Huawei MateBooks at a Crossroads: Windows License Expiration Looms
There could be a dramatic twist in the works. Reports are that Microsoft's license for Huawei to use Windows on its PCs is due to expire this month. This is not trivial. It has the power to completely change Huawei's PC strategy. Without a renewed license, the path ahead is interesting, and perhaps a little messy.
The Windows Chapter Nearing Its End
Huawei MateBook laptops have been equated with great design and, crucially, the familiar Windows operating system for years. But that could be about to change, according to MyDrivers. Richard Yu Chengdong, a Huawei senior executive, has intimated that due to ongoing US sanctions, a Windows license renewal from Microsoft may not be on the cards. If that's the case, existing Windows-based Huawei PCs could be the last of their kind, at least in an official sense.
So, what's the alternative? Huawei seems to be preparing for the day when Windows is no longer a sure thing. Two alternatives are emerging as frontrunners: open-source Linux distributions and Huawei's homegrown HarmonyOS.
HarmonyOS: The Homegrown Hope
Huawei's homegrown HarmonyOS has been slowly gaining traction, especially in China. Initially open-source Android-based, Huawei is now pushing for "HarmonyOS NEXT," which is reportedly a standalone system free from Android underpinnings. The grapevine is full of a novel "AI PC" laptop from Huawei in April, which will be run by a Kunpeng CPU and will feature HarmonyOS for PCs as an operating system. The laptop will be the first to include AI functionality powered by DeepSeek LLM applications, embracing the "AI PC" trend to the fullest.
However, while HarmonyOS might be very well received in China, its prospects are less certain in Western markets like the US and Europe. Windows remains the world's dominant PC operating system by a wide margin, with a lofty 70% market share according to recent reports. Convincing foreign consumers to try an unfamiliar OS could be a hard sell.
Linux: A Pragmatic Stepping Stone
In a tribute to flexibility, Huawei is also reportedly bringing out a "MateBook D16 Linux Edition." The laptop, identical in hardware terms to the Windows version, simply swaps out the operating system for Linux. Linux, being open-source and free of non-US company control, is both a politically secure and readily available option. While Linux has a smaller worldwide PC market share (around 3-4%), it is a robust and powerful OS, particularly for developers and those user segments. For Huawei, Linux can serve as a bridge while HarmonyOS for PCs matures and is further accepted.
The Unfolding Future
The drama continues to unfold. Will Microsoft secure a special export license? Will there be HarmonyOS for PCs that is primetime ready, especially outside of China? Can Linux become a viable long-term solution for Huawei laptops? The outcome of these questions will author the next chapter in Huawei's PC saga. What is for sure: the chessboard of the tech universe is realigning, and Huawei is assertively adapting and innovating in the face of a changing landscape.
