Since facing U.S. sanctions, Huawei has struggled with Android and lost access to Google services. The company developed its HarmonyOS alongside Android, maintaining app support, but is now fully transitioning away from it.
Huawei’s new system, HarmonyOS Next, will no longer support Android applications and will require the development of dedicated apps. After much anticipation and conflicting reports about Huawei’s future with Android, the Chinese giant revealed plans indicating a permanent shift away from the platform. They have launched the beta version of HarmonyOS Next, which is entirely isolated from the Android environment and its associated services.
The company officially announced the start of public testing for HarmonyOS Next on some of its smartphones and tablets equipped with Kirin and Kunpeng processors. In recent years, Huawei has faced severe Western, particularly U.S., sanctions, which have restricted its access to Western chips and technologies. One major impact has been the absence of Google services on its phones, leading to a rapid decline in sales, dropping from one of the largest phone manufacturers globally to a significantly lower position. This situation prompted Huawei to develop an alternative to Android, creating HarmonyOS, which was fundamentally a modified version of Android with full app support to leverage the vast number of applications available.
Now, it appears that Huawei is taking a different direction, as HarmonyOS Next lacks Android app support and represents a completely independent system that requires its own app development. This shift reflects the company’s intention to focus on the Chinese market, where it has recently seen a strong resurgence, reclaiming its place among the top smartphone sellers.
While HarmonyOS Next may not be preferred outside of China, Huawei is actively working to facilitate its adoption domestically. The company has collaborated with major players, including e-commerce giants like Meituan, JD.com, and Taobao, as well as social media platforms like Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok) and others. Huawei has also discussed partnerships with various applications, including the Chinese payment service AliPay. Globally, the company has faced challenges promoting its system, although it has gained some support, such as applications from Emirates Airlines and the popular Southeast Asian delivery service, Grab.
Even with backing from major companies in the Chinese market, HarmonyOS Next will face significant challenges in proving itself. Android and iOS offer much greater support with millions of applications and games developed for them, alongside hundreds of millions of users over more than a decade and a half. However, if Huawei can successfully transition to HarmonyOS Next, it could pose a real challenge to the longstanding dominance of Android and iOS, which have already overshadowed numerous operating systems like SymbianOS, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry OS.
Notably, China has recently launched a major initiative to further isolate itself from global technologies. The country has long distanced itself from major internet services like global search engines and social media platforms, instead developing more restrictive local alternatives with stringent content monitoring requirements. Now, it seems the focus has shifted to operating systems and software. The country is working to reduce its reliance on foreign electronic chips and to develop its local industry, which still lags behind global capabilities. Plans have also been put in place to replace Windows with local systems in government devices at least, indicating that Huawei is keenly focused on seizing this as a major growth opportunity in the Chinese market.
