Huawei continues to drive forward the development of its own ecosystem and has announced HarmonyOS Next, a new version of its operating system. In future, this will not only be used in smartphones and IoT devices, but also in notebooks, making Huawei increasingly independent of Windows and other external operating systems. But how does HarmonyOS Next position itself in a market dominated by Windows and Linux?
Key features of HarmonyOS Next:
- Independent operating system without Android core: HarmonyOS Next relies on an architecture that is completely detached from Android.
- Support for multiple platforms: Use on smartphones, tablets and in future also notebooks.
- Focus on cloud integration and app compatibility.
The step away from Windows
Huawei is planning to significantly expand the possible uses of its operating system, in particular by taking the step of using HarmonyOS Next as the primary operating system on its future laptops. Huawei CEO Yu Chengdong revealed this in an interview on Weibo.
This is a clear break with the previous practice of relying on Windows. According to reports, HarmonyOS Next could not only challenge Microsoft’s dominance, but also influence the availability of alternative operating systems such as Linux.
Huawei argues that this change is a necessary response to geopolitical tensions and sanctions. The US has increasingly restricted Huawei’s access to US technologies since 2019, prompting the Chinese technology company to invest more in its own operating systems and solutions.
New opportunities for developers
One highlight of HarmonyOS Next is the planned app compatibility. Developers who already write for Android or other operating systems should be able to port their applications to HarmonyOS relatively easily. The OpenHarmony kernel, on which HarmonyOS Next is based, supports a wide range of devices and hardware specifications.
In addition, Huawei is increasingly focusing on a cloud-based infrastructure. This could be particularly interesting in the area of business applications, as companies are increasingly relying on cloud-based solutions. HarmonyOS Next offers great potential for customized software solutions thanks to its flexible integration and modular structure.
A challenge for Windows and Linux?
Huawei’s ambition is clear: HarmonyOS Next should become a real alternative to established operating systems such as Windows and Linux. However, it remains to be seen how well the system will be accepted by end users and, above all, by companies that have so far relied on tried-and-tested solutions such as Windows. The decisive factor will be how well HarmonyOS Next performs in practice and whether it receives the necessary software support to actually be competitive.
Conclusion
With HarmonyOS Next, Huawei is taking a bold step towards independence and attempting to set its own standards in the tech world. However, it remains to be seen whether the operating system can compete with top dogs such as Windows or Linux in the long term. For Huawei, however, it is a decisive step into the future, especially in view of the geopolitical challenges facing the company. The next generation of notebooks from 2025 could already be based on the new operating system.
