Alongside the launch of its Mate 70 and Mate X6 smartphones, Huawei has introduced HarmonyOS NEXT, its latest mobile operating system. The company claims that HarmonyOS NEXT is entirely built in-house and does not utilize any Android open-source code. This move signifies a significant step in Huawei’s strategy to develop a technology ecosystem independent of major US tech sources.
The Mate 70 series, launching in China on December 4th, succeeds the Mate 60, which was notable for being the first Huawei smartphone to feature a fully Chinese-made processor. This demonstrated Huawei’s ability to navigate around US trade restrictions.
Huawei’s pursuit of in-house chip and software development has been a long-standing goal. The company first announced its own operating system back in 2012. HarmonyOS was officially revealed in 2019, but earlier versions still relied on Android open-source code. With HarmonyOS NEXT, Huawei asserts that it has achieved a fully Android-free operating system.
Huawei acknowledges that HarmonyOS NEXT requires further refinement to optimize the user experience. The company plans to continue development and aims to install the OS on all future smartphones.
The Mate 70 series, featuring HarmonyOS NEXT, promises a significant performance boost. The starting price for the 6.7-inch Mate 70 model is $760, with higher prices for the Pro models.
This development marks a significant milestone for Huawei as it continues to pursue technological independence and establish its own ecosystem in the mobile industry.
