| HarmonyOS | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese | 鸿蒙 | ||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 鴻蒙 | ||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
HarmonyOS (HMOS) (Chinese:鸿蒙;pinyin:Hóngméng;trans. "Vast Mist") is adistributed operating system developed byHuawei forsmartphones,tablets,smart TVs,smart watches,personal computers and othersmart devices. It has amicrokernel design with a single framework: the operating system selects suitable kernels from theabstraction layer in the case of devices that use diverse resources.[5][6][7] The latest version is HarmonyOS 6; it was released on 22 October 2025.[8]
From 2019 to 2024,versions 1 to 4 of the operating system were based on code from theAndroid Open Source Project (AOSP) and theLinux kernel; many Android apps could besideloaded on HarmonyOS.[9] The next iteration of HarmonyOS became known asHarmonyOS NEXT. HarmonyOS NEXT was announced on August 4, 2023, and officially launched on October 22, 2024.[10] It replaced theOpenHarmony multi-kernel system with its ownHongMeng kernel at its core and removed all Android code. Since version 5, HarmonyOS only supports apps in itsnative "App" format.[11][12]
HarmonyOS was officially launched by Huawei, and first used inHonorsmart TVs, in August 2019.[13][14] It was later used in Huaweiwireless routers,IoT in 2020, followed bysmartphones,tablets andsmartwatches from June 2021.[15]
In May 2025, the firstnotebook with the HarmonyOS operating system was launched by Huawei, featuring "HarmonyOS PC", i.e. HarmonyOS 5 for thepersonal computer form factor.[16]
On November 19, 2025, the first 2-in-1 with HarmonyOS 5.1 was launched by Huawei, with MatePad Edge supporting both tablet mode and full desktop counterpart in line with Huawei MateBook PC line.[17]
In 2015, Huawei launched a research and development strategy for self-developed core technologies including operating systems and databases. At that time, its own operating system did not have a name, and there was only a group of engineers designing the architecture, writing code, and designing core technologies.[18]
In 2019, Huawei applied for a trademark called "华为鸿蒙" for the kernel of its own operating system. At that time, when the company was still struggling with what to name its operating system, the public mistakenly thought the trademark of the system kernel was the name of an operating system. Finally, the official named the operating system "Hongmeng" (Chinese:鸿蒙;lit. 'Vast Mist'). The name "Hongmeng" represents "the vitality of all things at the beginning of their creation". The English name chosen was "HarmonyOS", symbolizing "the interconnection of all things and harmonious coexistence."[18]
Reports surrounding an in-house operating system being developed by Huawei date back as far as 2012 in R&D stages with HarmonyOS NEXT system stack going back as early as 2015.[19][20] These reports intensified during theSino-American trade war, after theUnited States Department of Commerce added Huawei to itsEntity List in May 2019 under an indictment that it knowingly exported goods, technology and services of U.S. origin to Iran in violation ofsanctions. This prohibited U.S.-based companies from doing business with Huawei without first obtaining a license from the government.[21][22][23][24][25] Huawei executiveYu Chengdong [zh] described an in-house platform as a "plan B" in case it is prevented from usingAndroid on futuresmartphone products due to the sanctions.[26][27][28]
Prior to its unveiling, it was originally speculated to be amobile operating system that could replace Android on future Huawei devices. In June 2019, an Huawei executive toldReuters that the OS was under testing in China, and could be ready "in months", but by July 2019, some Huawei executives described the OS as being anembedded operating system designed for IoT hardware, discarding the previous statements for it to be a mobile operating system.[29]
Some media outlets reported that this OS, referred to as "Hongmeng", could be released in China in either August or September 2019, with a worldwide release in the second quarter of 2020.[30][31] On 24 May 2019, Huawei registered "Hongmeng" as atrademark in China.[32] The name "Hongmeng" came from Chinese mythology that symbolizes primordial chaos or the world before creation.[33] The same day, Huawei registered trademarks surrounding "Ark OS" and variants with theEuropean Union Intellectual Property Office.[34] In July 2019, it was reported that Huawei had also registered trademarks surrounding the word "Harmony" for desktop and mobile operating system software, indicating either a different name or a component of the OS.[35]
Early versions of HarmonyOS, starting from version 1.0, employed a "kernelabstraction layer" (KAL) subsystem to support a multi-kernel architecture.[36] This allowed developers to choose different operating system kernels based on the resources available on each device. For low-powered devices such as wearables and Huawei's GT smartwatches, HarmonyOS utilized the LiteOS kernel instead of Linux. It also integrated theLiteOSSDK for TV applications and ensured compatibility with Android apps through theArk Compiler and a dual-framework approach.[37] HarmonyOS 1.0's original L0-L2 source code branch was contributed to theOpenAtom Foundation to accelerate system development.[38]
HarmonyOS 2.0 introduced a modified version of OpenHarmony's L3-L5 source code, expanding its compatibility across smartphones and tablets. Underneath the kernel abstraction layer (KAL) subsystem, HarmonyOS used theLinux kernel and theAOSP codebase. This setup enabled AndroidAPK files andApp Bundles (AAB) to run natively, similar to older HuaweiEMUI-based devices, without needingroot access.[39][40]
Additionally, HarmonyOS supported native apps packaged forHuawei Mobile Services through the Ark Compiler, leveraging the OpenHarmony framework within its dual-framework structure at the System Service Layer. This configuration allowed the operating system to run apps developed with restricted HarmonyOSAPIs.[41]
Until the release of HarmonyOS 5, also known asHarmonyOS NEXT 5, using its microkernel within a single framework, replacing the operating system dual-framework approach for Huawei's HarmonyOS devices with the AOSP codebase.[12][42]
On 9 August 2019, three months after theEntity List ban, Huawei publicly unveiled HarmonyOS, which Huawei said it had been working on since 2012, at its inaugural developers' conference inDongguan. Huawei described HarmonyOS as afree,microkernel-based distributed operating system for various types of hardware. The company focused primarily on IoT devices, including smart TVs,wearable devices, andin-car entertainment systems, and did not explicitly position HarmonyOS as a mobile OS.[43][44][45]
HarmonyOS 2.0 launched at the Huawei Developer Conference on 10 September 2020. Huawei announced it intended to ship the operating system on its smartphones in 2021.[46] The first developer beta of HarmonyOS 2.0 was launched on 16 December 2020. Huawei also released theDevEco StudioIDE, which is based onIntelliJ IDEA, and a cloud emulator for developers in early access.[47][48]
Huawei officially released HarmonyOS 2.0 and launched new devices shipping with the OS in June 2021, and started rolling out system upgrades to Huawei's older phones for users gradually.[49][50][51]
On July 27, 2022, Huawei launched HarmonyOS 3 providing an improved experience across multiple devices such as smartphones, tablets, printers, cars and TVs. It also launched Petal Chuxing, a ride-hailing app running on the new version of the operating system.[52][53][54][55]
On 29 June 2023, Huawei launched the first developer beta of HarmonyOS 4.[56] On 4 August 2023, Huawei officially announced and released HarmonyOS 4 as a public beta.[57] On 9 August, it rolled the operating system out on 34 different existing Huawei smartphone and tablet devices—albeit as a public beta build.[58] Alongside HarmonyOS 4, Huawei also announced the launch ofHarmonyOS NEXT, which is a "pure" HarmonyOS version, without Android libraries and therefore incompatible with Android apps post-software convergence.[59]
On 18 January 2024, Huawei announced commercialisation of HarmonyOS NEXT with Galaxy stable version rollout which will begin in Q4 2024 based on OpenHarmony 5.0 (API 12) version after OpenHarmony 4.1 (API 11) based Q2 Developer Beta after release of public developer access of HarmonyOS NEXT Developer Preview 1 that has been in the hands of closed cooperative developers partners since August 2023 debut. The new system of upcoming HarmonyOS 5 version that replaced HarmonyOS multi-kernel dual-frame system convergence for unified system stack of the unified app ecosystem for commercial Huawei consumer devices.[60][61]
On March 11, 2024, Huawei announced the early recruitment for the new test experience version of Huawei HarmonyOS 4 firmware update that includes performance improvements, purer and better user experiences. HarmonyOS version 4.0.0.200 (C00E200R2P7) of the firmware was gradually rolled out on March 12, 2024.[62][63]
On April 11, 2024, it has been reported that Huawei opened the registration and rolled out public beta of HarmonyOS 4.2 for 24 devices. On the same day, the company announced its incoming HarmonyOS 5.0 operating system version of Galaxy Edition version underHarmonyOS NEXT system that will first be released as open beta program for developers and users at its annual Huawei Developer Conference in June 2024 before Q4 commercial consumer release with upcoming Mate 70 flagship, among other ecosystem devices.[64][65]
On April 18, 2024, Huawei Pura 70 flagship series lineup received HarmonyOS 4.2.0.137 update, after release.[66]
On April 17, 2024, Huawei's chairman Eric Xu revealed plans to push nativeHarmonyOS NEXT system for next gen HarmonyOS in global markets as the company's focus at Huawei's Analyst Summit 2024 (HAS 2024) to Chinese and international press which was reported in various international outlets on April 22, 2024.[67][68]
On May 17, 2024, during the HarmonyOS Developer Day (HDD) event, Huawei announced HarmonyOS upgrade with the new HarmonyOS NEXT base will begin commercial use by September with over 800 million units of devices and 4,000 apps in use for a target of 5,000 apps at launch.[69][70]
On June 21, 2024, during the Huawei Developer Conference (HDC) keynote, Huawei announced HarmonyOS NEXT Developer Beta for registered developers and 3,000 pioneer users on limited models such as Huawei Mate 60 Series, Huawei Mate X5 Series and Huawei MatePad Pro 13.2 tablet. The consumer beta version is expected to be released in August 2024 while the stable build to be made available in Q4 2024.[71] During the conference, Huawei formerly announced in-house Cangjie programming language for the new native system alongside releasing the Developer Preview Beta recruitment program.[72]
On October 22, 2024, at the Huawei HarmonyOS Next event, it was officially revealed as "pure blood" HarmonyOS NEXT 5 brand transitioning to HarmonyOS 5, incorporated as HarmonyOS 5.0.0 version, for public beta with 2025 expansions. Ahead of flagship devices with stable builds factory in November 26, 2024.[73]
SubsequentHarmonyOS Next releases of HarmonyOS 5 iterations starting with HarmonyOS 5.0.1 version launched on May 19, 2025, alongside HarmonyOS powered MateBook Pro and Fold PCs launch after the launch ofHuawei Pura X and beta program on March 20, 2025, for 14 devices.[74]
On July 23, 2025, Huawei launched HarmonyOS 5.1 for 30+ compatible devices after the launch of Huawei Watch 5 on May 16, 2025, andPura 80 series on June 11, 2025.[75]
On October 22, 2025, Huawei announced HarmonyOS 6 with consumer beta launch after releasing Developer Beta builds since June 20, 2025 at HDC 2025. Mate 80 series alongside Mate X7 devices became the first devices to launch with HarmonyOS 6 preinstalled on November 25, 2025 with official stable version rollout on eligible models such as Mate 70 series on the same day in mainland China markets.[8][76][77]
The HarmonyOS interface is overhauled with native HarmonyOS Design system as "Harmonious aesthetics" philosophy[78] by Yang Zhiyan, Chief UX Designer at Huawei Consumer BG or the native launcher system that has an emphasis on 'vivid' system colours and reflective 'spatial' visual of light, blur, glow with glassmorphism andneumorphism soft UI that is a medium betweenskeuomorphism andflat design. In addition to standard folders that require tapping on them to display their contents, folders can be enlarged to always show their contents without text labels directly on the home screen.[79]
Apps can support "snippets", which expose a portion of the app's functionality (such as a media player's controls, or a weather forecast) via an iOS style pop-up window by swiping left after holding the app icon in context menu, and can be pinned to the home screen as awidget. Apps and services can providecards; as of HarmonyOS 3.0, cards can also be displayed as widgets with different sizes and shapes to adapt to the home screen layout, and can also be stacked.[80][81]
The user interface font of HarmonyOS on HarmonyOS Next base isHarmonyOS Sans. It is designed to be easy to read, unique, and universal. The system font was used throughout the operating system alongside previous Android-based EMUI 12 and up, including third-party HarmonyOS and former Android apps.[82]
Devices come with applications preinstalled. Further apps can be downloaded from the Huawei App Gallery. From Harmony OS 1 to Harmony OS 4, the OS was heavily based on Android. This allowed the vast majority of Android apps to be used. Since the introduction of Harmony OS NEXT and further versions such as Harmony OS 6, only native apps are available. As of November 2025, there were 300,000 apps available.[83]
Unlike Atomic Services that are installation-free, traditional apps need installation. They are available to users throughHuawei AppGallery, which serves as theapplication store for HarmonyOS with HarmonyOS-native apps.[84][85] HarmonyOS-native apps have access to capabilities such as distributed communications and cards.[86][87]
Managed and distributed by Huawei Ability Gallery, Meta Services (also known as, Atomic Services) replaces legacy HarmonyOS 4.x JS rpk file format Quick Apps are lightweight and consist of one or moreHarmonyOS Ability Packages (HAPs) to implement specific convenient services, providing users with dynamic content and functionality.[88] They are accessible via the Service Center from devices, and presented as cards that can be added to a favorite list or pinned to the home screen.[89]
Atomic Services are installation-free since the accompanying code is downloaded in the background.[90][88][91] They can also be synchronized across multiple devices, such as updating the driver's location on the watch in real time after the user hails a taxi on the mobile phone.[92]
The Service Collaboration Kit (SCK) provides users with cross-device interaction, allowing them to use the camera, scanning, and gallery functions of other devices. For example,tablets or2-in-1 laptops can utilize these features from a connected smartphone. To utilize these features, both devices running HarmonyOS NEXT must be logged into the same Huawei account and have WLAN and Bluetooth enabled.[93]
Harmony Intelligence allows users to deploy AI-based applications on HarmonyOS, usingPanGu 5.0LLM and its embedded variants, alongside newCelia capabilities, HiAI Foundation Kit,MindSpore Lite Kit, Neural Network Runtime Kit, and Computer Vision. These features improve performance, reduce power consumption, and enable efficient AI processing on devices with Kirin chips.[94][95][96][97][98]
HarmonyOS supports cross-platform interactions between supported devices via the "Super Device" interface; devices are paired via a "radar" screen by dragging icons to the centre of the screen.[99][100][101][102] Examples of Super Device features include allowing users to play back media saved inside a smartphone through a paired PC,smart TV orspeakers; share PC screen recordings back to a smartphone; run multiple phone apps in a PC window; share files between a paired smartphone and PC; share application states between the paired devices, etc.[103][104][105]
Incorporated into HarmonyOS 4,NearLink (previously known as SparkLink) is a set of standards that combine the strengths of traditionalwireless technologies likeBluetooth andWi-Fi, while emphasizing improved performance in areas like response time, energy efficiency, signal range, and security. It consists of two access modes: SparkLink Low Energy (SLE) and SparkLink Basic (SLB). SLE is designed for low-power consumption, low-latency, and high-reliability applications, with a data transmission rate reportedly up to 6 times that of Bluetooth; SLB is tailored for high-speed, high-capacity, and high-precision applications, with a data transmission rate reportedly around 2 times that of Wi-Fi.[106][107][108][109]
HarmonyOS platform was not designed for a single device at the beginning but developed as a distributed operating system for various devices with memory sizes ranging from 128KB to over 4GB. Hence, the hardware requirements are flexible for the operating system and it may only need 128KB of memory for a variety of smart terminal devices.[110][111]
Harmony OS largely powers Huawei devices. This includes current smartphones, tablets, laptops, and smartwatches.
The following current devices use Harmony OS with the Harmonys OS microkernel instead of the Android AOSP core.
| Device | Release date |
|---|---|
| Huawei Mate 70 series Pioneer SKU[112] | 26 November 2024 |
| Huawei Mate X6 Pioneer SKU | 26 November 2024 |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 13.2 2025 (2024) Pioneer SKU | 26 November 2024 |
| Huawei Pura X[113] | 20 March 2025 |
| Huawei Watch Fit 4 series[114] | 15 May 2025 |
| Huawei Watch 5 series[115] | 15 May 2025 |
| Huawei nova 14 series[116] | 19 May 2025 |
| Huawei MateBook Pro 2025[117] | 19 May 2025 |
| Huawei MateBook Fold[118] | 19 May 2025 |
| Huawei Pura 80 series[119] | 11 June 2025 |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 12.2 (China SKU)[120] | 24 July 2025 |
| Huawei MatePad 11.5 S (China SKU)[121] | 15 August 2025 |
| Huawei Mate TV series[122] | 4 September 2025 |
| Huawei MatePad Mini[123] | 4 September 2025 |
| Huawei Watch GT 6 series[124] | 19 September 2025 |
| Huawei Mate XTs Ultimate[125] | 29 September 2025 |
| Huawei nova Flip S[126] | 17 October 2025 |
| Huawei nova 14 Lite/Vitality series (China SKU)[127] | 17 October 2025 |
| Huawei Mate 70 Air[128] | 13 November 2025 |
| Huawei MatePad Edge[129] | 25 November 2025 |
| Huawei Mate 80 series[130] | 25 November 2025 |
| Huawei Mate X7 | 25 November 2025 |
Huawei stated that HarmonyOS would initially be used on devices targeting the Chinese market. The company's former subsidiary brand,Honor, unveiled the Honor Vision line of smart TVs as the first consumer electronics devices to run HarmonyOS in August 2019.[131][45] The HarmonyOS 2.0 beta launched on 16 December 2020 and supported theP30 series,P40 series,Mate 30 series,Mate 40 series,P50 series, and the MatePad Pro.[132]
Stable HarmonyOS 2.0 was released for smartphones and tablets as updates for the P40 andMate X2 in June 2021. NewHuawei Watch,MatePad Pro and PixLab X1 desktop printer models shipping with HarmonyOS were also unveiled at the time.[50][51][133] In October 2021, HarmonyOS 2.0 had over 150 million users.[134][135]
On November 25, 2025 Huawei press conference for Mate 80 series and Mate X7 flagship products, it was announced that devices running HarmonyOS 5 and HarmonyOS 6 has passed 27 million in activations altogether with an install base growing at 100,000 per day.[136]
HarmonyOS is designed with alayeredarchitecture, which consists of four layers; thekernel layer at the bottom provides the upper three layers, i.e., the system service layer, framework layer and application layer, with basic kernel capabilities, such asprocess andthread management,memory management,file system,network management, andperipheral management.[137]
The kernel layer incorporates a subsystem that accommodatesHongMeng Kernel based onmicrokernel as Rich Executed Environment (REE), catering to diverse smart devices. Depending on the device type, different kernels can be selected; for instance, like OpenHarmony base itself but with a single kernel, lightweight systems are chosen for low-power devices like watches andIoT devices to execute lightweightHarmonyOS apps, whereas large-memory devices like mobile phones, tablets, and PCs utilize standard system. The dual-app framework was replaced with a single-app framework inHarmonyOS Next, supporting only native HarmonyOS apps withAPP format.[138]
The system includes a communication base called DSoftBus for integrating physically separate devices into a virtual Super Device, allowing one device to control others and sharing data among devices withdistributed communication capabilities.[139][140][141] "To address security concerns" arising from varying devices, the system provides a hardware-basedTrusted Execution Environment (TEE)microkernel to prevent leakage of sensitive personal data when they are stored or processed.[142]
It supports several forms of apps, including native apps that can be installed fromAppGallery, installation-free Quick apps and lightweight Meta Services accessible by users on various devices.[143][144][145][146]
When it launched the operating system, Huawei stated that HarmonyOS plans to become a microkernel-based, distributed OS that was completely different from Android and iOS in terms of target market towardsInternet of things.[147] A Huawei spokesperson subsequently stated that HarmonyOS supported multiple kernels and used a Linux kernel if a device had a large amount of RAM, and that the company had taken advantage of a large number of third-party open-source resources, including Linux kernel with POSIX APIs on OpenHarmony base, as a foundation to accelerate the development of its unified system stack as a future-proof, microkernel-based, and distributed OS running on multiple devices.[148][149][51]
At its launch as an operating system for smartphones in 2021, HarmonyOS was, however, rumored byArs Technica to be a "rebranded version of Android andEMUI" with nearly "identical code bases".[150] Following the release of the HarmonyOS 2.0 beta,Ars Technica andXDA Developers suggested that "the smartphone version of the OS had beenforked fromAndroid 10".Ars Technica alleged that it resembled the existing EMUI software used on Huawei devices, but with all references to "Android" replaced by "HarmonyOS". It was also noted that theDevEco Studio software based onJetBrains open sourceIntelliJ IDEAIDE "shared components and tool chains" withAndroid Studio.
When testing the new MatePad Pro in June 2021,Android Authority andThe Verge similarly observed similarities in "behavior", including that it was possible to install apps from AndroidAPK files on the HarmonyOS-based tablet, and to run the Android 10easter egg apk app, reaffirming earlier rumor mills.[148][51]
In December 2022, some Chinese users discovered that, after switching the language to English in HarmonyOS 3.0, the "System" app would display as "Android System," which once again sparked controversy. Huawei subsequently released an urgent patch to remove the reference to Android.[151]
In terms of architecture, HarmonyOS has close relationship with OpenEuler, which is a community edition ofEulerOS, as they have implemented the sharing of kernel technology as revealed by Deng Taihua, President of Huawei's Computing Product Line.[152] The sharing is reportedly to be strengthened in the future in the areas of the distributedsoftware bus, system security, app framework, device driver framework and new programming language.[153]
OpenHarmony is an open-source version of HarmonyOS donated by Huawei to theOpenAtom Foundation, built around its unique multiple-kernel architecture of thedistributed operating system, sharing some principles from HuaweiLiteOS lineage. It supports devices running a mini system such as printers, speakers, smartwatches and any other smart device with memory as small as 128 KB, or running a standard system with memory greater than 128 MB.[154] The open-source operating system contains the basic capabilities of HarmonyOS and does not depend on theAndroid Open Source Project (AOSP) code.[155]
On August 4, 2023, at Huawei Developers Conference 2023 (HDC), Huawei officially announced HarmonyOS NEXT, the next iteration system version of HarmonyOS, supporting only nativeAPP apps viaArk Compiler, and ending the support for Android apk apps.[156]
Built on a custom version ofOpenHarmony, HarmonyOS NEXTproprietary system has the HarmonyOSmicrokernel at its core with a single framework, departing from the common Linux kernel and aimed to replace the current multi-kernel HarmonyOS.[12]
Among the first batch of over 200 developers,McDonald's andKFC in China became two of the first multinational food companies to adopt HarmonyOS Next.[157][158]
The primaryIDE known as DevEco Studio for developing HarmonyOS apps was released by Huawei on September 9, 2020, based on IntelliJ IDEA and Huawei's SmartAssist.[159] The IDE includes DevEco Device Tool,[160] an integrated development tool for customizing HarmonyOS components, coding, compiling and visual debugging, similar to other third party IDEs such asVisual Studio Code forWindows,Linux andmacOS.[161]
HarmonyOS usesApp Pack files suffixed with .app, also known as APP files, for distribution of software via AppGallery. Each App Pack has one or moreHarmonyOS Ability Packages (HAP) containing code for their abilities, resources, libraries, and aJSON file with configuration information.[162]
HarmonyOS as a universal single IoT platform allows developers to write apps once and run everywhere across devices such as phones, tablets, personal computers, TVs, cars, smartwatches, single board computers underOpenHarmony, and screen-less IoT devices such as smart speakers.[163]
As of October 2024, there were reportedly over 6.75 million registered developers participated in developing HarmonyOS apps.[164]
| ArkUI | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Huawei |
| Initial release | October 22, 2021 |
| Operating system | HarmonyOS,OpenHarmony,Oniro |
| Type | Software framework |
| License | open source,Apache License[165] |
| Website | https://developer.harmonyos.com/en/develop/arkUI |
Applications for HarmonyOS are mostly built using components ofArkUI, a Declarative User Interface framework. ArkUI is adeclarative based user interface framework for buildinguser interfaces onnative HarmonyOS,OpenHarmony alongside Oniro applications developed byHuawei for theArkTS andCangjie programming language.[166]
ArkUI elements are adaptable to various devices and include new interface rules with automatic updates along with HarmonyOS updates.[167]
ArkUI 3.0 isdeclarative in eTS (extended TypeScript) in HarmonyOS 3.0, followed by main ArkTS programming language in HarmonyOS 3.1, contrasting with theimperative syntax used inJava development in earlier versions of HarmonyOS in HarmonyOS 1.0 and 2.0. ArkUI allows for 2D drawing as well as 3D drawing, animations,event handling, Service Card widgets, anddata binding. ArkUI automatically synchronizes between UI views and data.[168]
ArkUI integrates withDevEco StudioIDE to provide for real-time previews during editing,[169] alongside support for debugging and other development features.[170]
ArkJS is designed for web development with a Vue 2-like syntax, providing a familiar environment for web developers using JS and CSS. ArkJS incorporates the HarmonyOS Markup Language (HML), which allows attributes prefixed with@ for MVVMarchitectural pattern.[171][168][172]
During HDC 2021 on October 22, 2021, the HarmonyOS 3.0 developer preview introduced ArkUI 3.0 for eTS, JS programming languages with ArkCompiler. Compared to previous versions of ArkUI 1.0 and 2.0 under imperative development with Java in earlier versions of HarmonyOS.[173]
During HDC 2022 HarmonyOS 3.1 in November 2022, Huawei ArkUI evolved into full declarative development featuring declarative UI capabilities, improved layout ability, component capability improvement and others. In April 2023, HarmonyOS 3.1 Beta 1 build included ArkUI declarative 2D and 3D drawing capabilities. The upgrade also improves layout, component, and app state management capabilities.[174]
During HDC 2023, August 2023, Huawei announced HarmonyOS 4.0 improvements of ArkUI withArkTS alongside nativeHarmonyOS NEXT software development usingArk Engine withArkGraphics 2D andArkGraphics 3D. Also, the company announced a cross platform extension of ArkUI called ArkUI-X which would allow developers to run applications across Android, iOS and HarmonyOS under one project usingDevEco Studio IDE and Visual Studio Code plugins. On January 18, 2024, during HarmonyOS Ecology Conference, Huawei revealed theHarmonyOS NEXT software stack, that included ArkUI/ArkUI-X programming framework with theArk Compiler/BiSheng Compiler/Ark Runtime compiler & runtime, for both ArkTS and incomingCangjie programming language [zh].[175]
| ArkUI-X | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Huawei |
| Initial release | December 8, 2023 |
| Operating system | Android,iOS,OpenHarmony,Oniro, HarmonyOS,Web platform (ArkJS) |
| Type | Application framework |
| License | Apache License |
| Website | https://developer.harmonyos.com/en/develop/arkUI |
ArkUI-X is anopen-sourceUIsoftware development kit which is the extension of ArkUI created for buildingcross platform applications, includingAndroid,iOS targets additionally.[176]Web platform support with ArkJS was released on December 8, 2023.[177] ArkUI-X consists of both a UI language and a rendering engine.[178]
The ArkUI architecture is divided into three layers: the top layer offers a declarative UI paradigm; the middle layer consists of theArk Compiler and runtime, the UI backend engine, and the rendering engine; and the bottom layer serves as the platform adaptation and bridging layer.[176]
System components are built-in components within the ArkUI framework, categorized into container components and basic components. For example,Row andColumn are container components that can hold other components, whileText andButton are basic components.[179]
The following is an example of a simpleHello World program. It is standard practice in ArkUI to separate the application struct and views into different structs, with the main view namedIndex.[180]
importArkTS// Index.etsimportrouterfrom'@ohos.router';@Entry@ComponentstructIndex{@Statemessage:string='Hello World'build(){Row(){Column(){Text(this.message).fontSize(50).fontWeight(FontWeight.Bold)// Add a button to respond to user clicks.Button(){Text('Next').fontSize(30).fontWeight(FontWeight.Bold)}.type(ButtonType.Capsule).margin({top:20}).backgroundColor('#0D9FFB').width('40%').height('5%')// Bind the onClick event to the Next button so that clicking the button redirects the user to the second page..onClick(()=>{router.pushUrl({url:'pages/Second'})})}.width('100%')}.height('100%')}}
The@ohos.router routing library implements page transitions, which must be declared in themain_pages.json file before being invoked.[181]
On May 18, 2021, Huawei revealed a plan to upgrade its HarmonyOS Connect brand with a standard badge during a summit in Shanghai to help industrial partners in producing, selling and operating products with third-party OEMs as part of the HarmonyOS system, framework and the Huawei Smart Life (formerly Huawei AI Life) app.
Allowing for fast and low-cost connections to users, smart devices like speakers, fridges and cookers of different brands powered by HarmonyOS can be connected and merged into a super device with a single touch of smartphone without the need to install apps. Also, HiLink protocols for mesh and wireless routers connectivity with devices alongside other smart devices that are platform agnostic that connects to HarmonyOS devices.[182]
The HarmonyOS Connect sets the platform apart from traditional mobile and computing platforms and the company's previous ecosystem attempts with its Android based EMUI andLiteOS connectivity in the past.[183]
On April 27, 2021, Huawei launched a smart cockpit solution powered by HarmonyOS for electric and autonomous cars powered by its Kirin line of asystem-on-chip (SoC) solution. Huawei opened up APIs to help automobile OEMs, suppliers and ecosystem partners in developing features to meet user requirements.
Huawei designed a modular SoC for cars that will be pluggable and easy to upgrade to maintain the peak performance of the cockpit. Users would be able to upgrade the chipset as one can upgrade on an assembled desktop computer with its scalable distributed OS.[184]
On December 21, 2021, Huawei launched a new smart console brand, HarmonySpace, a specialized HarmonyOS vehicle operating system. Based on Huawei's 1+8 ecology, apps on smartphones and tablets can be connected to the car seamlessly with HarmonySpace, which also provides smartphone projection capability.[185][186]
On December 23, 2021, Huawei announced a new smart select car product – AITO M5, a medium-sizeSUV with HarmonyOS ecosystem through continuous AI learning optimization and over-the-air upgrades.[187] On July 4, 2022, Huawei officially launched AITO smart select car product to be shipped to customers sometime in August 2022. During the launch, the company received 10,000 pre-orders in 2 hours for its M7 model.[188]
Huawei MagLink built on interconnected Cockpit solution, enables drivers to make the mobile phone application full amount of car, no need for telephony navigation. Huawei's car solution through seamless HarmonyOS system application, eliminate the need for drivers to use mobile phone navigation nor the need to install mobile phone holders. With this solution, enables more built in accessible entertainment and information services. The integration of software and hardware technologies installed on the car, achieving “mobile whole-house intelligence.”[189]
On 14 September 2021, Huawei announced the launch of MineHarmony OS (Chinese:矿鸿;pinyin:Kuànghóng), a customized operating system by Huawei based on its in-house HarmonyOS based on OpenHarmony for industrial use. MineHarmony is compatible with about 400 types of underground coal mining equipment, providing the equipment with a single interface to transmit and collect data for analysis. Wang Chenglu, President of Huawei's consumer business AI and smart full-scenario business department, indicated that the launch of MineHarmony OS signified that the HarmonyOS ecology had taken a step further fromB2C toB2B.[190][191][192]
In May 2019, Huawei applied for registration of the trademark "Hongmeng" through the Chinese Patent OfficeCNIPA, but the application was rejected in pursuance to Article 30 of thePRC Trade Mark Law, citing the trademark was similar to that of "CRM Hongmeng" in graphic design and "Hongmeng" in Chinese word.[193]
In less than a week before launching HarmonyOS 2.0 and new devices by Huawei, theBeijing Intellectual Property Court announced the first-instance judgement in May 2021 to uphold the decision by CNIPA as the trademark was not sufficiently distinctive in terms of its designated services.[194][195]
However, it was reported that the trademark had officially been transferred from Huizhou Qibei Technology to Huawei by end of May 2021.[196]
On October 22, 2024, It has been reported that Huawei has applied for registration of more than 400 HarmonyOS related trademarks in China.[197]
As of Q2 2025, Harmony OS had a 4.25% market share for the most recent year. This made Harmony OS the third largest smartphone OS worldwide after Android with 77.25% market share, and iOS with 18.50% market share.[198]
On December 23, 2021, Yu Chengdong, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group, claimed that HarmonyOS had reached 300 million smartphones and othersmart devices, including 200 million devices in the ecosystem and 100 million third-party consumer products from industry partners.[199]
Market research conducted in China by Strategy Analytics showed that Harmony OS was the third largest smartphone platform afterApple iOS andGoogle Android, reaching a record high of 4% market share in China during the first quarter of 2022, up from zero just a year earlier. This increase in market share took place after the operating system was also launched for smartphone devices in June 2021.
The research claimed that in the first quarter of 2022 the platform outgrew its rivals, such as Android and Apple iOS, from a low install base of about 150 million smart devices overall, particularly due to the good support in China and the HarmonyOS software upgrades that Huawei made available for its older handset models and its former sub-brands such asHonor.[200][201]
On August 8, 2022, after the soft launch of HarmonyOS 3, Sina Finance, part ofSina Corporation, and Huawei Central reported that the number of Huawei HarmonyOS Connect devices had exceeded 470 million units. By summer 2022, 14 OpenHarmony distributions had been launched.[202][203]
In the third quarter of 2023, HarmonyOS captured a 3% share of the global smartphone market and 13% within China, despite Huawei's limitation to LTE at the time.[204] At the launch of HarmonyOS 4 in August 2023, it was noted that the operating system had been integrated into over 700 million devices. By January 18, 2024, during Huawei's HarmonyOS Ecology Conference in China, this number had risen to over 800 million devices, as reported by Huawei.[205][206]
In the first quarter of 2024, HarmonyOS reached a 4% market share globally and captured 17% of the Chinese market, surpassing iOS to become the second largest mobile platform domestically, as reported by Counterpoint Research on May 25, 2024.[207][208] During the HDC 2024 keynote conference, it was announced that HarmonyOS had reached 900 million active users on June 21, 2024.[209]
On October 22, 2024, Huawei announced at its HarmonyOS NEXT 5 event that the HarmonyOS platform had 1 billion active users.[210] In the first quarter of 2025, HarmonyOS increased its market share globally to 5%; it also held 19% of the Chinese market, an increase of 2 percentage points over the same quarter in 2024.[211]
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