Huawei has launched two laptops that run on its proprietary operating system, HarmonyOS.

The new devices, named MateBook Pro and MateBook Fold Ultimate Design, aim to extend HarmonyOS beyond smartphones, tablets, and other smart devices.

This development positions HarmonyOS as an alternative to established PC operating systems such as Microsoft’s Windows and Apple’s macOS.

🔗 Source: Xinhua

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Geopolitical tensions accelerated China’s software independence strategy

Huawei’s laptop launch represents the culmination of a deliberate technology self-reliance strategy accelerated by U.S. sanctions.

The company mobilized over 2,000 engineers in its “Songshan Lake Initiative” specifically to develop HarmonyOS as a fully independent operating system after losing access to Microsoft Windows licenses 1.

This laptop launch follows five years of intensive development involving more than 10,000 R&D personnel and resulting in over 2,700 patents 2.

The expansion from mobile devices to PCs reflects China’s broader national strategy to reduce dependence on foreign technologies in critical IT sectors, with analysts predicting HarmonyOS could become a significant player in the PC operating system market 3.

2️⃣ HarmonyOS already commands significant market share in its home market

While new to laptops, HarmonyOS has already achieved remarkable adoption on other devices, powering over 900 million devices by late 2024 1.

In China, HarmonyOS has captured 17-19% market share, surpassing iOS to become the second most popular operating system behind Android 45.

Globally, the system holds approximately 4% market share despite limited international availability, demonstrating its growth potential 4.

Huawei’s commitment to install HarmonyOS Next on all its 2025 devices signals confidence in the ecosystem’s maturity after years of development since its 2019 launch 5.

3️⃣ Cross-device integration forms the core of Huawei’s ecosystem strategy

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