Huawei Takes On Big Tech with New HarmonyOS Laptops
Huawei Makes a Play for the Laptop Market with HarmonyOS
Huawei, the tech giant known for its smartphones and network equipment, has launched two new laptops powered by its own HarmonyOS operating system. This move marks a significant step for the company, as it aims to directly compete with established players like Microsoft and Apple in the global laptop market.
Breaking Free from Chip Curbs
The launch comes amid ongoing U.S. restrictions on Huawei’s access to crucial chips. These restrictions, imposed in 2019 over national security concerns, have forced Huawei to become more self-reliant in its technology development.
HarmonyOS: From Smartphones to Laptops
HarmonyOS, first introduced in 2020 on Huawei’s Mate series smartphones, is now making its debut on laptops. The new MateBook Fold and MateBook Pro models both run on HarmonyOS 5, the latest version of the operating system. Huawei has been developing laptop prototypes using HarmonyOS since 2021.
Two New Models, Different Approaches
The MateBook Fold is a unique foldable laptop with an 18-inch OLED screen that unfolds like a tablet. It lacks a physical keyboard, relying instead on an on-screen keyboard. The MateBook Pro, on the other hand, features a conventional laptop design with a physical keyboard.
Price and App Ecosystem
The MateBook Fold starts at 23,999 yuan ($3,328), while the MateBook Pro is priced from 7,999 yuan. Huawei emphasizes that HarmonyOS for computers currently offers over 150 applications, including popular alternatives like WPS Office (a rival to Microsoft Office) and Meitu Xiu Xiu (a photo editing app).
Expanding the HarmonyOS Universe
According to Huawei’s latest annual report, over 7.2 million developers were working on HarmonyOS apps by the end of 2024. The operating system is installed on over a billion devices worldwide, spanning smartphones, smart TVs, and other connected devices.
A Challenge to the Status Quo
Huawei’s entry into the laptop market with HarmonyOS represents a bold challenge to the dominance of Windows and macOS. It remains to be seen how successful the company will be in attracting users and developers to its new ecosystem.
