Mobile operating system

For a list, see Comparison of mobile operating systems.

A mobile operating system is an operating system used for smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, smartglasses, or other non-laptop personal mobile computing devices. While computers such as typical/mobile laptops are "mobile", the operating systems used on them are usually not considered mobile, as they were originally designed for desktop computers that historically did not have or need specific mobile features. This "fine line" distinguishing mobile and other forms has become blurred in recent years, due to the fact that newer devices have become smaller and more mobile, unlike the hardware of the past. Key notabilities blurring this line are the introduction of tablet computers, light laptops, and the hybridization of the two in 2-in-1 PCs.

Mobile operating systems combine features of a desktop computer operating system with other features useful for mobile or handheld use, and usually including a wireless inbuilt modem and SIM tray for telephone and data connection. In Q1 2018, over 123 million smartphones were sold (the most ever recorded) with 60.2% running Android and 20.9% running iOS.[1] Sales in 2012 were 1.56 billion; sales in 2023 were 1.43 billion[2] with 53.32% being Android.[3] Android alone has more sales than the popular desktop operating system Microsoft Windows, and smartphone use (even without tablets) outnumbers desktop use.[4]

Mobile devices, with mobile communications abilities (for example, smartphones), contain two mobile operating systems. The main user-facing software platform is supplemented by a second low-level proprietary real-time operating system which operates the radio and other hardware. Research has shown that these low-level systems may contain a range of security vulnerabilities permitting malicious base stations to gain high levels of control over the mobile device.[5]

Mobile operating systems have had the most use of any operating system since 2017 (measured by web use).[2]

  1. ^ "Gartner Says Worldwide Sales of Smartphones Returned to Growth in First Quarter of 2018". Gartner, Inc. Gartner. May 29, 2018. Archived from the original on August 29, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  2. ^ a b TechFoogle, June 30, 2019, Top 10 Mobile Operating System Archived June 30, 2019, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Operating System Market Share Worldwide". StatCounter Global Stats. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  5. ^ Holwerda, Thom (November 12, 2013). "The second operating system hiding in every mobile phone". OSNews. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013.