HarmonyOS Next marks a significant milestone for Huawei as it introduces an entirely new operating system built on the company’s proprietary kernel. It marked Huawei’s new beginning in the mobile scene. After all, the brand went away from its previous reliance on AOSP (Android Open Source Project). This in-house development showcases Huawei’s commitment to creating a fully independent ecosystem. The OS debuted on the recently launched Mate 70 series, the Mate X6 foldable, and the latest MatePad Pro tablet. It settles the future of Huawei which now employs a proprietary OS for its smartphones and devices.
Richard Yu, Huawei’s CEO, stated that HarmonyOS Next represents just the start of a broader transition. By 2025, all Huawei devices will adopt this new platform. However, the shift is currently limited to devices launched within China. The company faces challenges in extending the operating system’s availability to global markets. This strategic move reflects Huawei’s focus on building a stronger foothold domestically while navigating international barriers.
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Analysts agree that Huawei’s biggest challenge with HarmonyOS Next is the lack of apps. Rich Bishop, CEO of AppInChina, explained that it’s hard to get international developers to make apps for the Chinese market because they don’t earn much money from it. He also states that if even one popular app isn’t available, it could stop users from choosing a HarmonyOS Next device. Another issue for users is that some apps might not work when they travel outside of China.
HarmonyOS NEXT Has a Long Way to Go
Huawei’s Richard Yu, the boss of its Consumer Business Group, said people can now choose between HarmonyOS 4.3 and HarmonyOS Next when buying a phone. In Huawei stores, phones have different product codes to show which operating system they use.
In China, HarmonyOS is used on 17% of phones, just a bit more than iOS, which has 16%. But Android is way ahead with 68% because so many brands use it. Around the world, HarmonyOS only has 4% of the market, while Android has 80% and iOS has 16%. This is because most phone makers, except Apple, rely on Android for their devices.
When Huawei lost Google Mobile Services, it hurt the company a lot, pushing it out of the top five phone makers worldwide. Still, Huawei is trying to stay in the spotlight. It launched the Pura 70 series in April. HarmonyOS Next isn’t available worldwide yet, but Huawei has teamed up with companies like Grab, a ride-hailing app from Singapore, and Emirates Airline from Dubai. These companies support Huawei’s system, and Huawei hopes more will join to help it grow.
