Huawei Technologies said that from 2025, all of its smartphones and tablets to be launched in 2025 will run on HarmonyOS Next, the latest iteration of Huawei’s self-developed mobile platform that no longer supports Android apps.
Announced at a live-streamed event on Nov 26, the new devices and software add to Huawei’s campaign to reclaim China’s premium tier from Apple and build an ecosystem without the involvement of major US tech providers.
The company’s new flagship phone, the Mate 70, launched on Tuesday and shipping on December 4, will debut HarmonyOS Next, the iteration of its operating system that does away with remnants of Android in favour of entirely indigenous tech.However, users who wish to can still choose the older, Android-based HarmonyOS 4.3, according to Richard Yu Chengdong, chairman of Huawei’s consumer business group.
Rich Bishop, CEO of AppInChina, which distributes international software in China, said Huawei’s plan to roll out HarmonyOS Next on all of its new devices next year will face “challenges” given the limited number of compatible apps currently available.
“If users can’t access one app they use regularly, then this will likely put them off buying a Next device.”Bishop said, “Users will also face huge challenges when traveling abroad, as the vast majority of apps they need to use will not be available on Next.”
HarmonyOS Next will still need another two to three months to improve its user experience, but the plan is to use it on upcoming gadgets, said Mr Richard Yu, chairman of Huawei’s consumer business group.
Huawei’s rotating chairman Xu Zhijun said last week that HarmonyOS Next still needs two to three months to improve its user experience, but plans to apply it to upcoming devices. As of October 22, HarmonyOS Next has more than 15,000 native apps and services, and the company expects the operating system to achieve 100,000 apps and reach “maturity” in the next six months to a year.
Shenzhen-based Huawei is expected to use its latest in-house Kirin chip for the new product line, though its performance increase may be less significant than Qualcomm and MediaTek’s top-end offerings, according to a note by Bloomberg Intelligence analysts Charles Shum and Sean Chen.
The roll-out is a key part of Huawei’s relentless attempt to break free from years of US sanctions.
Despite Washington’s blacklisting and technical challenges, Huawei managed to grow sales over the past seven quarters, with the help of an expanding smartphone business.Its shipments recorded four consecutive quarters of at least double-digit growth in China as at September, according to research firm IDC.