A New Era for huawei: HarmonyOS on PC

In a bold move away from Western-dominated operating systems, Huawei has introduced its first laptop running on HarmonyOS. This launch is especially significant given the recent lapse of Huawei’s Windows license, compelling the company to forge its own path in software. Zhu Dongdong, President of Tablets and PC at Huawei, presented the device at a Shenzhen event, emphasizing the company’s commitment to fully integrating its devices into the harmonyos ecosystem.

Bring its terminals fully into the Harmonyos era

Zhu Dongdong, President of Tablets and PC at Huawei

AI-Enhanced User Experience

The new Huawei laptop boasts deep integration of artificial intelligence, featuring the Celia voice assistant. Celia can generate presentations, summarize meeting notes, and extract details from local documents, provided users have the necessary third-party software. HarmonyOS Next, the underlying system, aims to create a seamless hybrid experience bridging the gap between traditional PC and mobile environments. This focus on AI aligns with the growing trend of AI integration in personal computing, with companies like Microsoft and Google also heavily investing in AI-powered features for their operating systems.

Building a Resolutely Chinese Software Ecosystem

This laptop represents more than just a new device; it embodies a burgeoning software ecosystem tailored to Chinese applications. Key applications include WPS, a local option to Microsoft Office, and Alibaba’s Dingtalk for collaboration. Reports from Chinese media suggest that over 2,000 applications will be compatible by the end of 2024. Popular apps like Rednote (social networking), Bilibili (video sharing), and Feishu (professional collaboration) are already available.

This strategic direction is driven by several factors:

• Reducing reliance on american technologies: This is a key aspect of China’s broader strategy for technological self-sufficiency.
• Supporting local developers and Chinese innovation: Fostering a vibrant domestic software industry is crucial for long-term growth and competitiveness.
• Adapting to international restrictions: Developing independent technologies provides resilience in the face of potential trade barriers.

HarmonyOS Gains Traction in the Mobile Market

HarmonyOS, under advancement as 2015, initially debuted on smartphones. In less than a decade, it has emerged as a viable alternative to Android and iOS. According to counterpoint Research, HarmonyOS held 19% of the Chinese market in the last quarter of 2023, surpassing iOS (17%) for the fourth consecutive time, although Android remains dominant with 64%. Moreover, nearly 160 legacy Huawei devices have been updated to HarmonyOS. This growing adoption rate demonstrates the increasing appeal of HarmonyOS among Chinese consumers.

According to Counterpoint Research, HarmonyOS held 19% of the Chinese market in the last quarter of 2023.

Counterpoint Research

Looking Ahead: The May 19th Launch

The official launch of the HarmonyOS laptop on may 19th marks a pivotal moment for Huawei and the broader chinese technology landscape. This launch will be a key indicator of the viability of HarmonyOS as a desktop operating system and its potential to challenge the dominance of Windows in the Chinese market. The success of this venture could have significant implications for the global technology industry, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape and accelerating the trend towards technological independence.