Huawei Introduces Its Latest In-House Operating System, HarmonyOS NEXT
Chinese technology giant Huawei unveiled HarmonyOS NEXT, its independently developed operating system that does not rely on Android architecture, during an event held in Shenzhen, southern China, on Tuesday.
TroibNews 
Chinese technology giant Huawei unveiled HarmonyOS NEXT, its self-developed operating system distinct from Android architecture, at an event held in Shenzhen, southern China, on Tuesday.
In 2019, Huawei was placed on the "Entity List" by Washington, preventing it from engaging in business with U.S. firms, including Google, which supplies Android.
The latest version, HarmonyOS NEXT, marks the fifth iteration of the operating system and is reported to have improved performance, enhanced system security, and a smoother user experience compared to its predecessors. Earlier versions of HarmonyOS were partially based on the Android Open Source Project, necessitating compatibility with certain Android applications. In contrast, HarmonyOS NEXT is fully self-developed, featuring an entirely independent framework.
This newfound self-reliance has led to significant enhancements in system performance, smoothness, and security, granting Huawei complete control over its operating system.
Xu Zhen, a researcher from the Institute of Information Engineering at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, pointed out that this autonomy enhances security significantly. With a proprietary foundational platform, China can create a robust architecture to better safeguard user data and network connections.
Counterpoint Research indicates that HarmonyOS constituted 17 percent of China's smartphone market in the first quarter of this year, outpacing iOS's 16 percent and making it the second-largest operating system in China, following Android's 67 percent. Huawei reports that HarmonyOS holds the second spot in the Chinese market, boasting 6.7 million registered developers and over 1 billion ecosystem devices.
Some early users have expressed positive feedback. One user of HarmonyOS NEXT shared that he appreciates the system's smooth performance, noting the redesigned interface's flatter and minimalistic style. "It seems to be more power-efficient, which I really appreciate, especially since I make a lot of phone calls and use WeChat frequently," remarked Gai Xiangbin, a Beijing resident.
Nevertheless, not every potential user is ready to make the switch. "There aren't many apps available on HarmonyOS NEXT yet, so I won't switch to it immediately. Instead, I'll continue using my current operating system, either the older version of HarmonyOS or iOS," stated Li Siquan, a resident of Shenzhen. "I have an iPhone 12. I won't consider changing it because I'm accustomed to it, and there are certain apps I need," added another Shenzhen resident, Zhang Ting.
A Russian expat in Shenzhen mentioned that while she isn't thoroughly familiar with HarmonyOS NEXT, she welcomes its introduction as it offers new choices for consumers. Others perceive the operating system as indicative of technological progress. "In terms of the product, Huawei represents our country's scientific and technological strength. Second, it is a kind of patriotism. We, as Chinese people, must support Chinese products," commented Ye Qingguo, also from Shenzhen.
Cao Zhongxiong, assistant president of the China Development Institute, noted that as a leading enterprise in scientific and technological innovation in China, Huawei is responsible for providing a public operating system for Chinese manufacturing and addressing the technological challenges posed by global competition. He added that as Huawei grows and develops, its ecosystem strategy presents a new operating system and solution for the company to establish a robust presence in the industry and aid in the digital transformation of China's manufacturing sector.
Cao believes that HarmonyOS has the potential to significantly influence China's manufacturing industry in the future, possibly serving as foundational infrastructure for both the digital economy in China and beyond.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
In 2019, Huawei was placed on the "Entity List" by Washington, preventing it from engaging in business with U.S. firms, including Google, which supplies Android.
The latest version, HarmonyOS NEXT, marks the fifth iteration of the operating system and is reported to have improved performance, enhanced system security, and a smoother user experience compared to its predecessors. Earlier versions of HarmonyOS were partially based on the Android Open Source Project, necessitating compatibility with certain Android applications. In contrast, HarmonyOS NEXT is fully self-developed, featuring an entirely independent framework.
This newfound self-reliance has led to significant enhancements in system performance, smoothness, and security, granting Huawei complete control over its operating system.
Xu Zhen, a researcher from the Institute of Information Engineering at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, pointed out that this autonomy enhances security significantly. With a proprietary foundational platform, China can create a robust architecture to better safeguard user data and network connections.
Counterpoint Research indicates that HarmonyOS constituted 17 percent of China's smartphone market in the first quarter of this year, outpacing iOS's 16 percent and making it the second-largest operating system in China, following Android's 67 percent. Huawei reports that HarmonyOS holds the second spot in the Chinese market, boasting 6.7 million registered developers and over 1 billion ecosystem devices.
Some early users have expressed positive feedback. One user of HarmonyOS NEXT shared that he appreciates the system's smooth performance, noting the redesigned interface's flatter and minimalistic style. "It seems to be more power-efficient, which I really appreciate, especially since I make a lot of phone calls and use WeChat frequently," remarked Gai Xiangbin, a Beijing resident.
Nevertheless, not every potential user is ready to make the switch. "There aren't many apps available on HarmonyOS NEXT yet, so I won't switch to it immediately. Instead, I'll continue using my current operating system, either the older version of HarmonyOS or iOS," stated Li Siquan, a resident of Shenzhen. "I have an iPhone 12. I won't consider changing it because I'm accustomed to it, and there are certain apps I need," added another Shenzhen resident, Zhang Ting.
A Russian expat in Shenzhen mentioned that while she isn't thoroughly familiar with HarmonyOS NEXT, she welcomes its introduction as it offers new choices for consumers. Others perceive the operating system as indicative of technological progress. "In terms of the product, Huawei represents our country's scientific and technological strength. Second, it is a kind of patriotism. We, as Chinese people, must support Chinese products," commented Ye Qingguo, also from Shenzhen.
Cao Zhongxiong, assistant president of the China Development Institute, noted that as a leading enterprise in scientific and technological innovation in China, Huawei is responsible for providing a public operating system for Chinese manufacturing and addressing the technological challenges posed by global competition. He added that as Huawei grows and develops, its ecosystem strategy presents a new operating system and solution for the company to establish a robust presence in the industry and aid in the digital transformation of China's manufacturing sector.
Cao believes that HarmonyOS has the potential to significantly influence China's manufacturing industry in the future, possibly serving as foundational infrastructure for both the digital economy in China and beyond.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
