Huawei has a big event lined up for March 20 in China, where it’s expected to unveil its first smartphone powered by the stable version of HarmonyOS NEXT. But ahead of that, the company has something to celebrate.
HarmonyOS powers more devices than iOS in China
According to new data from Counterpoint Research, HarmonyOS has now overtaken iOS in mainland China. Android remains the dominant player, holding 64% of the market in Q4 2024, while HarmonyOS has a 19% share—edging past iOS by two percentage points. In fact, Huawei maintained its lead over Apple in software throughout 2024.
It’s a major milestone for Huawei, a company that once struggled to keep its smartphone business afloat after U.S. sanctions. Now not only has it surpassed Apple in the software front, the Chinese tech giant is also leading over Apple in both smartphone and tablet market share in the mainland.
According to Counterpoint’s smartphone sales data, Huawei claimed the top spot in China’s smartphone market during Q4 2024, securing an 18.1% share. This marks the first time the company has regained a strong foothold in its home market since the U.S. ban five years ago. Huawei’s smartphone sales surged 15.5% year-over-year, driven by the success of the Nova 13 and Mate 70 series.
Counterpoint also predicts that HarmonyOS adoption will continue to rise, thanks in part to government-backed subsidies. In an effort to stimulate the economy, the Chinese government is offering a CNY 500 ($70) subsidy on smartphones priced under CNY 6,000 (just over $800).
Globally, however, the landscape looks different. Android still leads with a 74% market share, though that’s down from 80% in Q3 2024. Apple, meanwhile, has increased its share from 16% to 22% over the same period. Huawei’s global share has remained steady at 4% since early 2024.
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