Huawei finally announces HarmonyOS Next as its first ever fully home-made operating system

HarmonyOS Next

Huawei has officially launched HarmonyOS Next, marking its first self-developed operating system built independently of Android and the Linux kernel. In this article, we will discuss more about the latest HarmonyOS Next, including its features and availability

HarmonyOS Next Overview

Microkernel and Interconnectivity

The operating system features a self-developed microkernel based on the OpenHarmony open-source core. It supports apps through the Huawei Ark compiler and integrates Huawei Mobile Services (HMS). 

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Huawei HarmonyOS Next Features

Ecosystem and AI Integration

Richard Yu, Chairman of Huawei Consumer Business Group, announced that 15,000 apps and services are currently part of the HarmonyOS Next ecosystem. Previous versions of HarmonyOS are running on over 1 billion devices worldwide, spanning smartphones, tablets, wearables, and car infotainment systems.

Through HarmonyOS Next, users can now enjoy new lock screen and home screen customization options, a redesigned control center, faster animations, and quicker app launches. Additionally, the system includes AI features powered by the Pangu large language model.

Performance and Security

Huawei claims a 30% increase in device fluency and a 20% reduction in power consumption between software modules. The new Huawei Share 2.0 feature allows users to transfer a 1.2GB file between two HarmonyOS Next devices in just 8 seconds, enhancing file-sharing capabilities. HarmonyOS Next also includes improved security features through its self-developed Star Shield architecture. 

HarmonyOS Next Availability

HarmonyOS Next will initially power Huawei devices in China, covering a wide range of products, including smartphones, wearables, smart home devices, and car cockpits. A global release is expected in the future, expanding the system’s reach to more markets. A public beta of HarmonyOS Next is now available to users in China. Supported devices include the Pura 70 series, Huawei Pocket 2, and MatePad Pro 11 (2024).

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