Huawei Unveils HarmonyOS NEXT: A Fully Homegrown Operating System

Huawei has launched a self-developed OS built independent of Android architecture, the HarmonyOS Next. HarmonyOS NEXT, the fifth version of the HarmonyOS platform, is reported to offer better performance, stronger system security, and a smoother user experience compared to its predecessors.

Earlier versions of HarmonyOS were partially based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), which meant they needed to maintain compatibility with certain Android apps. In contrast, HarmonyOS NEXT is completely self-developed, built on its own independent framework. The reason for this might be that back in 2019, Washington barred Huawei from doing business with US firms including Google that makes Android.

Huawei just dropped HarmonyOS NEXT—its game-changing, self-developed OS with no ties to Android!

This is the 5th version of HarmonyOS, already powering over 1 billion devices worldwide. Get ready for a whole new experience!

What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger! pic.twitter.com/tMqhKKLrQz

— Dominic Lee 李梓敬 (@dominictsz) October 22, 2024

ALSO READ | Elon Musk Calls Eminem 'Diddy Party Participant' As Barack Obama Raps 'Lose Yourself' At Rally: Here's What Went Down

Enhanced Security Due To Self-Reliance?

According to Xinhua, Xu Zhen, a researcher from the Institute of Information Engineering at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IECAS), highlighted that the platform’s autonomy enables stronger security measures. By developing a proprietary system, China can implement a more secure architecture, safeguarding user data and network connections. According to Counterpoint

Research, HarmonyOS held 17 per cent of China’s smartphone market in the first quarter of this year, overtaking iOS, which had 16 percent, and positioning itself as the second-largest operating system in the country behind Android, which dominates with 67 percent. Huawei reports that HarmonyOS now ranks second in China’s market, with 6.7 million developers registered and over 1 billion ecological devices in its ecosystem, as reported by Xinhua.

Many early users have expressed satisfaction with the system. One user noted that HarmonyOS NEXT delivers a smooth performance with no noticeable lag. The interface has also been revamped, featuring a flatter, more minimalist design that enhances the overall user experience. However, there are also some who contradict this experience and have said that their experiences are quite different.