HUAWEI has unveiled its new flagship phones, the Mate 70 series and the Mate X6, marking the company’s shift to its own operating system, Harmony OS Next.
Unlike the previous version, which was based on Android, Harmony OS Next is fully Android-free and won’t support Android apps. This bold move aims to create a completely independent ecosystem.
Although the Mate 70 series won’t initially ship with Harmony OS Next, it will feature Harmony OS 4.3, which retains some Android elements.
Full Harmony OS Next updates will be rolled out later, with plans to make it the default OS for all new HUAWEI devices by 2025.
The company is working with developers to ensure app compatibility, with 10,000 apps already ready for the new platform. The success of this transition will depend on HUAWEI’s ability to attract users and developers to its new ecosystem.