Huawei has officially confirmed that it has shipped over 100 million devices running its self-developed operating system, HarmonyOS—an impressive achievement that underscores its rapid growth and rising influence in both domestic and potential global markets.
📱 What This Milestone Means for Huawei
Since launching HarmonyOS in August 2019, Huawei has steadily expanded its software ecosystem beyond Android dependency. This milestone signals:
- Strong momentum: 100 million shipments illustrate robust consumer and enterprise demand.
- Growth in diversity: HarmonyOS now powers smartphones, tablets, wearables, TVs, in-car systems, and smart home gadgets
- Ecosystem expansion: Over 2 million developers and thousands of native Harmony apps have joined the platform
🌐 Where HarmonyOS Stands in the Market
- Domestic strength: In the first quarter of 2024, HarmonyOS captured a 17% share of China’s mobile OS market—becoming the second most popular mobile OS in China, surpassing Apple’s iOS.
- Broad usage: By mid-2024, Huawei reported over 900 million active HarmonyOS devices, showing cross-device adoption
- Path to a third global OS: Analysts view HarmonyOS as a potential global alternative to Android and iOS if Huawei continues to grow its ecosystem—especially with its shift to the Android-free HarmonyOS NEXT
🔧 Tech Strategy: From Android Dependence to Total Control
- Native architecture: HarmonyOS NEXT, Huawei’s Android-free version, launched in preview from August 2023 and fully deployed on Mate 70 and other devices by late 2024
- Unified hardware support: From phones to smart cars, the OS aims to create a consistent cross-device experience—built on both Ark Compiler and Harmony native APIs
- Developer commitment: Huawei has recruited over 4 000 major apps for HarmonyOS 4 and aims to add 100 000 native HarmonyOS NEXT apps by the end of 2025
🔮 Looking Ahead: The Future of HarmonyOS
1. Global expansion
Huawei hopes to follow its success in China with growth abroad—starting in regions like Southeast Asia and Middle East—by promoting HarmonyOS NEXT and expanding AppGallery services reddit.com.
2. Ecosystem maturity
With over 2 million developers and growing options for native apps, the platform’s evolution continues swiftly .
3. Next-gen devices
Huawei’s upcoming Mate 70 series (late 2024) and new smart devices showcase HarmonyOS NEXT in action—no Android involved
✅ Why This Matters
This milestone cements Huawei’s commitment to software independence amid ongoing U.S. sanctions. Shipping 100 million units on a self-built OS within six years is a rare technological feat—reflecting both innovation and resilience.
As HarmonyOS extends across diverse devices—from smartphones to cars—it positions Huawei as a leading force in the evolving IoT ecosystem. Reaching 100 million units lays a strong foundation for Huawei’s goal of becoming a major global platform provider, potentially challenging Android and iOS dominance.
