Earlier this month, Huawei rolled out the public beta update to the Mate 60 series, Mate X5 series, and the MatePad Pro 13.2-inch series. Now the company is bringing it to eight new devices.
These devices include the Pura 70, Huawei Pura 70 Satellite Messaging Edition, Pura 70 Pro, Pura 70 Pro+, Pura 70 Ultra, Pocket 2, Pocket 2 Art Custom Edition, and MatePad Pro 11-inch (2024). Users who own any of these models can apply for the beta upgrade through the “My Huawei” app, specifically under the “Early Access” section.
The latest HarmonyOS version, called HarmonyOS Next, marks a significant shift for Huawei’s software. It is now based on a single-framework architecture, which means that it no longer supports Android compatibility. This change makes HarmonyOS Next a fully self-developed operating system that relies solely on the HarmonyOS kernel.
However, according to a report, Huawei may implement a dual-OS strategy for its upcoming Mate 70 series, enabling support for both HarmonyOS Next and Android apps. This approach, rumored by leaker RuiPlaysDigital, aims to cater to both Chinese users familiar with HarmonyOS and global users who require Android compatibility, especially for Google apps restricted by US trade policies.
Initially announced in 2015, HarmonyOS officially launched in 2019 and has seen four major updates since then. In January 2024, Huawei revealed HarmonyOS Next, which is now tailored for a fully native HarmonyOS experience, focusing only on apps developed for the HarmonyOS ecosystem.
As of now, the top 5,000 apps in China are undergoing native development for HarmonyOS, and the HarmonyOS Next App Store currently offers over 10,000 apps and services, covering almost all basic usage needs.
A recent report from Counterpoint Research shows that HarmonyOS has gained significant market share in China, increasing from 8% in Q1 2023 to 17% in Q1 2024. Meanwhile, iOS’s market share dropped from 20% to 16% in the same period, making HarmonyOS the second-largest operating system in China, surpassing Apple’s iOS.
Huawei’s Xu Zhijun emphasized that for HarmonyOS to become a true mobile operating system, it needs its own robust ecosystem. The goal is to achieve better coordination among apps, the OS, and hardware, leading to an improved user experience.
Huawei is hosting an event today in China, where it will officially launch HarmonyOS Next alongside the Nova 13 series. The Mate 70 series is anticipated to debut in November.
(Via)
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