Huawei has officially launched its latest flagship phone, the Mate 70, featuring a fully homegrown operating system, HarmonyOS NEXT, which no longer supports Android-based apps. This marks a significant move by the Chinese tech giant to reduce dependency on US technology and establish itself as a global leader in the smartphone industry.
Key Features of the Huawei Mate 70
Priced from 5,499 yuan ($760), the Mate 70 boasts cutting-edge technology entirely developed by Huawei’s engineers. Described as a “pure-blooded” innovation, it highlights the company’s commitment to building independent and advanced technologies.
“This is the most powerful phone in the Mate series,” said Richard Yu, chairman of Huawei’s consumer business, at the launch event. “We have always been copied but never surpassed.”
Starting next year, Huawei announced that all its new phones and tablets would exclusively run on its proprietary HarmonyOS platform.
A Game-Changer in Software Evolution
The Mate 70 represents a “critical step” in Huawei’s journey to establish HarmonyOS as a viable alternative to Android and iOS, said Lucas Zhong, a research analyst at Canalys.
Huawei’s decision to fully migrate away from the Android ecosystem is expected to bolster its position in the premium smartphone market, attract more users, and foster customer loyalty.
This transformation began with the August 2023 launch of the Mate 60 Pro, which reignited interest in Huawei’s high-end smartphones. According to Canalys, Huawei’s share in the Chinese market for phones priced above $600 has surged from 11% in Q3 2022 to 33% in Q3 2024. Meanwhile, Apple’s share in the same segment dropped from 72% to 52% over the same period.
A Comeback Against All Odds
Once the world’s second-largest smartphone maker, Huawei faced severe challenges after US sanctions in 2019 barred American firms from supplying technology to the company. This included Google, which stopped providing its Android OS for Huawei devices.
In response, Huawei launched the first version of HarmonyOS in August 2019, which initially supported Android apps. Now, HarmonyOS NEXT marks a complete departure, creating a fully independent platform designed to rival Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android.
Building a Global Ecosystem
To ensure HarmonyOS’s success, Huawei has been rallying Chinese tech companies to develop compatible apps. The company aims to migrate tens of thousands of apps from the Android ecosystem and build what it envisions as the world’s third major mobile operating system.
Eric Xu, Huawei’s rotating chairman, emphasized the importance of a strong app ecosystem: “If no one uses it, no matter how advanced the operating system is, it will have no value.” Huawei is targeting 100,000 HarmonyOS apps over the next year, with plans to expand globally after establishing a solid base in China.
Promising Outlook for the Mate 70
Experts predict the Mate 70 series will achieve 10 million+ shipments during its lifecycle. However, Mengmeng Zhang, a senior analyst at Counterpoint Research, notes that it will take time to grow the developer community and build a competitive ecosystem.
With over 3 million pre-orders already, Huawei’s Mate 70 is a testament to the company’s resilience and innovation, solidifying its role in the tech rivalry between the US and China.
Conclusion
Huawei’s bold move with HarmonyOS NEXT and the Mate 70 positions it as a strong contender in the smartphone market. By focusing on independence and innovation, the company is setting the stage for a global comeback, potentially reshaping the industry for years to come.
