Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

HarmonyOS VS GrapheneOS

Compare HarmonyOS VS GrapheneOS and see what are their differences

HarmonyOS logo HarmonyOS

HarmonyOS is a cutting-edge operating system that enables better collaboration and interconnection between smart devices.

GrapheneOS logo GrapheneOS

GrapheneOS is an open source privacy and security focused mobile OS with Android app compatibility.
  • HarmonyOS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-08
  • GrapheneOS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-21

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.

GrapheneOS features and specs

  • Enhanced Privacy
    GrapheneOS provides robust privacy features by limiting app permissions and extensive endpoint isolation, which significantly reduces data mining capabilities.
  • Security Focus
    Designed with a strong emphasis on security, GrapheneOS incorporates advanced defensive technologies, including hardened memory allocators and enhanced sandboxing.
  • Regular Updates
    GrapheneOS frequently receives security patches and updates to ensure your device is protected against the latest threats.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project, GrapheneOS allows for transparency and verification by the community, ensuring no hidden backdoors or malicious code.
  • Improved Performance
    With a streamlined and optimized operating system, users often experience improved performance and battery life compared to stock Android.

Possible disadvantages of GrapheneOS

  • Limited App Compatibility
    Due to its strong focus on security and privacy, some apps that rely on Google Play Services may not work properly or require additional setup.
  • Technical Expertise Required
    Installing and configuring GrapheneOS can be challenging for non-technical users, as it often requires knowledge of advanced topics like flashing custom ROMs and using ADB.
  • Reduced Features
    Some features found in stock Android, particularly those provided by Google, may be missing or need to be manually installed and configured.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    GrapheneOS supports a limited range of devices, primarily focused on Google's Pixel line, which may restrict its use for users with other hardware.
  • Community Support
    While the open-source community is active, users may find that support is less comprehensive compared to larger commercial offerings like those directly from Google or Apple.

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!

GrapheneOS videos

GrapheneOS Review: Your BEST Secure & Private Mobile OS!

More videos:

  • Tutorial - THIS is the most private and secure phone on the planet - GrapheneOS review and how to install
  • Review - First GrapheneOS Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to HarmonyOS and GrapheneOS)
Mobile OS
2 2%
98% 98
Mobile SDK
3 3%
97% 97
Operating Systems
11 11%
89% 89
Roms
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 HarmonyOS and GrapheneOS

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

GrapheneOS Reviews

Top 5 Secure Operating Systems for Privacy and Anonymity
GrapheneOS is a modern and sleek mobile operating system with a strong focus on privacy and robust security features. Developed as an open-source project, it builds upon the foundations of the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) to deliver a secure, Google-free Android experience without sacrificing usability. Leveraging Android's existing security model, GrapheneOS...
Android Alternative: Top 12 Mobile Operating Systems
If security and privacy are your main reasons behind your search for an Android alternative, GrapheneOS fits the bill perfectly. It’s a security-hardened operating system, built with top-notch privacy protection in mind. GrapheneOS, earlier known as CopperheadOS, is also developed on Android, but the main developer, Daniel Micay has worked extensively to make GrapheneOS a...
Source: beebom.com
Open Source Mobile OS Alternatives To Android
GrapheneOS in an open source privacy-focused mobile operating system. It is focused on the research and development of privacy and security technology.
Source: itsfoss.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GrapheneOS seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 390 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.

HarmonyOS mentions (0)

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

GrapheneOS mentions (390)

  • /e/OS: A complete "deGoogled" mobile ecosystem
    False marketing. They are one of the least "deGoogled" ROMs out there[1]. If you want the only real "deGoogled" OS that prioritizes security and privacy, use GrapheneOS https://grapheneos.org/. [1] https://eylenburg.github.io/android_comparison.htm. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • FTC Pushed to Crack Down on Companies That Ruin Hardware via Software Updates
    > Smartphones are a tragedy itself. Security theatre destroyed it. If you're willing to buy a new device, then I recommend getting a Pixel on sale and flashing it with GrapheneOS[0]. No rooting required. Read up on it when you have a chance. Also, if you install the sandboxed Google Play Services layer (which doesn't require any Google account logins and has very limited access to the device) you will be able to... - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • WhatsApp forces Pegasus spyware maker to share its secret code
    Just so you know: https://grapheneos.org/ and https://signal.org/ do exist! - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • LineageOS is currently installed on 1.5M Android devices
    It might be worth to switch to GrapheneOS if you have Pixel phones: https://grapheneos.org/ It is a more serious project than LineageOS in the sense that they take security very seriously and they take their development more professionally too. There are no disadvantages to using GrapheneOS compared to LineageOS. You can see a comparison here: https://eylenburg.github.io/android_comparison.htm. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Recommendations for an Android repair shop?
    If it still powers up but just won't boot you could try installing https://grapheneos.org/. Source: about 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

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

CalyxOS - Privacy-focused operating system for smartphones based on Android and microG

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.

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.

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