The Chinese operating system launches an alternative ecosystem to compete with the American tech behemoths.

Huawei Technologies, a Chinese multinational technology corporation and one of the world’s biggest computer and mobile manufacturer, has released its fully self-developed mobile operating system, HarmonyOS Next. Positioned as a competitor to Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android, the new OS is part of Huawei's push to establish a Chinese tech ecosystem amid US trade restrictions.

Notably, HarmonyOS Next will not support Android-based applications, marking a break from previous versions while the company is overall cutting off reliance on US software.

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“We have done in 10 years what our European and American counterparts have done in more than 30 years, and have achieved independent control of the core technology of the operating system,” Richard Yu, chairman of Huawei’s consumer business group, said at a developer forum last week.

This move represents a significant milestone in Huawei’s comeback story. After the company was blacklisted by the United States government in 2019 over alleged national security concerns, many doubted its future in the smartphone industry. However, Huawei has turned the tables, with over 900 million smartphones now running on HarmonyOS, almost all of them in China.

Despite US restrictions on critical technologies, its flagship mobile models, especially the Mate 60 Pro (pictured above), are in strong demand, with sales rising 72% in early 2024 compared to the previous year.

Huawei has also diversified its product menu. Last year it entered the electric vehicle market with a sedan that competes with Tesla’s Model S. It also manufactures Ascend processors that are effective in artificial intelligence training.

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