname, also the multiple field called "Details"[337]|? | Yes | |
Core apps missing search | Calendar[338] (available since 3+ and HTC Sense) | Bookmarks[339] | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
Phone number links to dialer | Available in stock Android, but not all devices enable it.[340] | Yes | Yes, but not in browser | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Addresses links to maps | In Contacts, but not in Calendar[341] nor in Gmail[342] | Yes[343] | ? | Yes | ? | Yes |
Dates links to calendar | No | Yes[344] | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes |
Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Custom ringtones | Yes | Yes[345] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Custom SMS/MMS tones | Yes[346] | 5+[347] | ? | Yes | No | Yes |
Custom vibrate alert patterns | No,[348] possible on some Samsung devices such as Galaxy S III, but limited[349] | 5+[350][351] | ? | API available for 3rd party apps | No | No |
Dismiss repeating alarm clock before trigger | 4.4+[352] | No[353] | No | ? | Yes | Yes |
Tap to snooze[354] | 3rd party apps[355] | Yes | No | Swipe down | Yes | Yes |
Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Proxy server | 3.1+[356] but only global, not per connection[357] and only works for the browser[358] 3rd party apps available[359] | Yes | Yes | Yes[360] | No | Only 3rd party apps and Browser |
On-device encryption | 3+[361] but insecure on Qualcomm devices[362] | Yes[363] (3rd party software may attempt brute-force attacks on password[364]) | No | 3.3.0+[365] | No | Yes |
External storage encryption | 6+ | External storage not available | No | Yes | No | 2.0+ |
Zero knowledge encryption[366] | No, data is accessible by Google[367] and shared with the American PRISM surveillance program.[368] | Some data stored on iCloud is accessible by Apple[369][370][371][372][373][374] and shared with the American PRISM surveillance program.[368] | ? | ? | No | No, data stored on Huawei Mobile Cloud is accessible by Huawei but not shared with the American PRISM surveillance program unlike Google and Apple. |
Privacy of synchronization[375] | 3rd party software like ownCloud[376] | When synchronizing locally and not using iCloud | ? | ? | ? | When synchronizing locally via HiSuite and not using Huawei Mobile Cloud |
Sync to cloud communication encryption | 2.3.4+[377] | Yes[378] | ? | ? | ? | Yes with Smart Syncing that uses irreversible encryption[379] |
Wireless anti-tracking[380] | Developer Options (9+)[381] | 8+[382] | No | ? | No | Yes |
Remote device location tracking | Yes[383] | Yes[384] | ? | ? | No | Yes |
Remote device locking and/or data wipe | 2.2+[385] | Yes[384] | ? | ? | No | Yes |
End-to-end encrypted push notifications | Possible, notifications are handled by the app that can decrypt it[175] | Possible since iOS 7, where the app can handle the notification and decrypt it[386] | ? | ? | Yes | Possible, notifications are handled by the app that can decrypt it |
SSH Client | Yes | Yes[387][388] | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
VPN | Yes[389] | Yes[390] | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
OpenVPN | No, but possible with 3rd party firmware[391] | Yes[392] | ? | Yes | Yes | No, but possible with 3rd party apps |
WPA PEAP |
Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Separate volume for ringtone and media | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Voice commands | Yes[393] | 5+ (Siri) | ? | 3rd party software, such as Saera[394] | No | Yes |
Offline voice commands | 6+[395] | Yes[396] | ? | No | No | Yes |
Voice recognition | Yes | 5+ (Siri) | ? | No | No | Yes |
Offline voice recognition | 4.1+[397] | 15+;[398] | No | No | No | Yes |
Non-English voice recognition | Yes | Yes[224] | ? | No | No | Yes |
Sound recorder | Very limited (Does not work in background[399] and not voice controlled) | 3+: Limited (Not voice controlled)[400][401] | Partial | 3rd party software[402] | 3rd party software | Yes |
Call recorder | Yes, Phone by Google,[403] but also possible with 3rd party firmware[404] | 3rd party software[405] | No | Disabled by default, must be interactively switched on during a call when enabled / 3rd party software[406] | ? | Yes |
Sound trim | No,[407] but 3rd party software available[408] | Yes[409] | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non-intrusive incoming calls | 5+[410] or 3rd party software[411] | 14+[412] | No | No[413] | ? | Yes |
Non-intrusive notifications | Yes[414] | 5+[173] | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
Move apps to external storage | 2.2+[415] | External storage not allowed for apps | No | No | No | No |
Remote Frame Buffer (RFB) protocol | Yes[416] | 3rd party software[417] | ? | ? | ? | 3rd party software |
Screencast on device | 11+[418] | 9+[419] | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Screencast over USB | 4.4+ over USB,[187] for prior versions root required for 3rd party app[420] | 8+: on OS X[421] | No | ? | No | Yes |
Screen share | On select devices using vendor's implementation[422][423][424] | 3rd party software[425] | No | No | No | Yes |
![]() | Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison of mobile operating systems.
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