Huawei‘s homegrown operating system, HarmonyOS, seems to be finally shedding its training wheels. The company has confirmed to the South China Morning Post that HarmonyOS NEXT, a native version free from Android’s underlying libraries, will launch by the end of this month. HarmonyOS NEXT free of Android to launch this month
It’s a significant milestone for Huawei, particularly in the wake of US sanctions that restricted access to Google’s Mobile Services framework.
Announced in 2019, HarmonyOS initially dipped its toes in the smart TV market before making the jump to smartphones a year later. Since then, millions of users have adopted the platform, which has also grown to include tablets, wearables, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
However, Huawei’s ambitions is beyond just replacing Android on its devices. HarmonyOS NEXT, also dubbed the “Pure Blood” OS in China, is aiming for complete independence. It involves a complete rewrite of the software and removing any reliance on Android code.
According to Chen Xinxin, general manager of HarmonyOS Industry Solutions, the new mobile platform is “entirely independently developed and autonomous.”
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Likewise, the transition isn’t happening in a vacuum. Major Chinese developers across software, gaming, entertainment, and e-commerce have pledged support for native HarmonyOS apps. JD.com, China’s e-commerce giant, recently completed its own native app slated for launch alongside HarmonyOS NEXT.
The next chapter in this story likely involves the upcoming Huawei Mate 70. Although its launch date is still unknown, the company has confirmed it will be the first smartphone to feature the native HarmonyOS NEXT. This positions the Mate 70 as a flagship device not just for Huawei, but for the future of the HarmonyOS ecosystem. HarmonyOS NEXT free of Android to launch this month
It remains unclear if HarmonyOS NEXT can truly challenge Android’s dominance. However, Huawei’s dedication to creating a self-developed, independent OS is a bold move that could reshape the mobile landscape, especially in China.
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