Huawei's Bold Step with HarmonyOS NEXT
On Wednesday, Huawei announced the official launch of its home-grown operating system, HarmonyOS NEXT. This development marks Huawei's decisive separation from the Android ecosystem. The launch includes public beta testing of the OS on select Huawei smartphones and tablets equipped with its own Kirin and Kunpeng chips.

Unlike its predecessors, HarmonyOS NEXT does not support Android apps, a bold move by Huawei to establish its own standalone ecosystem. Despite this, Huawei insists that top-tier Chinese companies are actively embracing the new OS. Major names in China's digital landscape—such as Meituan, Douyin, Taobao, Xiaohongshu, Alipay, and JD.com—have already developed native applications for HarmonyOS NEXT.

Achievements and Limitations

Huawei proudly announced that, alongside this launch, over 15,000 HarmonyOS-specific applications and meta-services became available. While this is a commendable feat, it pales in comparison to the millions of apps available on Google Play Store and Apple's App Store.

The new operating system boasts an impressive 110 million lines of code. Huawei claims it enhances device performance by 30 percent, extends battery life by 56 minutes, and typically saves 1.5GB of memory, contributing to an improved user experience.

Local Exclusivity and International Ambitions

Despite the performance enhancements and growing app ecosystem, Huawei currently has no plans to make HarmonyOS NEXT available outside of China. This stance contrasts with previous considerations about international expansion of earlier HarmonyOS versions.

Globally, Huawei's attempts to promote HarmonyOS have seen varied success. The company had assisted developers aiming for international markets without substantial uptake. Nevertheless, overseas developers like Singapore-based Grab and Emirates Airline have developed apps for HarmonyOS.

A Milestone in Technological Independence

The launch of HarmonyOS NEXT also signals China's broader push for technological self-sufficiency. The earlier versions of HarmonyOS partially depended on the Android Open Source Project—a strategy necessitated by the US sanctions in 2019, which cut off Huawei's access to Google Mobile Services. With HarmonyOS NEXT, that dependency is a thing of the past.

Huawei is setting its sights on extending HarmonyOS to its PCs. Last month, the company's consumer business group chairman, Yu Chengdong, disclosed plans to replace Windows with HarmonyOS on future machines. The company has yet to provide details on when these PCs will be available or whether other computer manufacturers will adopt the OS.

This update from Huawei illustrates significant advancements and dedication towards achieving independence in the tech industry, particularly in light of geopolitical tensions and trade restrictions.

For more details, the original report can be found on The Register.