Chinese tech giant Huawei has introduced its latest flagship phone, the Mate 70, featuring the HarmonyOS Next operating system. Priced at 5,499 yuan ($760), the device is positioned as a high-end offering with a unique software experience developed entirely in-house by Huawei's engineers.
During the launch event, Richard Yu, the chairman of Huawei's consumer business, emphasized the company's commitment to innovation, stating that the Mate 70 represents their most powerful phone in the Mate series. The move to HarmonyOS Next marks a strategic shift for Huawei, as all new phones and tablets from next year will run on the proprietary operating system.
The decision to move away from the Android ecosystem comes as Huawei aims to differentiate itself in the market and reduce reliance on foreign technologies. Industry experts view the Mate 70 as a critical step in Huawei's software evolution, positioning the company to maintain momentum in the premium segment and attract new users.
Despite facing challenges due to US export restrictions, Huawei has made significant progress in the high-end smartphone market in China. The company's share of phones priced above $600 has seen a notable increase, while competitors like Apple have experienced a decline in market share.
Since the launch of the first version of HarmonyOS in 2019, Huawei has focused on developing a comprehensive platform that can rival Western standards. The company's goal is to build a robust application ecosystem for HarmonyOS, with plans to expand globally in the future.
Looking ahead, Huawei aims to have 100,000 applications developed for its operating system within the next year. Building a strong developer community and ecosystem will be crucial for the long-term success of HarmonyOS and the Mate 70 series.
Analysts predict that the Mate 70 series will achieve significant shipments over its lifetime, but acknowledge that establishing a competitive ecosystem will take time. Huawei remains optimistic about the potential of HarmonyOS and its ability to offer users a compelling alternative to existing mobile operating systems.
