HarmonyOS, Huawei Technologies’ mobile platform, is expected to overtake Apple’s iOS as the second-largest operating system in China this year, thanks to the US-sanctioned company’s comeback with the Mate 60 series, according to a report from TechInsights.
While Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS will continue to dominate the global smartphone operating system sector, Huawei-developed HarmonyOS will gain ground from the two US giants in China, Canadian research firm TechInsights said in a report released Wednesday.
Increased adoption of HarmonyOS will be driven by Huawei’s return to the 5G smartphone segment, which began with the surprise late August launch of its Mate 60 Pro, a phone equipped with an advanced 5G chip developed in-house despite American technological sanctions intended to block access. to such technology.
TechInsights also expects Huawei to see a strong recovery in 2024, according to the report.
Huawei sees sales increase 9% in 2023, boosted by the return of the Mate 60 Pro 5G
Huawei sees sales increase 9% in 2023, boosted by the return of the Mate 60 Pro 5G
TechInsights expects Huawei’s supply problem, caused by the shortage of Kirin 9000 chipsets, to ease in the coming months. Huawei’s product portfolio expanded further last week with the launch of new smartphone models in its mid-range Nova series.
HarmonyOS is also expected to hit a major milestone in 2024 with the launch of HarmonyOS Next, which will not support Android-based apps.
Huawei is expected to launch a developer preview version of HarmonyOS Next in the first quarter of 2024 and is already working with major Chinese companies to develop native applications based on the system.
It remains to be seen whether these efforts will have a halo effect on other smartphone makers and make HarmonyOS a default operating system not only for smartphones but also for laptops and cars in China, said TechInsights.