HarmonyOS, explained without the hype
Huawei's operating system is no longer "Android with a new skin": it has its own kernel, its own programming language and runs on phones, watches, tablets, laptops and cars. Here is what it is, how it got here and what it means if you live in Europe.
One operating system, many kinds of device
An ecosystem that is no longer small
HarmonyOS 6 arrived in November 2025 and in less than a year it is on more than 90 million devices. Counting earlier versions, Huawei talks about more than 1.3 billion devices.
- 1.3 bn+devices across the whole HarmonyOS ecosystem (June 2026)
- 90 m+devices on HarmonyOS 6 or later (October 2026)
- 100,000+native HarmonyOS apps (August 2026)
Sources: Huawei Central, Huawei Central, TechNode.
Where do you want to start?
-
What is HarmonyOS
Its own kernel, ArkTS, "atomic" services and one system for every device, step by step.
To start -
History
From the 2019 Honor TV to HarmonyOS 7: every version and what changed.
For context -
Versus Android and iOS
Where it wins, where it loses and what you need to know outside China.
To decide -
Devices
Phones, foldables, tablets, laptops, watches and cars running HarmonyOS.
To choose -
Developers
ArkTS, ArkUI, Cangjie and DevEco Studio: where to start building.
To build -
News
New devices, updates and developer news, every day.
To keep up
Would a HarmonyOS device suit you?
Six questions about where you live, which apps you use and which devices you own. Your answers never leave your browser.
Latest news
See all news-
Notebookcheck
An E Ink feel without compromises? The MatePad Air 2025's matte OLED display as an e-reader alternative
Thanks to its matte display, the new Huawei MatePad Air (2026) proves to be an e-reader alternative without the usual compromises in speed and response times. The Android tablet combines a large, glare-free screen with vibrant colors and a smooth 144 Hz…
New devices -
Huawei Central
Huawei Pura 90 Plus sale kicks off with a 1-inch camera, Kirin 9025 and HarmonyOS 7
New devices -
Notebookcheck
Benchmark flop, gaming surprise: Why the MatePad Air (2026) impresses in gaming tests
In our review, the Huawei MatePad Air (2026) performs anything but well in graphics benchmarks. However, our gaming tests reveal surprisingly high frame rates for this slim Android tablet. Combined with its excellent sound, Huawei's iPad alternative has…
New devices