After a teaser in August 2023, HUAWEI has officially introduced the HarmonyOS Next at the Harmony Ecology Conference, marking a significant departure from Android reliance. This standalone operating system, built from the ground up with the Harmony kernel, marks a groundbreaking milestone for HUAWEI as it liberates itself from AOSP.
HarmonyOS Next preview
The “Next” version uniquely utilizes applications tailored for its distinctive architecture, introducing groundbreaking concepts like “Spatial,” “Vivid Color,” and “Immersive” modes. The UI undergoes a transformative change with floating effects enhancing the 3D experience, and improved color distinctions in built-in apps for enhanced usability.
HUAWEI emphasizes native refinement, application smoothness, security, intelligence, and interconnection in the new UI, leveraging a “heterogeneous native” parallel mechanism for 3x memory management efficiency. Yu Chengdong, HUAWEI’s CEO of Consumer BG, highlights the adaptable kernel’s versatility across various device scenarios, marking HarmonyOS as an extensive OS independent of Linux kernel or AOSP.
With over “200+ HarmonyOS native apps in the making,” a significant portion of China’s Top 200 mobile apps has joined the development of HarmonyOS native applications. The developer community is growing rapidly, with over 10,000 registrations daily, attracting major players in China’s app industries.
The closed beta version of HarmonyOS NEXT is now available for users of Mate 60, 60 Pro, Mate 40 Pro, and Mate X5. The Chinese consumers can anticipate the update by Q2 2024, with the final release slated for Q4 2024, showcasing HUAWEI’s strategic focus on the Chinese market.
While a global release remains undisclosed, it seems HUAWEI is cautiously navigating the waters before a potential worldwide launch. More information should come soon.
