Huawei launches homegrown HarmonyOS NEXT operating system

Chinese technology giant Huawei launched HarmonyOS NEXT, its self-developed operating system built independent of Android architecture, at an event in south China's Shenzhen on Tuesday.

In 2019, Washington placed Huawei on the "Entity List," barring it from doing business with U.S. firms, including Google, which provides Android.

HarmonyOS NEXT, the fifth iteration of HarmonyOS, is said to have enhanced performance, improved system security and a more seamless user experience compared to previous versions. Previously released versions of HarmonyOS were partially built on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). As a result, they required compatibility with some Android apps. However, the new HarmonyOS NEXT is entirely self-developed, with a fully independent foundation. 

This self-reliance has significantly improved system smoothness, performance and security features, achieving complete control over the operating system.

Xu Zhen, a researcher at the Institute of Information Engineering at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, emphasized that this autonomy allows for enhanced security. With a proprietary foundational platform, China can design robust architecture to better protect user data and network connections.

According to Counterpoint Research, HarmonyOS made up 17 percent of China's smartphone market in Q1 this year, surpassing iOS's 16 percent and becoming the second-largest operating system in China after Android's 67 percent. Huawei says its HarmonyOS ranks second in the Chinese market, with 6.7 million registered developers and over 1 billion ecological devices.

Some of the early adopters are impressed. One HarmonyOS NEXT user said that he likes it because the system runs smoothly without any noticeable lag. The entire interface has been redesigned to be flatter and more minimalistic. "It seems to be more power-efficient, which I really appreciate, especially since I make a lot of phone calls and use WeChat frequently," said Gai Xiangbin, a user from Beijing.

However, not all users are ready to 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," said Li Siquan, a Shenzhen resident. "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 Zhang Ting, another Shenzhen resident.

A Russian resident in Shenzhen said that she isn't fully familiar with HarmonyOS NEXT but welcomes it, as it provides new options for consumers. Others see the operating system as a symbol of technological advancement. "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," said Ye Qingguo, a Shenzhen resident.

According to Cao Zhongxiong, assistant president of China Development Institute, as a leading enterprise in scientific and technological innovation in China, Huawei bears the responsibility of providing a public operating system for Chinese manufacturing and addressing the technical bottlenecks that arise in the current power competition. Furthermore, as Huawei expands and develops, its ecosystem layout offers a new operating system and solution for the company to establish a strong foothold in the entire industry and contribute to the digital transformation of China's industry. 

Cao believes that HarmonyOS could 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.

(With input from Xinhua)