HarmonyOS NEXT: Huawei finally unveils its real alternative to Android

It's been almost a year since Huawei announced it. Abandoning a version-based HarmonyOS operating system open source of Android, the Chinese manufacturer presents the new version of its in-house software. Huawei claims to have completely designed what it now calls HarmonyOS NEXT, one of the characteristics of which is that it does not support the APKs of Android apps available on download portals such as Aptoide or APK Pure. Remember that since 2019, Huawei can no longer use Google services, which deprives it of the Play Store and the American firm's flagship apps.

On the occasion of its annual event dedicated to developers, Huawei is therefore formalizing its HarmonyOS NEXT. There is currently no question of finding it on the brand's smartphones in China, where it will mainly be used, and even less in Europe where the manufacturer uses its operating system on its tablets and connected watches. In the Middle Kingdom, a beta has been available for around two weeks and can be downloaded on a handful of devices including the Pura 70 series, MatePad Pro released in 2024 and the Watch Ultimate. Even if the OS is new, there remains an evolution of the HarmonyOS already at work on the products, which allows Huawei to capitalize on the applications already adapted and to claim 15,000 of them now.

AI and new features

Quid anything new? First, we notice an interface revised for the occasion and modernized. It notably focuses on an enriched control panel, a taskbar designed for folding smartphones and slightly redesigned icons and widgets. The Chinese promise to have improved the speed of opening apps and the overall fluidity of the system (by 30%), while optimizing energy consumption.

The brand does not stop there and is banking on the integration of its own AI within its products, such as the new Xiaoyi intelligent assistant, which seems capable of analyzing content displayed on the screen, a bit like way of Google's Circle to Search function. The OS will also offer new content sharing possibilities, including a counterpart to Apple's AirDrop (with two smartphones colliding together). Huawei is finally placing emphasis on data security, ensured by its new Star Shield service.