The Asian firm will implement its own operating system instead of incorporating Microsoft’s.
At the end of May, we learned that Huawei had its most ambitious plan to date: the full deployment of HarmonyOS, its own operating system. With this move, the company aims to challenge tech giants like Samsung and Apple by moving away from Android and launching a system that rivals iOS. As the Chinese company confirmed months ago, this move will also affect its line of computers.
According to a recent publication by TechSpot, Huawei will replace Windows with HarmonyOS in its upcoming PCs. This represents a significant change in the operating system of its devices, as the tool that was officially launched in 2019 will now extend to computers after being present in TVs and smartphones. In fact, the original report highlights that Huawei’s upcoming computers will use HarmonyOS Next, a new version of the OS that will be ready by the end of 2024.
From Android and Linux to HarmonyOS
Initially, HarmonyOS was based on Android’s open-source project (AOSP) and the Linux kernel. However, the Next version will not include AOSP code and will no longer be compatible with Android. Instead, it will feature its own native application format developed in JavaScript, TypeScript, and an optimized compiler. To grasp the significance of this shift, it’s important to note that Huawei holds a 10% share of China’s PC market, which sells 40 million units annually.
While Lenovo, the market leader in Asia, has no plans to replace Windows with HarmonyOS, that situation could change if U.S. technological sanctions against China persist. Nevertheless, HarmonyOS Next is not yet fully ready to replace Windows or Android in all areas, as it lacks support for game developers and other features that need to be addressed. However, with more than 10,000 applications and services already available, it has a strong foundation to build upon.
