Huawei has officially launched its own operating system, HarmonyOS NEXT, marking a decisive break from the Android ecosystem. This new OS, now in public beta testing for select smartphones and tablets powered by Huawei’s Kirin and Kunpeng chips, no longer supports Android apps. This signals a bold step towards full independence.
Native Apps on HarmonyOS
Although HarmonyOS NEXT does not support Android apps, Huawei claims that top Chinese companies are fully on board. Major platforms like Meituan, Douyin, Taobao, Xiaohongshu, Alipay, and JD.com have already developed native apps for the OS, demonstrating strong domestic support. In total, over 15,000 HarmonyOS native applications and meta-services have been launched, as announced at the unveiling.
In comparison to the millions of apps available on Google Play and Apple’s App Store, it represents a significant starting point for Huawei as it pushes for global expansion.
Huawei also boasted about the technical superiority of HarmonyOS NEXT, highlighting that the system features 110 million lines of code. According to the company, this update boosts overall performance by 30%, increases battery life by 56 minutes, and frees up an average of 1.5GB of memory for other applications. These enhancements are designed to deliver a smoother and more efficient user experience across devices.
However, international users may have to wait. Huawei stated that it currently has no plans to offer HarmonyOS NEXT outside of China. The company had previously hinted at expanding earlier versions globally.
China’s Tech Independence Push
The launch of HarmonyOS NEXT underscores China’s ongoing push for technological self-reliance. Prior versions of HarmonyOS were still dependent on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) due to U.S. sanctions in 2019 that restricted Huawei’s access to Google Mobile Services. This new version has eliminated that dependency.
Huawei is also planning to expand HarmonyOS to its PC lineup. The company recently announced that it will no longer use Windows for its future machines, opting for HarmonyOS instead. However, details on when these PCs will debut remain unclear.
Despite focusing on the Chinese market, Huawei’s influence is extending beyond its borders. Singapore’s Grab and the airline Emirates have already developed apps for HarmonyOS, showing some early international interest. However, previous attempts to push HarmonyOS globally were less successful. Thus, it remains to be seen whether this latest version can gain traction outside China.
Read More: Is it worth buying a Samsung phone?
This launch came on the same day Apple CEO Tim Cook met with China’s minister of Industry and Information Technology, Jin Zhuanglong, underscoring the complex relationship between global tech giants and the Chinese market. While Apple continues to emphasize its commitment to China, Huawei is clearly forging its own path with HarmonyOS NEXT.
