Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Android VS HarmonyOS

Compare Android VS HarmonyOS and see what are their differences

Android logo Android

Android is an open source mobile operating system initially released by Google in 2008 and has since become of the most widely used operating systems on any platform.

HarmonyOS logo HarmonyOS

HarmonyOS is a cutting-edge operating system that enables better collaboration and interconnection between smart devices.
  • Android Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-14
  • HarmonyOS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-08

Android features and specs

  • Customization
    Android offers extensive customization options, allowing users to personalize their device appearance and functionality.
  • Diverse Hardware Options
    Android is available on a wide range of devices from various manufacturers, giving users numerous choices in terms of size, design, and price.
  • Google Services Integration
    Android provides seamless integration with Google services like Google Search, Maps, Gmail, and Google Assistant.
  • Open Source
    Android is based on an open-source platform, encouraging innovation and allowing developers to modify and improve the system.
  • App Variety
    The Google Play Store offers a vast selection of apps and games, often with a greater variety than other platforms.
  • Multi-Tasking
    Android supports robust multi-tasking capabilities, letting users switch between apps and use them simultaneously with features like split-screen.

Possible disadvantages of Android

  • Fragmentation
    Due to the diversity of devices and manufacturer customizations, Android fragmentation can lead to inconsistent performance and delayed software updates.
  • Security Risks
    The open-source nature of Android can make it more vulnerable to malware and security breaches if users download applications from untrusted sources.
  • Bloatware
    Many Android devices come with pre-installed applications (bloatware) that can be difficult to remove and consume storage and resources.
  • Inconsistent User Experience
    The user experience may vary significantly across different devices and manufacturers, leading to inconsistency in performance and features.
  • Ads and In-App Purchases
    Many free Android apps rely heavily on advertisements and in-app purchases, which can sometimes diminish the user experience.
  • Battery Life
    Some Android devices may suffer from poor battery optimization, leading to shorter battery life compared to other platforms.

HarmonyOS features and specs

  • Cross-Device Compatibility
    HarmonyOS is designed to work across a wide range of devices, enabling seamless integration and functionality between smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, wearables, and IoT devices.
  • Microkernel Architecture
    The microkernel architecture provides enhanced security and performance by minimizing the core operating system functions, which reduces the potential attack surface and allows for faster updates and patches.
  • Fast and Responsive
    HarmonyOS is highly optimized for performance, offering smooth and lag-free interactions, which improves user experience on compatible devices.
  • Open-Source Flexibility
    Being open-source allows developers to customize and contribute to the development of HarmonyOS, leading to a more diverse and innovative ecosystem.
  • Unified Ecosystem
    HarmonyOS aims to create a unified ecosystem where apps and services can work together seamlessly across all devices, providing a more cohesive user experience.

Possible disadvantages of HarmonyOS

  • Limited App Ecosystem
    As HarmonyOS is relatively new, its app ecosystem is not as extensive or established as Android or iOS, which could limit the availability of popular applications and services.
  • Adoption Challenges
    Convincing device manufacturers and users to switch from other established operating systems to HarmonyOS can be challenging, slowing down its adoption rate.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Despite the promise of cross-device compatibility, there may be issues with app or service compatibility across different devices, particularly in the early stages of deployment.
  • Market Restrictions
    Due to geopolitical tensions and trade restrictions, HarmonyOS's growth and innovation could be hampered in certain markets, affecting its global adoption and support.
  • Privacy Concerns
    As an operating system developed by a Chinese company, HarmonyOS may raise privacy and data security concerns among users, especially in regions sensitive to data sovereignty.

Analysis of Android

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Android is considered to be a good operating system due to its versatility and user-friendly design. It's regularly updated with new features and security improvements.

Why this product is good

  • Android is a highly popular mobile operating system developed by Google. It offers open-source flexibility, a wide range of device compatibility, and a large app ecosystem through the Google Play Store. Users appreciate its customization options and integration with Google services.

Recommended for

  • Users who enjoy customizing their devices
  • Individuals who prefer a wide choice of hardware options
  • People who are heavily invested in the Google services ecosystem
  • Developers who want an open-source platform
  • Users looking for a variety of apps and games

Android videos

Android 10 Review: This is Android in 2020! [Android Q]

More videos:

  • Review - Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL review: the best Android experience
  • Review - iPhone User Spends 17 Days on Android | Galaxy S10 Plus Review

HarmonyOS videos

Huawei HarmonyOS - what is it and is it here to stay?

More videos:

  • Review - Huawei's HarmonyOS: Is it any good? Its a game changer!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Android and HarmonyOS)
Mobile OS
94 94%
6% 6
Mobile SDK
94 94%
6% 6
Operating Systems
94 94%
6% 6
OS & Utilities
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Android and HarmonyOS

Android Reviews

Top 5 Mobile Operating Systems 2023 (Alternatives to Android)
Planned essentially for touch-screen phones and tablets, Android is first created by Android Inc. that Google purchased later in the year 2005. Android Operating System was revealed in the year 2007, and then the first Android device was launched in September 2008.
Best Open Source Android Alternative OS for Smartphones
As most of the trade and technology-loving persons already heard about the US-China Trade War and Huawei-Google fight. Now, so many Huawei device users and Android enthusiasts are wondering what will be the next Android alternative OS (Operating System) for smartphones. Without Google and its services, the Android platform is difficult to run properly on a smartphone. But we...
Android Alternative: Top 12 Mobile Operating Systems
Android has become the de-facto operating system for smartphones, IoT devices, cars, TVs, and other electronic devices. The open-source project is being deployed almost everywhere because of the vast app support, lightweight profile, compatibility with a variety of hardware, huge developer support, etc. Apple’s iOS is putting up a good fight, but it’s nowhere close to...
Source: beebom.com
12 Best Android Custom ROMs For 2020 That You Must Try
Well, say hello to one of the top tier customization Kings of the Android Custom ROM World. Resurrection Remix has been around for almost the same time as any of the ROMs we’ve mentioned below. Starting its development in the early days of Android 4.0, RR has never failed to impress me with its feature-packed settings menu to tailor the Android smartphone to your heart’s...
Source: fossbytes.com
Open Source Mobile OS Alternatives To Android
It’s no exaggeration to say that open source operating systems rule the world of mobile devices. Android is still an open source project, after all. But, due to the bundle of proprietary software that comes along with Android on consumer devices, many people don’t consider it an open source operating system.
Source: itsfoss.com

HarmonyOS Reviews

Android Alternative: Top 12 Mobile Operating Systems
It also comes with its own AppGallery where you can find thousands of popular Android apps. The company has also developed its own compiler called ARK in place of Android’s ART (Android Runtime). And the new EROFS file system is said to be better than EXT4 and F2FS. While HarmonyOS is deep inside an Android OS, chances are that Huawei will come up with an alternative to...
Source: beebom.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Android seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 11 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Android mentions (11)

  • What is the best wearos watch according to google? :)
    Of course it's the Watch 5 Pro. Go to android.com it's even used in a promote video lol. Pixel Watch is just a joke. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Surface Duo 2 November Update Build 2022.817.23
    I've been running with it for a short-while now. Need to go to android.com and see what fixes they made. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Jetpack Compose: Horrifically slow in text input?
    As a follow-up, if jetpack can be used to build real and performant apps, does anyone have a good recommendation for a tutorial? I was trying to follow the demos linked of android.com, but it seemed as if there were vast differences between what they were saying to do, and what was in a newly bootstrapped project and the gradle files. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Anyone else having Malwarebytes say Google.com is malware?
    This seems to be effecting all of Google's products. I can't get into any of my G-Suite sites, GMail accounts, google.com, android.com, etc. From any device that has Malwarebytes installed. The constant popups from Malwarebytes are annoying, but on a positive note, it is letting me see just how many apps on my computer phone in to Google. NZXT is the biggest offender, and seems to be constantly hitting up... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Why do none of the major distros have KDE Plasma as default?
    I wish I could go to android.com download the latest ROM and install it myself, like I do with Linux, I hate waiting for phone manufacturers to release OS updates and security fixes. Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

HarmonyOS mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of HarmonyOS yet. Tracking of HarmonyOS recommendations started around Jul 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Android and HarmonyOS, you can also consider the following products

LineageOS - Operating system for smartphones and tablet computers, based on the Android

GrapheneOS - GrapheneOS is an open source privacy and security focused mobile OS with Android app compatibility.

CopperheadOS - Secure Android built for encrypted and secure phones by a privacy focused company. Available as security-centric and privacy focused Google-free Android for the latest devices. Fully integrated with the latest IDS and MDM enterprise technologies.

Ubuntu Touch - Read more about Ubuntu Touch. Our free and open source mobile OS is made and maintained by UBports! We care about your freedom and privacy.

iOS - iOS is the operating system associated by default with all Apple mobile devices.

Android Nougat - Android Nougat is the seventh iteration released by Google for the Android Operating System.