OpenClaw launches iOS and Android companion apps, faces early user criticism
OpenClaw, the open‑source AI assistant that runs on a user‑controlled gateway, released native companion apps for iOS and Android. The apps pair with a private OpenClaw Gateway via QR code or setup code and let users chat, use real‑time voice (Talk mode), approve actions and grant the assistant limited access to phone features such as camera, screen, location, contacts and calendar.
The iOS version requires iOS 18 or later and is offered free; the Android version needs Android 12 or higher and is available through Google Play. Early reviews describe the Android interface as rough, note frequent pairing problems and give the app a low rating (about 2.2 stars). Users have called the Android build “unusable” and cited bugs that prevent the assistant from functioning after pairing. Critics praise the iOS app’s more polished design and the project’s privacy‑first approach—no user data is collected and the AI runs on the user’s own hardware. OpenClaw’s launch has attracted industry attention, with reports that Google is developing its own 24/7 personal AI agent to compete with the project.