Mobile operating system

A mobile operating system is an <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating system</a> used for <a href="/facts/Smartphone/cSIrBMWG">smartphones</a>, <a href="/facts/Tablet_computer/6pGX2I7b">tablets</a>, <a href="/facts/Smartwatch/Aq3dKhwb">smartwatches</a>, smartglasses, or other non-laptop <a href="/facts/Personal_computing/koaYfNce">personal</a> <a href="/facts/Mobile_computing_device/cNS1Rhvg">mobile computing devices</a>. While computers such as <a href="/facts/Laptop/3EFwTAb2">laptops</a> are "mobile", the operating systems used on them are usually not considered mobile, as they were originally designed for <a href="/facts/Desktop_computer/edFPINdK">desktop computers</a> 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 <a href="/facts/Computer_hardware/8jSjsCNv">hardware</a> of the past. Key notabilities blurring this line are the introduction of <a href="/facts/Tablet_computer/6pGX2I7b">tablet computers</a>, light <a href="/facts/Laptop/3EFwTAb2">laptops</a>, and the hybridization of the two in <a href="/facts/2-in-1_PC/oHjRzKTx">2-in-1 PCs</a>.
Mobile operating systems combine features of a <a href="/facts/Desktop_computer/edFPINdK">desktop computer</a> operating system with other features useful for mobile or handheld use, and usually including a wireless inbuilt modem and <a href="/facts/SIM_card/NUeSqoG1">SIM</a> tray for telephone and data connection. In Q1 2018, over 123 million smartphones were sold (the most ever recorded) with 60.2% running <a href="/facts/Android_(operating_system)/nNyHb0xz">Android</a> and 20.9% running <a href="/facts/IOS/mK5cggH5">iOS</a>. Sales in 2012 were 1.56 billion; sales in 2023 were 1.43 billion with 53.32% being <a href="/facts/Android_(operating_system)/nNyHb0xz">Android</a>. Android alone has more sales than the popular desktop operating system <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Windows/bwhAhuSL">Microsoft Windows</a>, and smartphone use (even without tablets) outnumbers desktop use.
Mobile devices, with mobile communications abilities (for example, <a href="/facts/Smartphone/cSIrBMWG">smartphones</a>), 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.
Mobile operating systems have had the most use of any operating system since 2017 (measured by web use).

Mobile operating system open-in-new

Mobile operating system