The Chinese tech giant Huawei revealed its first smartphone equipped with an entirely self-developed operating system on Tuesday, marking a crucial step in its efforts to counter the dominance of foreign tech leaders. Currently, Apple's iOS and Google's Android are predominantly used in most mobile devices. However, Huawei aims to shift this trend with its new "Mate 70" series, featuring the HarmonyOS Next operating system.
This launch represents a major turning point for the company, which was once paralyzed by U.S. sanctions but has seen a resurgence in sales over the past two years. "Today, the highly anticipated Mate 70, the most powerful ever seen, is here," announced Richard Yu, president of Huawei's consumer division, during a conference from the company's headquarters in Shenzhen. More than three million devices have already been pre-ordered , although this does not necessarily indicate actual purchases.
Unlike previous versions built on Android, HarmonyOS Next requires app adaptations to this new operating system. Huawei indicated that Mate 70 buyers would have the option to use the new HarmonyOS Next version, with many applications already updated daily. However, it remains uncertain if all developers will invest significantly to create new versions compatible with HarmonyOS. Huawei will need to continuously improve its software, provide better support to developers, and convince them of its long-term commitment to developing the HarmonyOS ecosystem, according to experts.
