The smartphone market is about to be disrupted by the entry of Huawei’s homegrown HarmonyOS Next.
This cutting-edge operating system (OS) is built from the ground up, independently of Android.
The move marks a significant milestone for Huawei as it transitions its devices from software developed by Google.
Currently, Huawei’s users in China have early access to the OS, and the company is fronting a global rollout soon.
And it’s taking off fast!
1,000,000,000+ Huawei Devices Are Running HarmonyOS Next
Over a billion Huawei devices, including foldables, smartphones, tablets, and wearables, are now powered by Huawei’s in-house OS.
This places HarmonyOS Next third in popularity behind Apple iOS’s 1.38 billion users worldwide.
It still has a long way to go compared to Android’s 3.95 billion active devices, representing 70% of the global market share.
Given that these numbers account only for users in China, it’s just a matter of time before it topples iOS from the second spot.
So, what’s under the hood?
HarmonyOS Next Promises A Massive Performance Boost
Huawei’s risk of developing an entirely new OS from the ground up seems to be paying off.
The company no longer has to rely on Google or abide by Android’s limitations when making devices.
Like Apple, it now has complete control over the hardware and software, giving it an edge in optimizations and customizations.
Accordingly, Huawei reports a 30% performance improvement, including 20% power savings, extending the battery life by about an hour.
HarmonyOS Next is also less resource-hungry, utilizing roughly 1.5GB RAM, which is 28.57% better than on Android.
The OS includes Huawei Share 2.0 for quick file sharing between devices, with a 1.2GB file transfer taking only 8 seconds.
And it gets better!
Say goodbye to Android APK Apps and Hello to Huawei Ark Compiler
Huawei’s HarmonyOS Next runs on an in-house microkernel based on the OpenHarmony open-source core.
It supports apps via the Huawei Ark compiler, eliminating the need to run Android APK-based apps.
When combined with Huawei Mobile Services (HMS), it promises seamless interconnectivity between HarmonyOS Next devices and the cloud.
The ecosystem already boasts 15,000+ apps, mostly native, from services like Tencent, ByteDance, JD, and more.
But that’s not all.
Customizable UI, Xiaoyi AI Assistant, Star Shield Security, and Other Cool Features
Huawei never fails to impress when it comes to its devices’ user interface and customization capabilities.
Like Android, HarmonyOS Next offers users unlimited options to customize icons, themes, apps, and more like Android.
It features a refreshed design, customizable lock and home screens, an updated control center, faster animations, and quicker app launches.
An onboard AI assistant dubbed Xiaoyi enables device owners to transcribe audio, summarize text, retouch images, answer questions, and more.
When it comes to security, HarmonyOS Next leverages Huawei’s Star Shield Security architecture for solid privacy protection.
What’s exciting about it is that it allows users to monitor, control app permissions, and limit access to personal data.
Moreover, Star Shield Security can prevent device owners from installing harmful apps with malicious codes.
Can HarmonyOS Next Achieve a Significant Leap Forward?
HarmonyOS Next is undoubtedly a promising mobile operating system, distinct from the usual Android and iOS platforms.
While over a billion devices in China already use it, seeing how the rest of the world embraces this OS will be intriguing.
The ecosystem still has a long way to go, particularly in expanding its app selection and third-party developer support.
Even more interesting is whether Huawei will allow rival smartphone manufacturers to adopt HarmonyOS Next.
