What are the differences between HarmonyOS and Android?

HarmonyOS, the new operating system developed by Huawei.

to know more: Huawei will continue to update its phones even after losing the temporary license

To date we have already seen the arrival of HarmonyOS 2.0, a second version of this operating system that already offers an official development kit for different platforms, including smartwatches or televisions. But the mobile version is expected to arrive in December 2020.

What are the differences between HarmonyOS and Android?

While both are operating systems and the way to use them on phones is not very different, there are many differences between the two platforms. Today we want to analyze the most important, which we know.

Is the interface different in HarmonyOS?

Sure, there are a few differences between the two operating systems, which we will discuss in detail in this article. But what about the user interface?

If Huawei’s idea is that this operating system is present on millions of devices, by people who have gotten used to using Android, the company must work to make the transition as smooth as possible.

And that is why, although the operating system base go change, the HarmonyOS will continue to use the EMUI level, so that the menus, settings and applications that Huawei mobile users are accustomed to on Android, they are there as soon as their smartphones are updated to EMUI 11 HarmonyOS.

The same will happen with third party applications. Thanks to the ARK compiler, programmers will find this much easier to transfer Android applications to HarmonyOS, giving users the ability to continue using them, regardless of which smartphone they are using.

Main differences between HarmonyOS and Android

Android and HarmonyOS are similar in several respects, such as the fact that they are multi-platform operating systems or they were created by two of the most important companies in the field of information technology and electronics. But the truth is this they are two very different platforms.

If we compare the basics of the two systems – taking into account, of course, that the HarmonyOS documentation is not yet complete, and there is a lot to know about the Huawei platform – we can highlight the following differences:

Linux kernel vs Microkernel

If you have been using Android for a long time or are closely following the development of the Google platform, you are probably familiar with the fact that Android is based on the Linux kernel –Or, better, in an adapted version, even if Google wants to change it in the medium term.

And this is precisely the main difference between HarmonyOS and Android: or operating system from Huawei it is not based on the Linux kernel, the company has developed its own microkernel itself.

When we talk about a microkernel, we mean a kernel, usually much less complex – HarmonyOS has about 1/1000 the amount of code present in the Linux kernel – capable of decentralizing bugs so that a bug in a system component does not spread throughout the system. It also facilitates the process of creating and debugging drivers.

One of its advantages is the greater portability between different types of devices, which is fundamental, bearing in mind that Huawei aspires to use HarmonyOS on the entire range of its product catalog.

The fact of using a microkernel also implies that the communication between the processes is much faster than other platforms, i.e. the allocation of resources in real time. Therefore, it is expected thatHarmonyOS-based devices perform better.

Moreover, Huawei is not the only one that has decided to focus on a microkernel: Google itself uses a proprietary microkernel on its Fuchsia operating system, which apparently could replace Android in the not too distant future.

Sem ROOT

There are those who choose the Android thanks to the ease of manipulation offered by the Google operating system.

After all, few operating systems are as easily modifiable through techniques as having root permissions or the ability to install third-party ROMs that completely change the experience with the operating system.

But this will be very different in HarmonyOS. Huawei itself has confirmed that in its operating system it will not be possible to run JailBreak, have root or similar permissions, claiming that these types of techniques threaten the security of the platform.

More speed

While there is no evidence to prove this and everything we know so far is based on existing documentation on HarmonyOS, it all points to the fact that Huawei’s operating system will be faster than Android.

This is because the company has bet on a distributed operating system, which relies on the use of task scheduling and data management in a distributed way to improve system performance.

Huawei explains in this regard that, Android uses a lot of outdated code, outdated task scheduling system and has fragmentation problems, HarmonyOS can offer a faster experience.

To this end, the company uses a mechanism called “Deterministic Latency Engine”, which analyzes the characteristics of each application in real time to allocate system resources as efficiently as possible. In numbers, it must be a file Response time reduced by 25.7% and a 55.6% improvement in latency jitter.

When can we try HarmonyOS?

Now that differences between HarmonyOS and Android have already been clarified, it is right to want to knowit will be possible to test the new operating system from Huawei.

The Chinese company is a little reluctant to clarify at your place for the arrival of your new operating system. However, we know December 2020 it could be the month that Huawei will allow the chance to install HarmonyOS on the first compatible phones, that is, Huawei Mate 40 Pro is the first lucky one.