HarmonyOS: Huawei’s Bold Bet on a Connected Future

In 2019, amidst escalating U.S.-China tensions and the trade blacklist against Huawei, the Chinese tech giant introduced a bold vision for the future of operating systems: HarmonyOS. Promoted as a cross-platform solution bridging smartphones, smart TVs, wearables, and IoT devices, HarmonyOS promised to free Huawei from dependence on Google’s Android. Nearly six years later, HarmonyOS has matured into a full-fledged ecosystem with over 800 million devices running the system as of early 2025.

This article explores the origins, architecture, capabilities, challenges, and future of HarmonyOS in a rapidly evolving digital world.

Origins: Necessity Breeds Innovation

Huawei began developing HarmonyOS (also known as Hongmeng OS in China) in response to the U.S. ban that cut its access to Google Mobile Services (GMS). Without Gmail, Google Maps, or the Play Store, Huawei’s Android phones outside China suffered a severe blow. The company realized it needed an independent, flexible OS that could serve not just smartphones but also power a wide range of interconnected devices.

Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei’s Consumer Business Group, described HarmonyOS as a “next-gen distributed OS” built for the era of the Internet of Everything (IoE).

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Architecture: Microkernel and Distributed Design

HarmonyOS distinguishes itself from Android and iOS through its microkernel-based architecture, inspired by the likes of QNX and Fuchsia (Google’s experimental OS). Here are key features:

• Microkernel Structure: Unlike monolithic kernels (like Linux in Android), HarmonyOS runs only essential functions in the kernel. This reduces attack surfaces, improving security and responsiveness.
• Distributed Technology: Devices running HarmonyOS can share resources and act as “super devices”, allowing seamless collaboration between a smartphone, smartwatch, smart TV, and even home appliances.
• Lightweight & Scalable: HarmonyOS can run on devices with as little as 128KB RAM, making it ideal for small IoT devices like smart plugs or sensors.
• ARK Compiler: Huawei developed the ARK compiler to improve performance and enable apps to run on different devices without re-coding.

HarmonyOS in Practice: Phones, Wearables, and IoT

HarmonyOS was initially launched on smart TVs in 2019 and gradually expanded to wearables, tablets, and smartphones. With HarmonyOS 4.0 released in August 2023 and the expected rollout of HarmonyOS NEXT in 2024-2025, Huawei has finally started dropping AOSP (Android Open Source Project) support altogether for some models.

Devices Running HarmonyOS Include:

• Smartphones: Huawei Mate 60 Pro, Pura 70 series (2024), and newer models ship with native HarmonyOS, no Android layers.
• Wearables: Huawei Watch GT series and Watch Buds.
• Smart TVs: Honor Vision and Huawei Vision series.
• Tablets: Huawei MatePad series.
• IoT Devices: Routers, smart speakers, in-car systems, and smart home appliances.

Huawei also encourages developers to build “atomic services” – mini-apps that work across different screens without installation, similar to mini-programs in WeChat.

App Ecosystem: Still a Challenge

One of the biggest hurdles for HarmonyOS remains its app ecosystem. While Huawei’s AppGallery has grown into the third-largest app store globally, it still lacks many mainstream Western apps such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and YouTube.

To address this, Huawei has invested in:

• Petal Services: Replacements for Google apps (e.g., Petal Maps, Petal Search).
• HarmonyOS Dev Kits: Tools to help developers create apps that can adapt across screens and devices.
• Partnerships: Especially with Chinese tech companies like JD.com, Meituan, and Bilibili.

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HarmonyOS vs. Android vs. iOS

Strategic Importance for China

HarmonyOS is more than just a technical product—it’s a symbol of tech sovereignty. In an era where geopolitical tensions influence access to chips, networks, and platforms, China sees HarmonyOS as a hedge against Western dominance in mobile software. Other Chinese tech firms like Xiaomi and Oppo are still Android-dependent, but Huawei’s progress could inspire a broader shift toward homegrown OS development.

Moreover, HarmonyOS aligns with China’s long-term strategy for a national IoT backbone, enabling smart cities, connected cars, and AI-powered infrastructure.

The Future: Can HarmonyOS Go Global?

While HarmonyOS has seen strong adoption in China, global expansion faces significant hurdles:

• Lack of Google Services: Outside China, users expect Gmail, YouTube, and Google Maps.
• Developer Reluctance: Many Western developers are unwilling to invest in Huawei’s ecosystem.
• Geopolitical Constraints: Ongoing trade restrictions and Huawei’s strained relations with Western markets hinder growth.

Yet, Huawei isn’t retreating. With HarmonyOS NEXT set to drop all Android dependencies, Huawei is doubling down on a fully independent platform. This will be a true test of whether HarmonyOS can thrive without riding on Android’s coattails.

HarmonyOS represents one of the most ambitious attempts in modern tech history to build a unified, post-Android operating system. Rooted in resilience and driven by innovation, it showcases Huawei’s determination to remain relevant in a fragmented global tech landscape.

If HarmonyOS can bridge its app ecosystem gaps, gain developer trust, and maintain performance across a wide array of devices, it could reshape how the world experiences connected technology—especially in the Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America, where Huawei still enjoys strong brand recognition.

As the race toward AI-powered smart ecosystems heats up, HarmonyOS may prove that the future of operating systems is not about phones alone, but about everything being connected.