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HUAWEI announces HarmonyOS, an open-source platform for every device
June 14, 2025
Huaweikicked off its annual developer conference today, and it’s just announced HarmonyOS. The new, open-source platform is ostensibly the final name for itsHongmeng OS.
HarmonyOS is “the first microkernel-based distributed OS for all scenarios,” consumer group CEO Richard Yu told attendees at the HUAWEI Developer Conference.
The new platform supports smartphones, smart speakers, computers, smartwatches, wireless earbuds, cars, and tablets. In fact, Yu says the platform supports RAM sizes ranging from kilobytes to gigabytes. Interestingly enough, HUAWEI says HarmonyOS won’t support root access.
The HUAWEI CEO also noted that the platform will eventually support a range of apps, specifically noting that HTML5, Linux, and, crucially,Android appswill be compatible. “They will all be able to run on our OS in the future,” Yu says. Yu added that the ARK Compiler used in HarmonyOS app development will also support Kotlin, Java, Javascript, C, and C++.
Read:China plans to fight back if India blocks HUAWEI
“HarmonyOS 1.0 will be first adopted in its smart screen products, which are due to launch later this year. Over the next three years, HarmonyOS will be optimized and gradually adopted across a broader range of smart devices, including wearables, HUAWEI Vision, and head units for your car,” read an excerpt of an emailed press release.
What about Android?
The HUAWEI CEO said HarmonyOS can replace Android on its smartphones “at any time,” butreiterated its previous commitmentsto Google’s platform.
“If we cannot use Android in the future, then we can immediately switch to HarmonyOS,” Yu explained to attendees, adding that migrating from Android to the new platform “is not that difficult.”
The first product to use HarmonyOS will be theHONOR Vision TVset, which will be launched in China tomorrow (August 10).
News of the new operating system also comes in the wake of aU.S. trade banagainst the company back in May. President Donald Trump has sinceclaimedthat the ban will be partially lifted, but the U.S. Commerce Department is still banning the company.
Read more:The HUAWEI controversy timeline: Everything you need to know!
The U.S. ban complicates HUAWEI’s ability to offer Android on its phones, so HarmonyOS is seen as a plan B if the trade ban affects Google’s ability to support HUAWEI in the future. In fact, rumors suggest that the Chinese brand is working on aHarmony OS phonefor release later this year.
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