diff --git a/.changes/empty-vec-instead-of-none.md b/.changes/empty-vec-instead-of-none.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6b0dd9fd9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changes/empty-vec-instead-of-none.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+"@tauri-apps/cli": patch:enhance
+"tauri-cli": patch:enhance
+---
+
+Simplified internal representation of `features: Option<Vec<String>>` with `Vec<String>`, no user facing changes
diff --git a/crates/tauri-cli/src/build.rs b/crates/tauri-cli/src/build.rs
index ac8c5552a..0bd5a5320 100644
--- a/crates/tauri-cli/src/build.rs
+++ b/crates/tauri-cli/src/build.rs
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ pub struct Options {
   pub target: Option<String>,
   /// Space or comma separated list of features to activate
   #[clap(short, long, action = ArgAction::Append, num_args(0..))]
-  pub features: Option<Vec<String>>,
+  pub features: Vec<String>,
   /// Space or comma separated list of bundles to package.
   #[clap(short, long, action = ArgAction::Append, num_args(0..), value_delimiter = ',')]
   pub bundles: Option<Vec<BundleFormat>>,
@@ -252,8 +252,7 @@ pub fn setup(
 
   options
     .features
-    .get_or_insert(Vec::new())
-    .extend(config.build.features.clone().unwrap_or_default());
+    .extend_from_slice(config.build.features.as_deref().unwrap_or_default());
   interface.build_options(&mut options.args, &mut options.features, mobile);
 
   Ok(())
diff --git a/crates/tauri-cli/src/bundle.rs b/crates/tauri-cli/src/bundle.rs
index 646f44ddb..8c1f320b5 100644
--- a/crates/tauri-cli/src/bundle.rs
+++ b/crates/tauri-cli/src/bundle.rs
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ pub struct Options {
   pub config: Vec<ConfigValue>,
   /// Space or comma separated list of features, should be the same features passed to `tauri build` if any.
   #[clap(short, long, action = ArgAction::Append, num_args(0..))]
-  pub features: Option<Vec<String>>,
+  pub features: Vec<String>,
   /// Target triple to build against.
   ///
   /// It must be one of the values outputted by `$rustc --print target-list` or `universal-apple-darwin` for an universal macOS application.
diff --git a/crates/tauri-cli/src/dev.rs b/crates/tauri-cli/src/dev.rs
index 7ebabb458..e2ac61fce 100644
--- a/crates/tauri-cli/src/dev.rs
+++ b/crates/tauri-cli/src/dev.rs
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ pub struct Options {
   pub target: Option<String>,
   /// List of cargo features to activate
   #[clap(short, long, action = ArgAction::Append, num_args(0..))]
-  pub features: Option<Vec<String>>,
+  pub features: Vec<String>,
   /// Exit on panic
   #[clap(short, long)]
   pub exit_on_panic: bool,
@@ -254,9 +254,7 @@ pub fn setup(interface: &AppInterface, options: &mut Options, config: ConfigHand
     .features
     .clone()
     .unwrap_or_default();
-  if let Some(features) = &options.features {
-    cargo_features.extend(features.clone());
-  }
+  cargo_features.extend(options.features.clone());
 
   let mut dev_url = config
     .lock()
diff --git a/crates/tauri-cli/src/interface/mod.rs b/crates/tauri-cli/src/interface/mod.rs
index 00ca4c3d1..b153b33bf 100644
--- a/crates/tauri-cli/src/interface/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/tauri-cli/src/interface/mod.rs
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ pub trait AppSettings {
     package_types: Vec<PackageType>,
   ) -> crate::Result<Settings> {
     let no_default_features = options.args.contains(&"--no-default-features".into());
-    let mut enabled_features = options.features.clone().unwrap_or_default();
+    let mut enabled_features = options.features.clone();
     if !no_default_features {
       enabled_features.push("default".into());
     }
diff --git a/crates/tauri-cli/src/interface/rust.rs b/crates/tauri-cli/src/interface/rust.rs
index 0f7d2fd02..801e18767 100644
--- a/crates/tauri-cli/src/interface/rust.rs
+++ b/crates/tauri-cli/src/interface/rust.rs
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ pub struct Options {
   pub runner: Option<RunnerConfig>,
   pub debug: bool,
   pub target: Option<String>,
-  pub features: Option<Vec<String>>,
+  pub features: Vec<String>,
   pub args: Vec<String>,
   pub config: Vec<ConfigValue>,
   pub no_watch: bool,
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ impl From<crate::dev::Options> for Options {
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct MobileOptions {
   pub debug: bool,
-  pub features: Option<Vec<String>>,
+  pub features: Vec<String>,
   pub args: Vec<String>,
   pub config: Vec<ConfigValue>,
   pub no_watch: bool,
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ fn dev_options(
   mobile: bool,
   args: &mut Vec<String>,
   run_args: &mut Vec<String>,
-  features: &mut Option<Vec<String>>,
+  features: &mut Vec<String>,
   app_settings: &RustAppSettings,
 ) {
   let mut dev_args = Vec::new();
@@ -429,9 +429,7 @@ fn dev_options(
       })
       .collect();
     args.push("--no-default-features".into());
-    if !enable_features.is_empty() {
-      features.get_or_insert(Vec::new()).extend(enable_features);
-    }
+    features.extend(enable_features);
   }
 }
 
@@ -498,15 +496,8 @@ fn get_watch_folders(additional_watch_folders: &[PathBuf]) -> crate::Result<Vec<
 }
 
 impl Rust {
-  pub fn build_options(
-    &self,
-    args: &mut Vec<String>,
-    features: &mut Option<Vec<String>>,
-    mobile: bool,
-  ) {
-    features
-      .get_or_insert(Vec::new())
-      .push("tauri/custom-protocol".into());
+  pub fn build_options(&self, args: &mut Vec<String>, features: &mut Vec<String>, mobile: bool) {
+    features.push("tauri/custom-protocol".into());
     if mobile {
       args.push("--lib".into());
     } else {
@@ -957,11 +948,12 @@ impl AppSettings for RustAppSettings {
         .clone()
         .unwrap_or_default();
       for bin in bins {
-        if let (Some(req_features), Some(opt_features)) =
-          (&bin.required_features, &options.features)
-        {
+        if let Some(req_features) = &bin.required_features {
           // Check if all required features are enabled.
-          if !req_features.iter().all(|feat| opt_features.contains(feat)) {
+          if !req_features
+            .iter()
+            .all(|feat| options.features.contains(feat))
+          {
             continue;
           }
         }
diff --git a/crates/tauri-cli/src/interface/rust/desktop.rs b/crates/tauri-cli/src/interface/rust/desktop.rs
index e747f236b..b372dc015 100644
--- a/crates/tauri-cli/src/interface/rust/desktop.rs
+++ b/crates/tauri-cli/src/interface/rust/desktop.rs
@@ -262,9 +262,7 @@ fn cargo_command(
   build_cmd.args(&options.args);
 
   let mut features = config_features;
-  if let Some(f) = options.features {
-    features.extend(f);
-  }
+  features.extend(options.features);
   if !features.is_empty() {
     build_cmd.arg("--features");
     build_cmd.arg(features.join(","));
diff --git a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/android/android_studio_script.rs b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/android/android_studio_script.rs
index c3dfdff4b..4657ac673 100644
--- a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/android/android_studio_script.rs
+++ b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/android/android_studio_script.rs
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ pub fn command(options: Options) -> Result<()> {
         &AppInterface::new(tauri_config_, None)?,
       ),
       tauri_config_,
-      None,
+      &[],
       &cli_options,
     );
     (config, metadata)
diff --git a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/android/build.rs b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/android/build.rs
index 4aae6df68..c91ba73c1 100644
--- a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/android/build.rs
+++ b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/android/build.rs
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ pub struct Options {
   pub targets: Option<Vec<String>>,
   /// List of cargo features to activate
   #[clap(short, long, action = ArgAction::Append, num_args(0..))]
-  pub features: Option<Vec<String>>,
+  pub features: Vec<String>,
   /// JSON strings or paths to JSON, JSON5 or TOML files to merge with the default configuration file
   ///
   /// Configurations are merged in the order they are provided, which means a particular value overwrites previous values when a config key-value pair conflicts.
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ pub fn command(options: Options, noise_level: NoiseLevel) -> Result<BuiltApplica
     let (config, metadata) = get_config(
       &app,
       tauri_config_,
-      build_options.features.as_ref(),
+      &build_options.features,
       &Default::default(),
     );
     (interface, config, metadata)
diff --git a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/android/dev.rs b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/android/dev.rs
index e5961bfa8..5dbaf8778 100644
--- a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/android/dev.rs
+++ b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/android/dev.rs
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ use std::{env::set_current_dir, net::Ipv4Addr, path::PathBuf};
 pub struct Options {
   /// List of cargo features to activate
   #[clap(short, long, action = ArgAction::Append, num_args(0..))]
-  pub features: Option<Vec<String>>,
+  pub features: Vec<String>,
   /// Exit on panic
   #[clap(short, long)]
   exit_on_panic: bool,
diff --git a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/android/mod.rs b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/android/mod.rs
index 1990cf2f4..9a73f91e0 100644
--- a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/android/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/android/mod.rs
@@ -128,19 +128,14 @@ pub fn command(cli: Cli, verbosity: u8) -> Result<()> {
 pub fn get_config(
   app: &App,
   config: &TauriConfig,
-  features: Option<&Vec<String>>,
+  features: &[String],
   cli_options: &CliOptions,
 ) -> (AndroidConfig, AndroidMetadata) {
   let mut android_options = cli_options.clone();
-  if let Some(features) = features {
-    android_options
-      .features
-      .get_or_insert(Vec::new())
-      .extend_from_slice(features);
-  }
+  android_options.features.extend_from_slice(features);
 
   let raw = RawAndroidConfig {
-    features: android_options.features.clone(),
+    features: Some(android_options.features.clone()),
     logcat_filter_specs: vec![
       "RustStdoutStderr".into(),
       format!(
@@ -161,7 +156,7 @@ pub fn get_config(
   let metadata = AndroidMetadata {
     supported: true,
     cargo_args: Some(android_options.args),
-    features: android_options.features,
+    features: Some(android_options.features),
     ..Default::default()
   };
 
@@ -257,8 +252,8 @@ fn ensure_java() -> Result<()> {
 
 fn ensure_sdk(non_interactive: bool) -> Result<()> {
   let android_home = std::env::var_os("ANDROID_HOME")
-    .map(PathBuf::from)
-    .or_else(|| std::env::var_os("ANDROID_SDK_ROOT").map(PathBuf::from));
+    .or_else(|| std::env::var_os("ANDROID_SDK_ROOT"))
+    .map(PathBuf::from);
   if !android_home.as_ref().is_some_and(|v| v.exists()) {
     log::info!(
       "ANDROID_HOME {}, trying to locate Android SDK...",
@@ -354,8 +349,8 @@ fn ensure_sdk(non_interactive: bool) -> Result<()> {
 fn ensure_ndk(non_interactive: bool) -> Result<()> {
   // re-evaluate ANDROID_HOME
   let android_home = std::env::var_os("ANDROID_HOME")
+    .or_else(|| std::env::var_os("ANDROID_SDK_ROOT"))
     .map(PathBuf::from)
-    .or_else(|| std::env::var_os("ANDROID_SDK_ROOT").map(PathBuf::from))
     .context("Failed to locate Android SDK")?;
   let mut installed_ndks = read_dir(android_home.join("ndk"))
     .map(|dir| {
diff --git a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/android/run.rs b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/android/run.rs
index 9c276c4d9..8bab82b84 100644
--- a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/android/run.rs
+++ b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/android/run.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ pub struct Options {
   pub release: bool,
   /// List of cargo features to activate
   #[clap(short, long, action = ArgAction::Append, num_args(0..))]
-  pub features: Option<Vec<String>>,
+  pub features: Vec<String>,
   /// JSON strings or paths to JSON, JSON5 or TOML files to merge with the default configuration file
   ///
   /// Configurations are merged in the order they are provided, which means a particular value overwrites previous values when a config key-value pair conflicts.
diff --git a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/init.rs b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/init.rs
index 2a3cab0b4..eef38d1e9 100644
--- a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/init.rs
+++ b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/init.rs
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ pub fn exec(
     Target::Android => {
       let _env = super::android::env(non_interactive)?;
       let (config, metadata) =
-        super::android::get_config(&app, tauri_config_, None, &Default::default());
+        super::android::get_config(&app, tauri_config_, &[], &Default::default());
       map.insert("android", &config);
       super::android::project::gen(
         &config,
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ pub fn exec(
     // Generate Xcode project
     Target::Ios => {
       let (config, metadata) =
-        super::ios::get_config(&app, tauri_config_, None, &Default::default())?;
+        super::ios::get_config(&app, tauri_config_, &[], &Default::default())?;
       map.insert("apple", &config);
       super::ios::project::gen(
         tauri_config_,
diff --git a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/ios/build.rs b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/ios/build.rs
index f52f892d1..e8348726b 100644
--- a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/ios/build.rs
+++ b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/ios/build.rs
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ pub struct Options {
   pub targets: Option<Vec<String>>,
   /// List of cargo features to activate
   #[clap(short, long, action = ArgAction::Append, num_args(0..))]
-  pub features: Option<Vec<String>>,
+  pub features: Vec<String>,
   /// JSON strings or paths to JSON, JSON5 or TOML files to merge with the default configuration file
   ///
   /// Configurations are merged in the order they are provided, which means a particular value overwrites previous values when a config key-value pair conflicts.
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ pub fn command(options: Options, noise_level: NoiseLevel) -> Result<BuiltApplica
     let (config, _metadata) = get_config(
       &app,
       tauri_config_,
-      build_options.features.as_ref(),
+      &build_options.features,
       &Default::default(),
     )?;
     (interface, config)
diff --git a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/ios/dev.rs b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/ios/dev.rs
index 45cd44f5b..2661581ef 100644
--- a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/ios/dev.rs
+++ b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/ios/dev.rs
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ environment variable to determine whether the public network should be used or n
 pub struct Options {
   /// List of cargo features to activate
   #[clap(short, long, action = ArgAction::Append, num_args(0..))]
-  pub features: Option<Vec<String>>,
+  pub features: Vec<String>,
   /// Exit on panic
   #[clap(short, long)]
   exit_on_panic: bool,
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ fn run_command(options: Options, noise_level: NoiseLevel) -> Result<()> {
     let (config, _metadata) = get_config(
       &app,
       tauri_config_,
-      dev_options.features.as_ref(),
+      &dev_options.features,
       &Default::default(),
     )?;
 
diff --git a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/ios/mod.rs b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/ios/mod.rs
index ca4aade41..d589f76a6 100644
--- a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/ios/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/ios/mod.rs
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ use crate::{
 use std::{
   env::{set_var, var_os},
   fs::create_dir_all,
-  path::PathBuf,
+  path::Path,
   str::FromStr,
   thread::sleep,
   time::Duration,
@@ -126,16 +126,11 @@ pub fn command(cli: Cli, verbosity: u8) -> Result<()> {
 pub fn get_config(
   app: &App,
   tauri_config: &TauriConfig,
-  features: Option<&Vec<String>>,
+  features: &[String],
   cli_options: &CliOptions,
 ) -> Result<(AppleConfig, AppleMetadata)> {
   let mut ios_options = cli_options.clone();
-  if let Some(features) = features {
-    ios_options
-      .features
-      .get_or_insert(Vec::new())
-      .extend_from_slice(features);
-  }
+  ios_options.features.extend_from_slice(features);
 
   let bundle_version = if let Some(bundle_version) = tauri_config
     .bundle
@@ -232,7 +227,7 @@ pub fn get_config(
             }
           }
         }),
-    ios_features: ios_options.features.clone(),
+    ios_features: Some(ios_options.features.clone()),
     bundle_version,
     bundle_version_short,
     ios_version: Some(tauri_config.bundle.ios.minimum_system_version.clone()),
@@ -252,7 +247,7 @@ pub fn get_config(
     .clone()
     .unwrap_or_default()
   {
-    let framework_path = PathBuf::from(&framework);
+    let framework_path = Path::new(&framework);
     let ext = framework_path.extension().unwrap_or_default();
     if ext.is_empty() {
       frameworks.push(framework);
@@ -277,7 +272,11 @@ pub fn get_config(
     supported: true,
     ios: ApplePlatform {
       cargo_args: Some(ios_options.args),
-      features: ios_options.features,
+      features: if ios_options.features.is_empty() {
+        None
+      } else {
+        Some(ios_options.features)
+      },
       frameworks: Some(frameworks),
       vendor_frameworks: Some(vendor_frameworks),
       ..Default::default()
diff --git a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/ios/run.rs b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/ios/run.rs
index 0ae1cef12..844e2f4c8 100644
--- a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/ios/run.rs
+++ b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/ios/run.rs
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ pub struct Options {
   pub release: bool,
   /// List of cargo features to activate
   #[clap(short, long, action = ArgAction::Append, num_args(0..))]
-  pub features: Option<Vec<String>>,
+  pub features: Vec<String>,
   /// JSON strings or paths to JSON, JSON5 or TOML files to merge with the default configuration file
   ///
   /// Configurations are merged in the order they are provided, which means a particular value overwrites previous values when a config key-value pair conflicts.
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ pub fn command(options: Options, noise_level: NoiseLevel) -> Result<()> {
     super::build::Options {
       debug: !options.release,
       targets: Some(vec![]), /* skips IPA build since there's no target */
-      features: None,
+      features: Vec::new(),
       config: options.config.clone(),
       build_number: None,
       open: options.open,
diff --git a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/ios/xcode_script.rs b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/ios/xcode_script.rs
index 34d697614..25955c5ae 100644
--- a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/ios/xcode_script.rs
+++ b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/ios/xcode_script.rs
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ pub fn command(options: Options) -> Result<()> {
         &AppInterface::new(tauri_config_, None)?,
       ),
       tauri_config_,
-      None,
+      &[],
       &cli_options,
     )?;
     (config, metadata)
diff --git a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/mod.rs b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/mod.rs
index 2a20c66b6..b94543d65 100644
--- a/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/tauri-cli/src/mobile/mod.rs
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ impl Default for DevHost {
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct CliOptions {
   pub dev: bool,
-  pub features: Option<Vec<String>>,
+  pub features: Vec<String>,
   pub args: Vec<String>,
   pub noise_level: NoiseLevel,
   pub vars: HashMap<String, OsString>,
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ impl Default for CliOptions {
   fn default() -> Self {
     Self {
       dev: false,
-      features: None,
+      features: Vec::new(),
       args: vec!["--lib".into()],
       noise_level: Default::default(),
       vars: Default::default(),