HarmonyOS: Huawei aims to make its OS the world’s third largest after Android and iOS
By ForGeeks In May 2019, the U.S. placed Huawei on a list of restricted companies, preventing it from using U.S. supplies. The company also lost access to Google services, forcing it to either use an open source version of Android or develop its own operating system. A year before being placed on the list, Huawei had already started developing an Android replacement in preparation for this turn of events.
Huawei has already started developing a replacement for Android, preparing for this turn of events.
In April 2018, predictions suggested that losing the Android license would deny Huawei access to Google apps, including Google Play. Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei said at the time, “We are developing our own OS for strategic reasons. Won’t we be doomed if they suddenly cut off our ‘power’ and won’t let us use Android or Windows?”
Wouldn’t we be doomed if they suddenly cut off our ‘power’ and won’t let us use Android or Windows?”
HarmonyOS NEXT and Huawei’s future plans
In 2019, Huawei announced that HarmonyOS will replace Android on its smartphones and other devices. HarmonyOS was based on Android open source code (AOSP) and was a so-called “fork” of Android. Now, on October 22, 2024, the company has unveiled HarmonyOS NEXT, which uses only the HarmonyOS kernel and exclusively supports apps developed for that system.
HarmonyOS NEXT.
HarmonyOS NEXT-enabled devices in 2024
The new HarmonyOS NEXT can be tested on the following Huawei devices:
- HUAWEI Mate 60
- HUAWEI Mate X5
- HUAWEI Mate 60 Pro+
- HUAWEI Mate X5 Collector’s Edition
- HUAWEI Mate 60 Pro
- HUAWEI Pura 70
- HUAWEI Mate 60 RS ULTIMATE DESIGN
- HUAWEI Pura 70 Pro
- HUAWEI Pura 70 Ultra
- HUAWEI Pura 70 Pro+
- HUAWEI Pocket 2
- HUAWEI Pocket 2 Art Edition
- HUAWEI MatePad Pro 13.2-inch
- HUAWEI MatePad Pro 13.2-inch Collector’s Edition
- HUAWEI MatePad Pro 11-inch 2024 model
- HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate
In 2025, HarmonyOS NEXT will be available for the Nova Flip, Nova 13 and Nova 12 series, MatePad Pro 12.2-inch, MatePad Air 12-inch and other devices. Huawei is aiming for HarmonyOS NEXT to be the third largest mobile OS in the world, behind only Android and iOS.
Huawei is committed to making HarmonyOS NEXT the world’s third largest mobile OS, behind only Android and iOS.
Integration of AI and development prospects
HarmonyOS NEXT has received deep integration with artificial intelligence, including the Xiaoyi virtual assistant. The operating system also supports user-friendly widgets that adapt to the wallpaper on the lock screen, reminiscent of iOS in functionality. However, the success of HarmonyOS NEXT will depend on developers’ interest in creating apps for the platform.
HarmonyOS NEXT’s success will depend on developers’ interest in creating apps for the platform.
Huawei Consumer Business Group head Richard Yu said the HarmonyOS NEXT ecosystem already includes 15,000 apps and services, with the number of HarmonyOS-based devices exceeding 1 billion worldwide.
