Comparison of mobile operating systems
Operating system comparison From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a comparison of mobile operating systems. Only the latest versions are shown in the table below, even though older versions may still be marketed.
About OS
Summarize
Perspective
| Feature | Android | iOS | HarmonyOS | Tizen | KaiOS | Sailfish OS Aurora 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] | 77% | 19% | 4% | 0.22% | 0.14% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| License | PartialBase 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) | PartialFree and open-source, but the UI and the SDK are proprietary and closed source | FreeFree and open-source, mainly the GPL[5] | FreeFree and open-source, mainly the GPL | FreeFree and open-source, mainly the GPL | FreeFree and open-source, mainly the GPL | FreeFree and open-source, GPL |
| Current version | 15 | 18.3.2 | 5.0.0.102(SP3C00E73R4P17) - Release | 9.0 M2 | 3.1 | 4.5.0.24 | 20.04 OTA-4 | 20210516 | 5.24.3 | 10.0 | 21.12 Service Pack 3 |
| Development version | 16 Beta 1 | 18.4 Beta 4 | 5.0.0.103 - Release (Beta) | 3.2 | Unknown | Unknown | 20220612 | Unknown | Unknown | N/A | |
| Current version release dates | September 3, 2024 | May 20, 2024 | October 23, 2024 | May 30, 2020[6] | ? | September 12, 2023[7] | February 18, 2022 | May 16, 2021 | March 8, 2022 | October 2, 2021 | March 13, 2022 |
| OS family | Modified Linux kernel based | Darwin | OpenHarmony | 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[8] | 64-bit ARMv8-A only | 64-bit ARM, RISC-V, x86, x64 | 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++, JS, ArkTS, Cangjie | C++, Xamarin.Forms (.NET C#, F#, VB[9]) | 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[10] | 3rd party[11] | Yes[12] | Yes[13] | No[14] | Yes[15] | Yes[16] | Yes[17] | Yes[18] | Yes[19] | Yes[20] |
| DRM-free[21] | No[22] since Android 4.1[23] and Android 4.3[24] and more restrictions on Android 4.4[25] | No – FairPlay | No – Huawei WisePlay[26] | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[citation needed] | Yes[citation needed] | Yes |
| Device independent system updates | Partial system updates since Oreo[27] 3rd party software like LineageOS[28] | Yes[29] | Yes[30] | No | For feature phones, not smart phones | Yes | Yes[31] | ? | ? | ? | Yes.[32] Intended for use on old mobile devices |
| Wireless system updates | Yes | 5+[33] | Yes | No | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| GPU accelerated GUI | 3+[34] | Yes | Yes. Since 3.0[35] | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Feature | Android | iOS | HarmonyOS | Tizen | KaiOS | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | Mobian[1] | Plasma Mobile | PureOS | PostmarketOS |
Advanced controls
| Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| While-in-use permissions | 10+ | 11+: Location only[36] | No | No | Yes | 3.0+ |
| Per-app Internet access | No,[37] 3rd party software[38] | 7+: Cellular only;[39] 3rd party software on jailbroken devices[40] | No | No | No | No |
| Per-app identity access | 8+[41] | 6+[42][43] | No | No | Yes | 2.0+ |
| Per-app user data access | 6+[44] | 6+[45] | No | No | Yes | 3.0+ |
| Per-app background execution | No,[46] 3rd party apps available[47] | 7+[48] | No | No | Background execution not allowed | 2.0+ |
| Per-app notifications | 4.1+[49] | 5+[50][51] | No | No | Yes | 2.0+ |
| Per-app location access | 6+[44] | 4+[52] | No | No | Yes | 2.0+ |
| Per-app camera access | 6+[44] | 8+[53] | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Per-app microphone access | 6+[44] | 7+[54] | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Per-app shared files access | 6+[44] | 8+[55] | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Per-app network data usage auditing | 4+[56] | Yes[57] | ? | No[58] | No | Yes |
| Fine grained storage usage | Yes[59] | 5+[60] | ? | No | Yes | Yes |
| Parental controls | 4.3+ or 3rd party software[61] | Yes[62] | ? | No | No | 2.0+ |
| Screen orientation lock | Yes[63] | Yes[64] | ? | 1.0.4+[65] | Yes | 2.0+ |
| File manager | 6.0+[66] | 11+[67] | 3rd party software[68] | Yes[69] | 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+[70][71] | 9.3+: Education use only on iPad[72] | No | 3.4.0+ | No | Yes |
| Guest mode | 5+[73] | 6+[74] | No | 3.4.0+ | No | Yes |
| Guided Access | Yes[75] | Yes[76] | No | No | No | 3.0+[77] |
| Do not disturb mode | 5+[78] | 6+[79] | No | No | No | 2.0+ |
| App groups | Yes | 4+[80] | ? | 1.0.7+[81] | Yes | Yes |
Accessibility features
| Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| System wide base text size | Yes | Yes[82][83][84] | ? | 2.1.0+: Set text size[85] | 3rd party software[86] | 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 |
App ecosystem
| 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[87][88] but developers can distribute apps from their own sources | No, Apple discriminates based on country[89] and own Apple policies[90] | ? | Openrepos.[91] 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[92] |
| Common APIs for smartphones, tablets, and PCs | Yes[93] | Smartphone and tablet only[94] | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Official SDK platform(s) | Linux, macOS and Windows[95] | macOS using iOS SDK | Linux, Windows, macOS[96] | Windows, macOS and Linux[97] | Yes | macOS and Windows[98] |
| Cost to develop for the mobile OS | Free | No, Requires Apple hardware.[99] | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Cost to publish app to official store | US$25 once to register to offer on Google Play[100] | US$99/year | Free | Free[101] | Free | Free |
Browser
Summarize
Perspective
| Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Default web browser/engine | Blink | WebKit | WebKit | Gecko[102] | Qt WebEngine (based on Blink) | Blink
(Servo - OniroOS/OpenHarmony) |
| Major web browsers available[103] | 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 | 17.4+: Only users living in European Union countries[104] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Browser extensions | No[105] 3rd party software[106] | Yes on Safari[107] | No | No | No | No |
| Browser direct Internet connection (increased resilience to outages) | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | Yes |
| Browser undo close tab | Google Chrome for Android[108] | 8+[109] | No | No | No | No[110] |
| Browser keeps windows open on shutdown or crash | 2.3+ Google Chrome[111] but not on the deprecated AOSP browser[112] | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Browser keeps windows open when cleaning cookies | Yes | 3rd party software[113] | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Browser search engine options | Many[114] | Bing, Google, Yahoo! Search, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia | Bing, Google, Yahoo! Search | Bing, Google, Yahoo, Yandex. Baidu, DuckDuckGo, StartPage, Searx, ixquick, Swisscows, Qwant, Seznam, Hulbee via openrepos[citation needed] | Baidu, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, Google, lilo, Peekier, Qwant, Wikipedia, Yahoo[115] | Bing, Google, Yahoo! Search, Baidu, DuckDuckGo |
| Browser find on page | 1.5+[116] | Yes[117] | Yes | 1.1.2+[118] | Yes | Yes |
| Browser–email save images | Yes | Yes[119] | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Browser–email save PDFs | Yes | Yes[64] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Browser save audio/video | Yes, but only links, not embedded media | 13+;[120] 5+: 3rd party software[121] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Browser save page | Yes, Google Chrome 55+[122] | 6+: Offline Reading List;[123] 3rd party software[124] | Yes | 4.0.1.48+ | Yes | Yes |
| Browser save any file | Yes, Chrome for Android. | 13+;[120] 5+: When an app that can handle/open the filetype is installed (excluding audio/video – requires 3rd party software[125]);[126] | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Browser force enable zoom | Yes, Chrome for Android | Yes[127] | ? | ? | ? | No |
| Browser text reflow[128] | No, removed on Android 4.4[129][130] | 5+: Only on pages with reader mode available[131][132] 3rd party browsers on prior versions[133] | No | No | No | No |
| Browser Reader Mode | No,[134] 3rd party software[135][136] | 5+[131][132] | Yes | No[137] | No | No |
| Browser open PDFs without storing | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Browser file upload | 2.2+[138] | 9+; 6–8: Limited | Yes | 1.0.7+[139] | Yes | Yes |
| Browser form navigation | Next button[140] | Previous, Next, AutoFill, and Done buttons[141] | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
| Browser private browsing mode | 3.0+ with AOSP browser[142] or with Chrome for Android | 5+[143] | Yes | 1.1.6+[144] | Yes | Yes |
| Offline web apps | Yes[145] | Yes[146][147][148] | No | ? | Yes | Yes |
| HTTP Live Streaming | 3+[149] | 3+[150] | No | ?[151] | Yes | Yes |
| WebRTC | Yes[152] | 11+[153] | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Basic features
| Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cut, copy, and paste | Yes[154] | 3+[155] | Yes[156] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Device clipboard | ChromeOS[157] | 10+[158] | No | No | No | Yes |
| Undo | No[159] | 3+[160] | No | No[161] | Yes | Yes[162] |
| Custom home and lock screen wallpaper | Yes | 4+[64] | Yes | Yes (incl. Ambience) | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop sync | No,[163] but available using the vendor's companion/PC suite application such as Samsung Smart Switch & HTC Sense[164] | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes[165] |
| Local full backup | Yes, via external computer[166] | Yes, using external computer or iCloud[167] | No[168] | Yes | Yes | Yes, using external computer via HiSuite or Huawei Mobile Cloud[169] |
| Core data missing sync | Bookmarks[170] (before 4), SMSs and Settings[171] | ? | ? | ? | ||
| Notification center | Yes | 5+[172] | 2+[173] | Yes | Yes | 2.0+ |
| Push notifications | Yes[174] | Yes (Apple Push Notification Service) | 2+[175] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Screenshot | 4+ also available on earlier versions with customized firmware, such as Cyanogen Mod and on older Samsung Galaxy smartphones[176] | Yes[64][177] | Yes | 2.0.2+[178] | Yes | Yes |
| Unrestricted Screenshot | No, apps can restrict screenshots[179][180] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| iCalendar import | No,[181] but 3rd party app available[182] | Yes[183] | ? | 1.1.6+[184] | No | Yes |
| Text/document support (read only; creating using third-party apps) | Microsoft Office, PDF, TXT/RTF | Microsoft Office,[185][186][187] 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[188] but not over USB unless proprietary vendor solutions such as HP Print Service are used[189] | Yes (AirPrint)[190] | No | yes, cups package is available | Beta | Yes (Huawei Print,[191] AI Life [192] for HarmonyOS Connect Printers) |
| Show remembered Wi-Fi connections | Yes | 16+[193] | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Communication and connectivity
| Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unified Inbox | Yes[194] | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes |
| Email sync protocols supported | POP3, IMAP, MAPI | POP3, IMAP, MAPI, ActiveSync[195] | POP3, IMAP | POP3, IMAP, ActiveSync | ? | POP3, IMAP, MAPI |
| Non-carrier-based integrated messaging | RCS via Google Messages | 5+ (iMessage)[196] | ? | 3rd party software | 3rd party software | 3rd party software |
| Visual voicemail | 2.1+[197] | Yes | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
| Call log duration | Yes[198] | Yes[199] | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple mobile phones per contact | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Contact groups | 4+[200] or 3rd party software[201] | Via iCloud or 3rd party software[202] | Yes | No[203] | ? | Yes[204] |
| Voice over IP | Yes (SIP)[205] or 3rd party software[206] | FaceTime; 3rd party software[207] | No[208] | 3rd party software | 3rd party software | MeeTime; 3rd party software[209] |
| NFC payment software | Available on any device that supports the hardware. Google Wallet for NFC payments available in Play Store.[210] 3rd party banking and other apps in the financial field also supported.[211] | 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+[212][213] | 13+;[214] 9+: Only for connecting cameras | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Direct file transfer over Wi-Fi Direct | 4+[56] and selected devices.[215][216] Also Quick Share. | No, 3rd party software on jailbroken devices | No, was available on bada 2+,[217] but removed on Tizen | No[218] | No | Yes |
| Direct file transfer over Bluetooth | 2+.[219] Also Quick Share. | AirDrop: 7+: Between iOS only; 8+: Between Mac/iOS only. (Note: AirDrop utilizes Wi-Fi as well) | No, was available on bada,[220] but removed on Tizen | Yes[221] but limited to images, videos and contacts | No | Huawei Share |
| Direct file transfer over NFC | No, removed since Android 10 | No | 2+[217] | No | No | No |
Language and inputs
| Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-English languages support | Partial[222] | Yes[223][224][225] | Limited (Search is not diacritical mark-insensitive) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Underlining spell checker | 2.3+[226][227] | Yes[228] | No | ? | No | Yes |
| Built-in system-wide dictionary | Built into keyboard app. Available on every device.[229] | 5+[230] | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Autoexpanding text replacements | Yes | 5+[231] | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
| Keyboard next word prediction | Yes, through the built in Gboard[232] or from the preinstalled vendor keyboards; Available on all devices | 8+[233] | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard cursor controller | Google Keyboard;[234][235] | 12+;[236] 9-11: Only on devices with 3D Touch;[237] | No | No | Yes | No |
| Optical character recognition input method | Yes, through built-in Google Lens or Bixby Vision[238] | 15+;[239] 11+: Notes app;[240] 8+: Only for inputting credit card details[241] | No | No | No | Yes |
| Third party input methods | Yes[242] | 8+ | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
| Gesture text input | 4+[243] | 13+;[244] 8+: 3rd party software like SwiftKey | ? | No[245] | No | Yes |
| Emoji support | 4.4+[246] | Yes[247] | ? | 2.2.0+[248] 3rd party software[249] | Yes | Yes |
Maps and navigation
| Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safe driving mode | 3rd party software | 11+[250] | ? | ? | ? | 2.0+[251] |
| Turn-by-turn navigation | 2+[252] | 6+[253] | ? | Yes | 3rd party software | Yes[254] |
| Offline maps | 3rd party software Google Maps,[255] Here WeGo | 6+[256] | ? | 3rd party software | 3rd party software | Yes[257] |
| Alternative routes in maps | Yes[258] | 5+[259][260] | ? | 3rd party software | 3rd party software | Yes |
Media playback and controls
| 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[261] | 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[262] | AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, MP3, Vorbis, WAV[263] | 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[261] (WMV on 3rd party software like VLC media player) | H.264 (up to High Profile), MPEG-4, M-JPEG[262] | H.263, H.264, MPEG-4 Part 2[263] | MPEG-4, H264, H263,[264] although audio in recorded videos is out of sync[265] | ? | H.263, H.264 (up to Baseline Profile), H.265 HEVC, MPEG-4 SP, DivX, XviD, VP8, VP9[261] (WMV on 3rd party software like VLC media player) |
| Wired video out | 4K on 6+[266] | Up to 1080p via HDMI[267] or VGA,[268] 576p/480p via component[269] or composite;[270] | No | No[271] | Yes | |
| Wired digital audio output | 5+ USB Audio[272] | 7+: USB Audio[273] | No | No | Yes | Yes up to 4K |
| Wireless video/audio streaming to set top boxes/TVs/speakers | 4.2+ Miracast,[274] but DLNA[275] only available on selected devices | AirPlay[276] | DLNA[277] | ? | Yes | Yes on Wireless Projection with Miracast |
| Media player on-device playlist creation | Yes[278] | Yes[64] | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Media player video scrubbing | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
| Media player audio scrubbing | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
| Media player fine scrubbing | No,[279] 3rd party software like VLC media player, basic fine scrubbing removed on 4+[280] | Yes[281] | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
| Media player double speed playing | 6+[282] | Only Podcasts[283] | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
Peripheral support
| Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth keyboard | 2.3+;[284] previous versions via 3rd party software[285] | Yes[286] | No | Yes[287][288] | Yes | Yes |
| USB keyboard | 3.1+[284] | With Camera Connection Kit[289] | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Interchangeable external memory cards | Yes[290] | Only for photo/video import with an optional accessory | Yes[291] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Photo and video
| Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camera focus at specified point | 2.3+[292] | Yes[64] | ? | 1.0.4+[293] | Yes | Yes |
| Camera exposure metering from specified point | No,[294] available on some phones.[295][296] | Yes[297] | No | ? | No | Yes |
| On device picture info (including Exif data) | Only date and location; more with 3rd party software[298] | Yes (15+);previous versions date and location only; more with 3rd party software | No | ? | Yes | Yes |
| On device picture categorization | No[299] 3rd party software like TouchWiz[300] | 5+[301] | No | ? | No | Yes |
| On device picture description and search | No[302] | 10+: Items/objects in picture;[303] 7+: Only date and location[304] | No | ? | No | Yes |
| Turn off shutter sound | In silent mode[305] | In silent mode[306] | In silent mode | In silent mode[307] | No | Yes |
| Picture crop | Yes | 5+[308] | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Photo rotation | Yes | 5+[308] | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Photo red-eye reduction | 2.3+[309] | 5+[308] | No | No[310] | No | Yes |
| HDR photos option | 4.2+, some manufacturers earlier[311] | Yes[312] | No | No[313] | Yes | Yes |
| Photo/video import from memory cards | Yes | With Camera Connection Kit[289] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Video trim | 2.3+ | Yes | No | ? | No | Yes |
Productivity
| Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multitasking | Yes | 7+;[314] 4–6: Limited[315] | 2+[175] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Quick app switching | 7+[316] | 9+: via 3D Touch;[317] 5+: only on iPad[318] | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Document-centric multitasking | 5+[319] | 13+: can open different views of same app side by side[320] | No | No | No | 2.0+ |
| Split-screen app usage | 7+, some manufacturers earlier[321] | 9+: only on iPad with 2 GB RAM or more[322] | Yes[323] | No [324] | Tablet-only | 2.0+ |
| Desktop interactive widgets | Yes | 10+: App icons via 3D Touch and/or dedicated widget screen[325] | No | Yes | No | 2.0+ |
| Lock screen widgets | Yes (Notifications and settings). Full Widgets on Android 4.2–4.4 only.[326][327] | Media player, voicemail, camera;[328] 5+: Notifications; 7+: Control Center 8+: Interactive Notifications[329] 10+: Full widgets[325] | Media player; Notifications (SMS, call) | Yes | No | 2.0+ Yes & Quick service widgets |
| Notification view widgets | 4.1+: Google Now and possible with 3rd party apps | 8+ | No | Yes | No | 4.0+ Live Window widgets |
| Quick settings toggles | 2+[330] | 7+[331] | No | Via the Patchmanager app[332] | Yes | Yes |
| Search multiple internal apps at once | Yes | Yes | Yes | No[333] | Yes | Yes |
| Settings search | 5+ or 3rd party software like LineageOS[334] | 9+[335] | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Search all fields of internal objects | Only search Contacts name field but not any other field[336] | 6+[337] | Only searches contacts by name | ? | Yes | |
| Core apps missing search | Calendar[339] (available since 3+ and HTC Sense) | Bookmarks[340] | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
| Phone number links to dialer | Available in stock Android, but not all devices enable it.[341] | Yes | Yes, but not in browser | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Addresses links to maps | In Contacts, but not in Calendar[342] nor in Gmail[343] | Yes[344] | ? | Yes | ? | Yes |
| Dates links to calendar | No | Yes[345] | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes |
Ringtones and alerts
| Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom ringtones | Yes | Yes[346] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Custom SMS/MMS tones | Yes[347] | 5+[348] | ? | Yes | No | Yes |
| Custom vibrate alert patterns | No,[349] possible on some Samsung devices such as Galaxy S III, but limited[350] | 5+[351][352] | ? | API available for 3rd party apps | No | No |
| Dismiss repeating alarm clock before trigger | 4.4+[353] | No[354] | No | ? | Yes | Yes |
| Tap to snooze[355] | 3rd party apps[356] | Yes | No | Swipe down | Yes | Yes |
Security and privacy
| Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proxy server | 3.1+[357] but only global, not per connection[358] and only works for the browser[359] 3rd party apps available[360] | Yes | Yes | Yes[361] | No | Only 3rd party apps and Browser |
| On-device encryption | 3+[362] but insecure on Qualcomm devices[363] | Yes[364] (3rd party software may attempt brute-force attacks on password[365]) | No | 3.3.0+[366] | No | Yes |
| External storage encryption | 6+ | External storage not available | No | Yes | No | 2.0+ |
| Zero knowledge encryption[367] | No, data is accessible by Google[368] and shared with the American PRISM surveillance program.[369] | Some data stored on iCloud is accessible by Apple[370][371][372][373][374][375] and shared with the American PRISM surveillance program.[369] | ? | ? | 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.[376][377] |
| Privacy of synchronization[378] | 3rd party software like ownCloud[379] | 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+[380] | Yes[381] | ? | ? | ? | Yes with Smart Syncing that uses irreversible encryption[382] |
| Wireless anti-tracking[383] | Developer Options (9+)[384] | 8+[385] | No | ? | No | Yes |
| Remote device location tracking | Yes[386] | Yes[387] | ? | ? | No | Yes |
| Remote device locking and/or data wipe | 2.2+[388] | Yes[387] | ? | ? | No | Yes |
| End-to-end encrypted push notifications | Possible, notifications are handled by the app that can decrypt it[174] | Possible since iOS 7, where the app can handle the notification and decrypt it[389] | ? | ? | Yes | Possible, notifications are handled by the app that can decrypt it |
| SSH Client | Yes | Yes[390][391] | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| VPN | Yes[392] | Yes[393] | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| OpenVPN | No, but possible with 3rd party firmware[394] | Yes[395] | ? | Yes | Yes[citation needed] | No, but possible with 3rd party apps |
| WPA PEAP | Yes[396] | Yes[397] | ? | In developer mode[398] | Yes[citation needed] | Yes |
Sound and voice
| Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Separate volume for ringtone and media | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Voice commands | Yes[399] | 5+ (Siri) | ? | 3rd party software, such as Saera[400] | No | Yes |
| Offline voice commands | 6+[401] | Yes[402] | ? | No | No | Yes |
| Voice recognition | Yes | 5+ (Siri) | ? | No | No | Yes |
| Offline voice recognition | 4.1+[403] | 15+;[404] | No | No | No | Yes |
| Non-English voice recognition | Yes | Yes[225] | ? | No | No | Yes |
| Sound recorder | Very limited (Does not work in background[405] and not voice controlled) | 3+: Limited (Not voice controlled)[406][407] | Partial | 3rd party software[408] | 3rd party software | Yes |
| Call recorder | Yes, Phone by Google,[409] but also possible with 3rd party firmware[410] | Yes, integrated in the Phone app,[411] but also possible with 3rd party software[412] | No | Disabled by default, must be interactively switched on during a call when enabled / 3rd party software[413] | ? | Yes |
| Sound trim | No,[414] but 3rd party software available[415] | Yes[416] | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
Other features
| Feature | Android | iOS | Tizen | Sailfish OS | Ubuntu Touch | HarmonyOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-intrusive incoming calls | 5+[417] or 3rd party software[418] | 14+[419] | No | No[420] | ? | Yes |
| Non-intrusive notifications | Yes[421] | 5+[172] | ? | ? | ? | Yes |
| Move apps to external storage | 2.2+[422] | External storage not allowed for apps | No | No | No | No |
| Remote Frame Buffer (RFB) protocol | Yes[423] | 3rd party software[424] | ? | ? | ? | 3rd party software |
| Screencast on device | 11+[425] | 9+[426] | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Screencast over USB | 4.4+ over USB,[188] for prior versions root required for 3rd party app[427] | 8+: on OS X[428] | No | ? | No | Yes |
| Screen share | On select devices using vendor's implementation[429][430][431] | 3rd party software[432] | No | No | No | Yes |
See also
External links
References
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