Device Support: Smartphones, PCs, Wearables, TVs, IoT

Smartphones: Android powers hundreds of OEMs worldwide. HarmonyOS is used primarily on Huawei’s own devices (phones/tablets), mainly in China. Counterpoint reports that by late 2024 Android held ~74% of global smartphone sales versus ~4% for HarmonyOS. In China alone, Android was about 64%, HarmonyOS ~17–19%, and iOS ~16%. Huawei claims over 900 million devices run HarmonyOS and that 2.54 million developers support its ecosystem
PCs and Laptops: Android has no native PC version (ChromeOS is a Google OS for laptops). Huawei is pushing HarmonyOS 5 as an alternative to Windows on its future laptops/desktops. Notebookcheck notes that HarmonyOS 5 uses the same Ark Engine and “StarShield” security as the phone OS, and Huawei even claims it is “faster than Windows,” though third-party benchmarks are not yet public. As of 2025, only Huawei’s own PC models use HarmonyOS; most PCs globally run Windows or macOS.
Wearables (Smartwatches/Fitness): Google’s Wear OS runs on many watches (Samsung, Google, etc.), but Apple Watch (watchOS) leads globally. Huawei’s wearables (Watch GT/Watch 4) run HarmonyOS. Huawei says that all new Huawei wearables in 2025 will use native HarmonyOS software, with apps like Alipay and AutoNavi (Gaode) available directly on the watch. The linked image (below) shows a HarmonyOS smartwatch, emphasizing its role in Huawei’s multi-device ecosystem.
Smart TVs: Android TV (Google TV) is a common platform for smart TVs from Sony, TCL, etc. Huawei’s own smart displays (Vision series) run HarmonyOS. Outside China, HarmonyOS TVs are rare; Android TV/Google TV has much broader reach.
IoT & Smart Home: Huawei envisions HarmonyOS as a distributed, cross-platform OS uniting smartphones, appliances, cars, and IoT devices. Android, by contrast, has no unified IoT OS – Google’s Android Things was discontinued, so Android’s IoT presence is fragmented (via Google Home, vendor-specific firmware, etc.). In Huawei’s ecosystem, the “Distributed Soft Bus” allows things like sharing photos, files and screens across devices; Google’s solutions rely on cloud sync (e.g. Google Home, Nearby Share) rather than a single OS layer.

System Performance and Speed

Both OS claim continual optimizations. HarmonyOS Next uses a new Ark runtime and a lightweight microkernel (versus Android’s Linux/kernel-based design). Huawei advertises big gains: up to 30% smoother UI performance and 20% lower power usage than earlier HarmonyOS, plus extra battery life (around 56 minutes) thanks to the Ark Engine. Notebookcheck similarly reports “30% improvement in smoothness” and added RAM for multitasking on HarmonyOS Next. Android’s latest versions also tout efficiency. For example, Wired notes Android 15 delivers “smoother performance” along with privacy and security boosts. In practice, performance depends heavily on hardware: Android runs on everything from budget to flagship phones, so lower-end Android devices can lag, while Huawei uses top hardware (Kirin chips) to optimize HarmonyOS phones.

Also See: Huawei’s Triple-Foldable Smartphone Review: A Glimpse into the Future of Mobile Tech

App Ecosystem and Compatibility

Android: Holds the world’s largest app market. The Google Play Store and third-party app stores (Samsung Galaxy Store, etc.) offer millions of apps (over 3 million on Google Play alone). Developers can freely target Android (Java/Kotlin) or cross-platform frameworks, reaching a vast global user base. Android apps also run on Chromebooks and some TVs (via Android TV).
HarmonyOS: Originally Huawei allowed Android APKs on Harmony (via a compatibility layer and its AppGallery store). HarmonyOS Next drops Android compatibility completely: developers must port or rebuild apps using Huawei’s Ark-based frameworks. As of early 2025, Huawei reports about 20,000 HarmonyOS apps (native or adapted) in its ecosystem, with a goal of 100,000 by end of 2025. This is tiny compared to Android’s millions, so many popular global apps (e.g. Google apps, big Western apps) aren’t on HarmonyOS unless ported. Huawei’s AppGallery now pushes 15,000+ homegrown apps and partnerships, but gaps remain. In short, Android’s app compatibility is vastly broader. HarmonyOS’s app base is growing quickly (especially for Chinese apps), but still limited outside China.

User Interface and Experience

HarmonyOS: HarmonyOS Next features a refreshed UI with dynamic wallpapers and an adaptive lock screen (clock, weather). User Interface and Experience
HarmonyOS: HarmonyOS Next features a refreshed UI with dynamic wallpapers and an adaptive lock screen (clock, weather).

Cross-Device Integration

Both platforms offer some way for devices to work together, but with different approaches. HarmonyOS is built as a distributed cross-platform OS, so that a phone, tablet, TV or car can share resources directly. For example, Huawei’s Distributed Soft Bus allows one-click sharing of photos or screens between a Huawei phone and laptop/watch, clipboard sync, and “Tap-to-Share” file transfer between devices. The emphasis is on seamless collaboration in one ecosystem.

In contrast, Android’s cross-device integration is more ad hoc. Google has added features like Call Casting (move calls between devices) and Instant Hotspot (auto-share Wi-Fi to other Android/Chromebook devices) under its new Cross-Device Services. There’s also Nearby Share for files and “Phone Hub” features on Chromebooks. But Android relies on cloud accounts and individual apps to sync data, not a single distributed OS layer. Apple (with iOS/macOS) still leads in seamless handoff, and Huawei aims to match that within China.

Privacy and Security

Android: Google continually enhances Android’s privacy controls. Android 14/15 introduced a Privacy Dashboard (showing recent app access to camera/mic/location) and granular permission management. Google Play Protect uses AI-powered scanning to block malware; in 2024 Google touted its AI threat detection and stricter policies that stopped more malicious apps than ever on Play Store. On the downside, Android’s open ecosystem can lead to fragmentation or slower security updates on some devices, and Google’s reliance on cloud services raises privacy concerns for some users.
HarmonyOS: Huawei emphasizes hardware-level security. For instance, HarmonyOS Next introduces a “StarShield” security architecture to isolate sensitive data. It also adds features like encrypted file sharing (no video recording during sharing) and detailed access logs so users can review app behavior. Because HarmonyOS Next uses its own microkernel (no Linux), Huawei claims potential security advantages (a smaller attack surface). However, international users note that HarmonyOS lacks Google’s Security rewards ecosystem and outside China, independent audits are less available. Chinese law does require sharing data with authorities on HarmonyOS, which can concern privacy-focused consumers. Overall, Android offers extensive user privacy controls and Play Store protections, while HarmonyOS provides Huawei’s own security framework (StarShield) and end-to-end encryption.

Developer Support and Tools

Android: With millions of apps and a huge developer community, Android has mature tools (Android Studio, Kotlin/Java SDKs, Jetpack libraries). Google’s official docs, forums, and courses are abundant. Developers targeting Android can reach billions of users across phones, tablets, TVs, and more.
HarmonyOS: Huawei’s ecosystem is newer. Developers can use DevEco Studio and Huawei’s Ark compiler, and write apps in ArkTS (a JavaScript/TypeScript variant) or C/C++. Previously HarmonyOS was compatible with Android APKs, but HarmonyOS Next drops Android app support. This means existing Android apps must be ported to the new format. In mid-2024 Huawei began requiring developers to migrate to native HarmonyOS (using ArkTS) for Play on AppGallery. Huawei offers migration tools, SDKs and a growing documentation portal, and it reportedly has attracted ~2.5 million developers to its ecosystem. Still, many developers find the barrier higher: coding for HarmonyOS yields access mostly to Chinese users on Huawei devices, whereas Android development is globally useful. In practice, global apps likely remain Android-first, with HarmonyOS versions following (especially for the Chinese market).

Market Adoption and Regional Trends

Global vs China: Globally, Android’s dominance is secure. Counterpoint (Q4 2024) shows Android ~74% worldwide, iOS ~22%, and HarmonyOS ~4%. In China, Huawei has made strong gains: HarmonyOS reached ~17-19% of smartphones by 2024, making it the second-biggest OS there (even slightly ahead of iOS). Huawei’s strategy (state support, subsidies, local ecosystem) drives this. Outside China, HarmonyOS share is negligible (US ban prevents Huawei’s presence).

Wearables and IoT: Huawei reports tens of millions of HarmonyOS wearable shipments (mostly in China) and growing IoT devices on HarmonyOS (smart TVs, routers, etc.). Android’s Google TV platform is global, but HarmonyOS TVs are rare outside Huawei’s brand. IoT market is fragmented; Huawei aims to unify its devices under Harmony, while Google’s Home and Matter standards govern many other IoT products.

Developer Conferences: At Huawei Developer Conference 2024, Huawei touted 900M+ Harmony devices, 2.54M developers, and 1,500+ Harmony native apps launched. Google I/O 2024 similarly highlighted Android 15 rollout and billions of Android activations (the scale is much larger, though Huawei’s specific numbers focus on the Chinese ecosystem).

Conclusion: Who Should Choose Which?

Consumers: If you’re outside China (US, Europe, etc.), Android phones are vastly more common, offer Google apps, and have the biggest app selection. Android is safer bet for apps and updates. In China, many buyers now use Huawei phones with HarmonyOS; they trade Google services for strong local apps (WeChat, Alipay, etc.) and seamless device integration in Huawei’s ecosystem. Cross-device fans (Huawei smart home, watch, Vision TV) may prefer HarmonyOS in that context. Privacy-conscious users might appreciate Android’s broad permissions controls, while those trusting Huawei’s “StarShield” may like HarmonyOS.
Developers: For global app markets, Android is by far the easier platform: one codebase reaches Android phones worldwide. HarmonyOS development makes sense if targeting Chinese/Huawei users specifically. Huawei’s tools (ArkTS, DevEco Studio) are improving, but porting effort is required. Companies building IoT or cross-device apps might explore HarmonyOS if partnering with Huawei’s ecosystem. Otherwise, Android (and iOS) remain the priority.
Businesses/Enterprises: Android’s maturity, manageability (Android Enterprise), and familiarity make it the safe choice for corporate use outside China. In China, many organizations use Huawei devices and may adopt HarmonyOS to leverage Huawei Cloud/IoT solutions. For manufacturers (OEMs), Android’s open-source model means any vendor (Xiaomi, Oppo, etc.) can license it; HarmonyOS is currently limited mostly to Huawei-affiliated firms due to US export restrictions.
Tech Enthusiasts: Android continues to innovate (AI/ML features, foldables, etc.) with broad industry support. HarmonyOS offers novelty – a true “cross-platform OS” with ambitious multi-device dreams. Early adopters might enjoy HarmonyOS’s smooth multi-screen continuity, but they should accept a smaller app library.

Smartphone OS Marketshare — Global smartphones sales share by Operating System (Android, iOS and Harmony OS)

Summary

In summary, Android remains the global leader in 2025, with unmatched app support and device variety. Huawei’s HarmonyOS has grown into a capable cross-device ecosystem (especially in China), claiming performance gains and deep integration among Huawei devices. HarmonyOS’s strengths lie in its unified experience and independent architecture. Its limitations are the relatively small app ecosystem and lack of Google services. Android’s strengths are its huge app library, open development, and familiarity, while fragmentation and heavy Google dependence are often cited cons. For most users worldwide, Android is the default mobile OS. HarmonyOS appeals mainly where Huawei’s ecosystem dominates. Developers and businesses should weigh market reach (Android’s vast share vs. HarmonyOS’s Chinese focus) and technical needs (cross-device integration vs. open customization) before choosing between these cross-platform contenders.