Huawei’s HarmonyOS Shift Doesn’t Affect Global Android Users
Huawei, despite facing challenges, has managed to maintain its presence in the smartphone market and is even experiencing a revival with recent strategic moves. The Mate 60 series, for example, has outperformed the iPhone 15 in China, and the company has also announced its intention to transition from Android to its own HarmonyOS Next operating system. However, this shift has caused some confusion among users, especially those outside of China.
No Impact on Global Users
The transition to HarmonyOS Next signifies a significant change in Huawei's operating system strategy. Unlike its predecessor, HarmonyOS Next is not built on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) but is developed from scratch. This change means that users of HarmonyOS Next will no longer be able to install Android applications in APK format, and if somehow installed, these apps will not function properly.
Clarification for Users Outside of China
Many Huawei users outside of China were concerned that they would also be affected by this change. However, it has been clarified that only Huawei users in China will be using the new operating system. Users outside of China will still be able to use Android-based applications through the EMUI operating system, so there is no need to worry about this issue affecting their devices.
Official Statement from Huawei
Huawei has released an official statement to address the concerns of its global users. The statement confirms that HarmonyOS is designed to meet the needs of the Internet of Everything (IoE) era and provides a shared language for a smart and connected experience across different devices. HarmonyOS 4 has already been installed on over 100 million devices in a short period of around three months. However, there are currently no plans to distribute HarmonyOS for devices outside of China. As a result, Huawei users outside of China can continue using their usual Android-based applications with the EMUI operating system.
In conclusion, Huawei's shift to HarmonyOS Next will not have any impact on global Android users. The new operating system is exclusive to Huawei users in China, while users outside of China can still enjoy their Android-based applications through the EMUI operating system. Huawei has assured its global users that there is no need to worry about this transition affecting their devices.