Huawei launches HarmonyOS NEXT: A complete break from Android ecosystem in 2024

Huawei's ambitious move away from Android reached a milestone as the company officially launched HarmonyOS NEXT on October 23, 2024, marking its complete separation from the Android ecosystem. The launch, which occurred during the Native HarmonyOS Night and Huawei All-Scenario New Product Launch Conference in Shenzhen, China, represents the most significant upgrade since HarmonyOS's inception.

According to Yu Chengdong, Huawei's Executive Director and CEO of Consumer Business Group, HarmonyOS NEXT comprises over 110 million lines of code. The operating system demonstrates significant performance enhancements, including:

• 30% improvement in overall device performance
• 56-minute increase in battery life
• 1.5GB average memory savings for non-OS operations
• Support for both smartphones and tablets with a consistent interface

Native application ecosystem

The platform's application ecosystem has shown remarkable growth:

• Over 15,000 native applications and meta-services available
• Coverage of 18 vertical domains
• Satisfaction of 99.9% of consumer usage time requirements
• Major Chinese platforms already developed native apps, including:
  • Meituan
  • Douyin
  • Taobao
  • Xiaohongshu
  • Alipay
  • JD.com

Developer support and investment

Huawei's commitment to building its ecosystem is reflected in substantial developer support:

• Annual investment of 6 billion yuan (approximately $827 million) to incentivize developer innovation
• 675 million registered developers in the Huawei Developer Alliance
• 305 universities offering HarmonyOS courses
• 38 professional training institutions participating in talent development

Security and privacy features

HarmonyOS NEXT introduces enhanced security measures through its new "Star Shield" security architecture:

• Prohibition of nine types of unreasonable permissions, including reading app lists and accessing SMS
• Implementation of secure access mechanisms for seven high-frequency scenarios
• User control over privacy settings for gallery, camera, and contacts

Current deployment status

Since June 21, 2024, HarmonyOS NEXT has:

• Released six beta versions
• Received over one million pieces of feedback
• Begun public beta testing on select devices including:
  • HUAWEI Pura 70 series
  • HUAWEI Pocket 2 series
  • HUAWEI MatePad Pro 11-inch 2024 edition

Key Facts

• Launch Date: October 23, 2024
• Location: Shenzhen, China
• Platform Coverage: Over 1 billion HarmonyOS ecosystem devices
• Current Status: Public beta testing phase
• Development Support: 6 billion yuan annual investment
• Application Count: 15,000+ native applications
• Developer Base: 675 million registered developers