Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Banana Pi VS Android

Compare Banana Pi VS Android and see what are their differences

Banana Pi logo Banana Pi

Banana Pi is a single-board computer made in China. It can run Android, Ubuntu and Debian.

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.
  • Banana Pi Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-03-19
  • Android Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-14

Banana Pi features and specs

  • Cost-Effective
    Banana Pi models are generally affordable, making them accessible for hobbyists, educators, and small developers who want a cost-effective alternative to more expensive single-board computers.
  • GPIO Support
    Banana Pi supports General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) pins, which are crucial for interacting with other devices and components in electronics projects.
  • Versatile OS Support
    Supports various operating systems such as Android, Debian, Ubuntu, and more, providing flexibility based on the needs of the user.
  • Performance
    Certain models offer high performance with multi-core processors, making them suitable for tasks beyond basic computing, such as multimedia applications or NAS servers.
  • Connectivity Options
    Comes with extensive connectivity options including USB ports, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI, and others, making it suitable for diverse projects.

Possible disadvantages of Banana Pi

  • Limited Community Support
    Compared to more popular alternatives like Raspberry Pi, Banana Pi has a smaller community, which can make it difficult to find help, support, and resources when encountering issues.
  • Compatibility
    Some users may experience compatibility issues with software and peripherals not specifically designed or optimized for Banana Pi.
  • Documentation
    The documentation can be less comprehensive and sometimes outdated, which might make it challenging for beginners to get started or troubleshoot problems.
  • Firmware Updates
    Access to and frequency of firmware updates may be less than that of more mainstream alternatives, potentially leading to security and stability issues over time.
  • Power Consumption
    Certain Banana Pi models can have higher power consumption compared to similar devices, potentially affecting power efficiency in larger or multiple installations.

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.

Banana Pi videos

Banana Pi M5: ARM SBC with eMMC

More videos:

  • Review - Banana Pi VS Raspberry Pi
  • Review - #057 Banana Pi Router: NAS, router or trash? // Review

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Banana Pi and Android)
Electronics
100 100%
0% 0
Mobile OS
0 0%
100% 100
Single Board Computer
100 100%
0% 0
Mobile SDK
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 Banana Pi and Android

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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

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.

Banana Pi mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Banana Pi yet. Tracking of Banana Pi recommendations started around Mar 2021.

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: almost 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: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

Raspberry Pi - The Raspberry Pi is a tiny and affordable computer that you can use to learn programming through fun, practical projects. Join the global Raspberry Pi community.

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

Udoo x86 Ultra - Udoo x86 Ultra is a modern PC, known as the most powerful X86 maker board and an Arduino 101 compatible platform.

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

Orange Pi - It’s an open-source single-board computer. It can run Android 4.

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.