In May 2019, Google suspended Huawei from using its Android OS for their new devices; since then, Huawei smartphones have used a different operating system that is not Android – HarmonyOS. The HarmonyOS is exclusive to Huawei’s products, being used in Honor Smart TVs and Huawei’s smart devices such as smartphones, smartwatches, IoT devices, and several others.
However, Huawei announced a newer version of this OS in August 2023 and would proceed to launch it on October 22, 2024. This new iteration is called the HarmonyOS NEXT and it comes with a plethora of advanced smart features that make Huawei devices stand out. Huawei’s HarmonyOS NEXT is completely independent of the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) code.
Huawei HarmonyOS NEXT Overview
Launched on October 22, 2024, the HarmonyOS NEXT is Huawei’s newest operating system and it is completely independent of Android OS source code. This means the HarmonyOS NEXT does not integrate any “Android” feature, but it sure does have features that perform the same actions as the ones found on Android-powered devices.
At its core, the HarmonyOS boosts a completely naive architecture, built with specificity in mind; hence, the OS has four layers: the bottom kernel layer, the system service layer, the framework layer, and the application layer. However, all power and provisioning comes from the base kernel layer, which is based on a microkernel as a Rich Executed Environment (REE).
The HarmonyOS NEXT is released for cross-platform compatibility, which means that it powers Hauwei IoT devices, TVs, monitors, smartphones, and tablets. It is a lightweight OS offering much flexibility for developers to build their apps to run on the framework. Explained below are the unique features of this rival OS that competes with the Android and iOS platforms.
The Top 10 Features of HarmonyOS NEXT Operating System
These are what make the HarmonyOS NEXT appear much better than the standard Android OS and even macOS.
1. Advanced Security Features
One of the noteworthy features of the HarmonyOS NEXT is its Star Shield security architecture; this ensures high-level encrypted security protocols. Apps installed on a device running HarmonyOS NEXT can only access the data permitted by users, and the OS restricts unnecessary permissions by default, to protect users’ privacy. More so, users can view and manage data the apps on their device are allowed access to, per time.
2. Outstanding UI
The user interface of HarmonyOS NEXT is more iOS-like than Android-like; it is refined and super intuitive, allowing for swift navigation through the notification panel and app drawer. Also, the UI delivers fluid animations and offers sleek app icons that make your device appear really beautiful.
More interestingly, while Android and iOS will have you tap on folders to open their content, HarmonyOS NEXT will show you what’s in a folder (without text labels) if you simply swipe your fingers on the folder and enlarge it. App snippets are supported, and they pop up in iOS style. Widgets are equally available to beautify the home screen appearance. The HarmonyOS NEXT UI is simply outstanding.
3. Xiaoyi AI Assistant
Apparently, every OS now comes with AI assistance, so the HarmonyOS NEXT didn’t slack on that – it comes with Xiaoyi AI Assistant, which is also called Celia. Xiaoyi is Huawei’s AI voice assistant built to use generative AI algorithms for interaction with users. This AI assistant runs on Huawei’s Pangu 3.0 language model, which is very similar to ChatGPT models; it can answer questions, as well as help users with hands-free actions.
4. Extensive Ecosystem
When Huawei was suspended from using Google’s Android OS, their devices stopped supporting Android apps. However, now, with HarmonyOS NEXT, Huawei has achieved an extensive ecosystem that boasts over 15,000 native applications, with more being added regularly.
In addition, the HarmonyOS ecosystem’s native apps are compatible with a wide range of devices, including smart TVs, tablets, smartphones, and other smart devices. This means users can achieve cross-device to their favorite applications.
5. Fast Connectivity Mediums
HarmonyOS NEXT comes alongside HUAWEI Share 2.0, which facilitates fast file sharing between devices; tests show that Huawei Share 2.0 can transfer 1.2GB of data in 8 seconds, and the technology can share files between all devices powered by this flagship operating system.
6. True Independence
The HarmonyOS NEXT is completely independent of the Android ecosystem. In essence, everything about the HarmonyOS NEXT is unique and patented to Huawei. When you explore the OS, it feels like a blend of Android and iOS, while offering a unique experience that goes beyond what you get from those two (Android and iOS). A truly unique experience is what the HarmonyOS NEXT promises for its users, across devices.
7. Personalization and Customization Tools
Another noteworthy feature of the HarmonyOS NEXT is the plethora of device personalization features. For example, the OS comes with a new rendering engine for realistic, vivid colors and smooth display motions.
Also, it supports a new fun 3D interaction tool with customizable emojis that react to device movement. Furthermore, there’s an “Intelligent Recognition” engine embedded into the system to allow the host device to adjust wallpapers automatically based on the photo content showing on the display.
8. Lighting-Speed Performance
The HarmonyOS NEXT is incredibly fast; whether it’s multi-tasking, scrolling through the app drawer, selecting multiple files at a go, or performing any random task with a device running the OS, the performance is swift and seamless. Also, the fluid display and animations deliver a smooth experience you can get with stock Android and iOS. Put simply, HarmonyOS NEXT delivers a quicker interaction response time than its competitor OSes.
9. Cross-Device Accessibility
With HarmonyOS NEXT being rolled out for multiple devices, users can now access their native HarmonyOS NEXT apps on all their devices running the OS. This implies that, for example, you can access your TV streaming app on your smrtphone, smart TV, and tablet running on HarmonyOS NEXT, so you won’t miss a moment with your favorite TV show.
10. Exclusivity
The HarmonyOS NEXT does not support APK files, so you cannot install third-party applications on the device; all installations are to be done via the dedicated app store, which has over 15,000 apps across categories. At the moment, the new OS is rolled out to newer Huawei devices sold and used in China.
What More?
HarmonyOS NEXT is a standout operating system for Huawei devices and smart appliances. It comes with exclusive features, focusing on simplified user experience, fast-speed processing, and cross-device usage flexibility. The new OS appears as a blend of Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android, offering fluid animations and support-smooth navigation and animations.
