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.

What is HarmonyOS Compare it with Android and iOS

One operating system, many kinds of device

HarmonyOS at the centre, connected to phones, foldables and tablets, laptops, cars, TVs and watches. Phones Foldables, tablets Laptops Cars TVs Watches HarmonyOS one kernel
The same system and the same apps adapt to each screen; devices share tasks, files and calls with each other.

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.

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