HUAWEI has revealed its plan to fully transition to HarmonyOS Next in 2025, beginning with the newly launched Mate series smartphones and the MatePad Pro 13.2 (2025) tablet. These devices currently offer users the choice between HarmonyOS Next and HarmonyOS 4.3 (based on Android 12).
HarmonyOS Next represents a significant departure for HUAWEI, as it's entirely free of Android code and lacks compatibility with Android apps. CEO Richard Yu confirmed the 2025 transition target, but it's currently limited to the Chinese market.
The global rollout of HarmonyOS Next faces challenges due to the limited availability of apps from international developers. Rich Bishop, CEO of AppInChina, notes that the absence of even a single popular app could deter users from adopting devices running the new OS.
Despite these hurdles, HarmonyOS is gaining traction in China, holding a 17% market share compared to iOS at 16% and Android at 68%. Globally, HarmonyOS accounts for 4%, while iOS holds 16% and Android dominates with 80%.