But it’s mainly the software that gets people talking. These phones are the first designed for HarmonyOS Next, an operating system announced in late 2023. Unlike previous versions, it no longer supports Android apps. Huawei hopes to make HarmonyOS Next a serious competitor against Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. According to the company, more than 15,000 applications are already ready for this new platform.
An in-house system to circumvent US sanctions
However, everything is not yet in place. The Mate 70 and X6 come with HarmonyOS 4.3, a version still based on Android. An update to HarmonyOS Next will be offered later. Richard Yu, the head of Huawei’s consumer division, explained that users will be able to choose between Android compatibility and the native HarmonyOS Next ecosystem. From 2025, all new Huawei devices will work exclusively with the latter.
Since the American sanctions of 2019, Huawei has had to review its strategy. Deprived of Google services, the company first developed a version of HarmonyOS based on Android. But today, it is definitely turning the page with an entirely Chinese platform. This choice reflects Beijing’s desire to reduce its dependence on foreign technologies.
HarmonyOS Next, however, presents a challenge. Although Huawei claims to have attracted many developers, several major Chinese applications are still missing, including key functions like WeChat Pay. One developer even confided that the current ecosystem remains “ under construction ”, which could slow down immediate adoption by users.
Even so, Huawei can count on its strong user base in China, where its products are extremely popular. With more than a billion devices already using previous versions of HarmonyOS, the group hopes that its fans will adopt the new system and encourage developers to enrich the offering.
This strategy is based on a solid foundation: HarmonyOS, in its previous versions, already equips a billion devices around the world. Huawei therefore hopes to capitalize on its popularity in China to impose Next as a credible alternative.
« Ecosystems evolve through their use “, recalled Eric Xu, president of Huawei, during a conference. “ The more users there are, the faster HarmonyOS will improve “. The launch of HarmonyOS Next is a major step for Huawei, but it will have to demonstrate its ability to attract international developers.
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