Huawei’s HarmonyOS NEXT has officially launched, marking a significant milestone in the mobile operating system landscape. As China’s first fully homegrown OS, HarmonyOS NEXT positions itself as a formidable competitor to Android and iOS, offering a range of unique features and improvements that set it apart. Let’s dive into the standout features of HarmonyOS NEXT and what makes it a compelling alternative. This information also features in 9to9trends’ YouTube channel, so don’t forget to check it out.

HarmonyOS NEXT:
This Android-free operating system not only allows Huawei to move away from reliance on U.S.-based technology but also enables it to cultivate an independent ecosystem of apps, services, and security features. The most prominent shift with HarmonyOS NEXT is its fully self-developed core, meaning it no longer relies on any Android Open-Source Project (AOSP) elements. Unlike previous HarmonyOS versions, which maintained partial compatibility with Android apps, HarmonyOS NEXT is completely independent.
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As noted by Ma Jihua, a telecom industry expert who attended Huawei’s launch event on October 22, 2024, this shift allows Huawei and its partners to customize the OS to their specifications without facing the limitations associated with Android. This independence provides Huawei with an unmatched level of control, which Android does not offer its licensees.
In addition, Richard Yu, Chairman of Huawei’s Consumer Business Group, revealed during the launch event that HarmonyOS NEXT’s ecosystem now supports over 15,000 apps, covering industries from general office applications to specialized enterprise software. This vast ecosystem promises a more seamless and secure user experience across devices, with Huawei also actively working with 300 universities across China to accelerate research, development, and innovation within this new OS.
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Huawei’s decision to employ a unique microkernel based on the OpenHarmony open-source framework significantly improves system performance. According to Emiko Matsui of Global Times, HarmonyOS NEXT offers a 30% improvement in system fluency, along with a 20% reduction in power consumption. These optimizations are further supported by faster animations, app launch speeds, and the addition of AI-driven features powered by Huawei’s Pangu large language model, which drives intelligent predictions, processing, and user customization options.
One of the most notable features is Huawei Share 2.0, a high-speed file-sharing service that facilitates seamless file transfers between HarmonyOS devices. The company showcased its efficiency by transferring a 1.2 G B file between two HarmonyOS devices in just eight seconds, underscoring the power of Huawei’s system-level optimizations. In contrast, while Android devices offer file-sharing solutions like Nearby Share, they often lack the same speed and level of device interconnectivity that Huawei has prioritized.
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Security is at the forefront of HarmonyOS NEXT’s design, setting it apart from Android’s largely app-based permissions system. Matsui highlighted in Huawei Central that Huawei introduced the Star Shield architecture, a system-level security framework that incorporates over 200 detection capabilities for application security. This framework enhances AppGallery, Huawei’s app store, by screening every app for harmful behavior, ensuring that no app with malicious code or inadequate security standards makes it to the platform.
Additionally, Star Shield introduces strict limitations on nine sensitive app permissions, such as access to call logs, device information, and installed apps. This approach safeguards user data and prevents unauthorized app behavior, which often poses a risk on Android’s platform due to fragmented permission settings and app store oversight. The inclusion of a real-time privacy indicator on the status bar also makes users instantly aware whenever an app accesses the microphone, camera, or location, further enhancing transparency and control over personal data.
HarmonyOS NEXT introduces a refreshed user interface, featuring revamped lock screens, new home screen customization options, and an enhanced control center for streamlined access to essential settings. Kristijan Lucic from AndroidHeadlines notes that the interface, termed HarmonyOS NEXT 5 UI, presents a flatter and cleaner design, similar to recent Android versions but with added depth. Enhanced customization, coupled with faster animations, provides a smoother and more visually appealing experience.
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The system’s seamless integration with Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) and its Ark compiler enables apps to function efficiently across devices without compromising on design or performance. Compared to Android, which can sometimes feel disjointed across various manufacturers’ devices, HarmonyOS NEXT’s unified architecture allows users to move from phone to tablet to smart home devices with minimal disruption.
In addition to smartphones, HarmonyOS NEXT is set to power Huawei’s other product lines, including tablets, smart home devices, wearables, and even car infotainment systems. This broad compatibility, as announced during the launch, indicates Huawei’s intent to create a multi-device, interconnected ecosystem similar to Apple’s. In China alone, HarmonyOS NEXT already operates on more than a billion devices and boasts 6.75 million registered developers.
This ecosystem, driven by HarmonyOS NEXT’s unified architecture, brings Huawei closer to achieving a genuinely integrated smart lifestyle. Android, on the other hand, remains fragmented between various device manufacturers, with limited interconnectivity, which is often inconsistent or unreliable across brands. HarmonyOS NEXT’s cohesive approach ensures a unified experience for users within the Huawei ecosystem.
HarmonyOS NEXT was launched on October 22, 2024, in China. Currently, the public beta version is available to select devices, including the Huawei Pura 70 series, Huawei Pocket 2, and MatePad Pro 11 (2024). While the exact price points for HarmonyOS devices with NEXT installed have not been confirmed, Huawei is expected to announce details soon. A global launch is anticipated, but Huawei has yet to provide an official timeline.
With its advanced features, security, and seamless multi-device compatibility, HarmonyOS NEXT stands as a unique alternative to Android. Could HarmonyOS NEXT potentially shift the global OS market? Do you think Huawei’s strategy of focusing on ecosystem integration will pay off? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to subscribe for the latest tech updates!
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Last update on 2025-02-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API