Chinese tech company Huawei has formally launched a new mobile operating system HarmonyOS Next, its self-developed operating system built independent of Android architecture, drawing wide attention of electronic enthusiasts
The company stressed how its fifth-generation HarmonyOS, for mobile, computer and smart wearables, is truly independent from its competitors in Android and iOS, which has impressed many early movers.
"I believe it has become more energy-efficient, and the smoothness of using WeChat has improved as well," said Gai Xiangbin, one of the early users of the HarmonyOS Next.
"The system is extremely smooth and fluid, with seamless switching between different apps and no sluggishness," another said.
Huawei says the previous version of its HarmonyOS ranks the second in the Chinese market, with 6.7 million registered developers and over 1 billion ecological devices.
According to global research firm Counterpoint, HarmonyOS made up 17 percent of China's smartphone market in the first quarter of 2024, surpassing iOS's 16 percent and becoming the second-largest operating system in China after Android's 67 percent.
With Android and iOS being already well-established operating systems, challenges remain for Huawei's self-developed platform to compete with its counterparts.
"There aren't many apps available on HarmonyOS Next yet, so I won't switch to it right away. Therefore I might continue using my current operating system, the older version of HarmonyOS or iOS as for now," said Shenzhen resident Li Siquan.
"New options, very good," said a non-Chinese resident of Shenzhen.
"[The brand Huawei] represents the scientific and technological strength of China. Second, it is a kind of patriotism. We, as Chinese people, must support Chinese products," another resident named Ye Qingguo said.
Meanwhile, an expert explained the reason why Huawei develops its own operating system.
"As a leading enterprise in scientific and technological innovation in China, Huawei shoulders the responsibility of providing a public operating system for Chinese manufacturing and addressing the technical bottlenecks that arise in the current great power competition. I believe this is also a responsibility for a major enterprise," said Cao Zhongxiong, assistant president of the China Development Institute and the director of the Digital Strategy and Economic Research Center.
Cao believes that Huawei's self-developed operating system will have a substantial impact on China's manufacturing industry in the future, potentially becoming the foundational infrastructure for both China's and the world's digital economy.
Huawei's Android-free OS draws wide public attention
