The recently launched smartphone Mate 70 series and the Mate X6 foldable model in China by HUAWEI is a major step towards a shift from Android to their own operating system. These launches mark HUAWEI’s departure from Android for good.
The company through this move, aims to shift completely to the in-house developed operating system, HarmonyOS Next without depending on any US technological dependencies.
The original HarmonyOS was based on the Android framework and was launched in 2019, however, this new generation platform separates itself entirely from Andriod. Elimination of Android support signifies that HarmonyOS Next might not be compatible with Android applications posing a major challenge to user acceptance.
HUAWEI has been actively collaborating with developers and as per reports its operating system HarmonyOS Next, as of now compatible with nearly 10,000 applications. It is expected that this figure may soon reach 100,000 applications in the upcoming months.
The Mate 70 series will be the very first smartphone device of HUAWEI to feature HarmonyOS Next. However, it is important for users to note that neither Mate 70 nor Mate X6 have Harmony OS4.3 pre-installed and still have some elements of Android.
The users will be eventually offered updates to HarmonyOS Next allowing them to have the option to shift to the new operating system once it is available. By 2025, HUAWEI intends to release all its new devices with HarmonyOS Next the standard operating system which could be a significant step for them.
This shift towards an Android-free environment represents a significant milestone and it is not only for HUAWEI but also for the broader technology sector. The response of Android users in China towards this transition remains uncertain, however, HUAWEI is optimistic that the new operating systems will offer an engaging experience to the users.
The success of this strategic move will hinge on the ability of the company to persuade both users as well as developers to embrace the new ecosystem.
