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?
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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-
Vocal
Huawei’s Wide-Screen Phone Sold Out for 60 Days. The Story Is the Software.
Pura X View passed 1 million shipments because HarmonyOS rearranges apps for a nonstandard display. Android’s 2027 lineup shows how hard that is to copy.
Ecosystem and market -
Huawei Central
Huawei Watch 5 gets AI call noise reduction and earthquake alert features
Huawei Watch 5 is receiving new AI call noise reduction and earthquake early alert features. The company is adding these features to the wearable with the HarmonyOS 7.0 beta update. Besides, there are more interesting changes coming for device users. Watch 5…
New devices -
Ubergizmo
Huawei Enjoy 100 Pro Max Packs an 8,800mAh Battery Into a $300 Phone
Huawei's Enjoy 100 Pro Max launches in China with an 8,800mAh battery, new Kirin chips and HarmonyOS 7, from CNY 1,999. Here is what changed
New devices -
Notebookcheck
Huawei launches 8,800mAh phone with up to 512GB storage
Huawei has launched the Enjoy 100 Pro Max in China with an 8,800mAh battery. It runs HarmonyOS 7 and comes with either the Kirin 8020A or Kirin 8020 chipset, depending on the storage configuration.
Ecosystem and market -
Notebookcheck
Huawei officially launches 8,800mAh phone with 120Hz OLED display
Huawei has launched the Enjoy 100 Pro Max in China with an 8,800mAh battery. It runs HarmonyOS 7 and comes with either the Kirin 8020A or Kirin 8020 chipset, depending on the storage configuration.
Ecosystem and market -
Pandaily
DingTalk Open-Sources Its DWS Command-Line Tool for AI Agents, With a Build for HarmonyOS PCs
DingTalk has open-sourced DWS, a command-line tool that lets people and AI agents work with chats, meetings, docs, calendars and approvals, and added an OpenHarmony build validated on HarmonyOS PCs.
Developers