Qt vs Android in Embedded Systems - A Real World Comparison

Have you ever wondered which stack delivers better performance in embedded GUI projects?

Rather than relying on opinions, we decided to run the numbers. We built the same demo twice, measured everything, and compared both environments under identical conditions. And, for good measure, we even deployed Qt on Android to see how it performs there.

In this article, you’ll walk through:

• what we tested,

• how we tested it

• and what you can take away - whether you're working on a car dashboard, a medical device, or an IoT gadget

If you want the full set of charts, data, and conclusions - you can download the complete PDF report here: Qt vs Android - Ultimate Comparison Whitepaper

Framing the Challenge

First off, let's clear up a few things: Qt and Android represent two very different approaches.

Calling this comparison "Qt vs Android" is a bit misleading. Qt is a development framework. Android is an operating system. And Qt apps can also be compiled and deployed on Android.

If we were to compare Java/Kotlin with Qt from a purely programming perspective, it would be comparing apples and pears. These technologies are typically used in different environments and are optimized for different goals.

So we defined a context: embedded device development .

By "embedded device," we mean a closed system - such as a smart home controller, a medical device, a car cockpit, or an industrial HMI.

The real question was: Which full technology stack works better for a resource-constrained embedded system?

So this isn't just a framework comparison. It's a stack comparison.

How We Built the Demo

To level the playing field, we implemented the same GUI demo three times:

• Qt on Linux ( Yocto-based system)

• Kotlin with Jetpack Compose on Android

• Qt running on Android

The Project: A Digital EV Dashboard

We built a digital dashboard for an electric vehicle - complete with all the bells and whistles: gauges, animations, transitions, and fancy graphical effects.

Although the example is automotive-inspired, the insights apply just as well to other industries.

We called the project Perun , after the Slavic god of lightning. Zeus and Thor get all the attention - so why not introduce the Slavic equivalent?

The Test Hardware

All versions ran on identical hardware provided by Toradex:

• Verdin SoM

• NXP i.MX 8M Plus

• 4 GB RAM

• Quad-core CPU

This hardware is neither ultra-constrained nor super high-end. It's a pretty realistic embedded target for a lot of commercial products.

We didn't dumb down the implementation. Both apps were designed the same way, tested under identical conditions, and benchmarked straight on the target device. That way we could measure real-world differences rather than relying on theoretical assumptions.

What We Measured

We looked at: boot time, rendering performance (FPS), CPU usage, GPU usage, memory consumption, and thermal behavior.

I won't make you download the whitepaper just to get a single result. Let's talk about the most interesting finding.

Rendering Performance – Why It Matters

Users expect smooth, silky interfaces. In graphically rich HMIs with animations and real-time data, rendering performance becomes a major player.

Here's what we found:

Qt on Linux (Yocto)

• ~59 FPS

• Stable and predictable performance

• Visibly smooth animations

Not a super high number, but the consistency is often more important than peak values. And that's where the architecture of the Qt framework really shines - its rendering pipeline is optimized for predictable behaviour on embedded hardware.

Kotlin + Jetpack Compose (Android)

• ~32 FPS on the same hardware

• Lower responsiveness

• Animations appeared visibly less fluid

Qt on Android

• ~47 FPS

This result kind of makes sense. Android introduces some extra system overhead compared to a minimal Linux Linux distribution.

The full whitepaper includes some pretty interesting charts and surprising results, including GPU usage comparisons and resource efficiency analysis.

Industry Context – Where Each Stack Fits

Automotive

Android Automotive is taking off. It brings with it built-in Google services and a dedicated hardware abstraction layer for vehicle components.

Qt can run on Android Automotive too, and communicate with the OS layer. But Java and Kotlin often feel more at home in that ecosystem.

The choice here may come down to whether your product strategy focuses on ecosystem integration or performance control.

Read our case study: Automotive cockpit built with Qt framework

Medical Devices

In medical software development, Android can introduce unnecessary complexity.

We once had a client running a Qt app on an Android tablet. After a system update, access to Wi-Fi control APIs was restricted because they became private. The app lost some critical functionality.

Medical apps often operate in kiosk mode. Access to system features can introduce some security risks.

We migrated the app to Linux. Since it was written in Qt, the migration was pretty straightforward. With other frameworks, it would have been a lot harder.

Linux with Yocto lets you pick just the packages you really need.

The rule of thumb is simple: Fewer dependencies mean lower attack surface and easier SBoM management.

Qt provides modules for GUI, connectivity, and databases within a single framework.

Electronics & IoT

In IoT, where memory and CPU resources are often even more limited, Android is rarely the optimal choice. Qt for MCUs offers a commercial solution.

If your project doesn't need deep hardware optimisation then there are plenty of off-the-shelf Android HMI tablets available for industrial use. Android might speed up your team's onboarding and development if that's the case.

What You Need To Take Away

Our testing showed that the two stacks behave in totally different ways - no question about that.

I often say: The best technology is the one your team truly understands.

Final Thoughts

Choosing between Qt and Android for embedded systems isn't about popularity - it's about getting what you need to meet your product goals.

If your company is exploring embedded GUI development and needs support with Qt development, Android, or custom Linux projects, we at Somco Software would be happy to discuss your case.

The full comparison, including detailed charts, benchmark data, and our decision framework - is available in the complete PDF report: Qt vs Android - Ultimate Comparison Whitepaper

Because in embedded systems, performance is not a matter of opinion. It’s a matter of measurement.