Huawei has taken significant strides since the launch of HarmonyOS in 2019, initially introduced alongside its Honor Smart TVs. The company is now poised to elevate its ambitious vision for a fully independent operating system, with plans to transition away from Windows in favor of HarmonyOS as its primary operating system for PCs.
Transitioning to HarmonyOS Next
Yu Chengdong, the head of Huawei’s consumer business group, has announced that the current lineup of PCs will be the last to feature Microsoft’s operating system. The next generation of Huawei computers is set to incorporate HarmonyOS Next, an advanced iteration of the operating system, anticipated to debut by the end of 2024.
Originally built on Android’s Open Source Project (AOSP) and the Linux kernel, HarmonyOS has evolved significantly. The forthcoming HarmonyOS Next will be a microkernel-based system, shedding any remnants of AOSP code and Android compatibility. This shift will allow the operating system to exclusively support its own native applications, which utilize a blend of JavaScript, TypeScript, and an optimized compiler aimed at enhancing the performance of JavaScript code.
In the competitive landscape of China’s PC market, Huawei is estimated to account for approximately 10 percent of the 40 million PCs sold annually, with Lenovo and HP as its primary competitors. While Lenovo currently leads the global PC market, it appears disinterested in adopting HarmonyOS Next as a replacement for Windows in the near term. However, the geopolitical climate, including potential sanctions and trade restrictions from the US and other Western nations, could alter this stance in the future.
Despite Huawei’s substantial investment in HarmonyOS Next, the operating system faces challenges in gaining traction among end users. Recent reports indicate that the ambitious push for a “declaration of independence” has yielded a limited selection of gaming applications. The platform has struggled to attract support from game developers, resulting in a scarcity of fully functional apps, many of which are either in demo form or lack essential features. Developers are reportedly under pressure to produce new “patriotic” code, yet the user experience has suffered, leaving consumers less than satisfied with the offerings.
In contrast, the Chinese state media outlet Global Times (GT) has been promoting HarmonyOS as a widely accepted product, claiming that over 10,000 apps and services are available on the platform. Notably, high-profile clients, such as the Shanghai municipal government, are actively developing native HarmonyOS applications to enhance administrative services.
