In a massive escalation of pushing for high-tech sovereignty, Huawei has launched a first-strap laptop running Harmonios, unleashing its relationship with Western Software Giants Microsoft and Apple.
The announcement illustrates a turning point in China’s quest to ease US strangulation of critical technological infrastructure. The new device (Matebook Pro and Matebook Fold Ultimate Design) is the first Huawei PC to ship without Windows or MacOS, fully equipped with software made in China.
China’s complete OS breakaway amid US chip crackdown
This is more than just a product launch. It’s a strategic operation.
After years of US sanctions blocked access to chips and operating systems, Huawei shows that the West is not needed to build luxury consumer technology. This move happens when Washington strengthens its advanced semiconductor grip and blocks suppliers such as Intel and Qualcomm.
Huawei has been a high-tech standoff with the US since 2019, when access to critical technologies from Microsoft, Intel and Qualcomm was eliminated.
Huawei’s back was against the wall as the Microsoft Windows license expired earlier this year. Instead of retreating, it doubled, pushing Harmono 5 to the forefront and at the heart of the future.
China’s alternative to US technology control
Huawei’s new laptop is powered by Harmonyos 5, which is fully developed in-house, without an Android or US codebase. It features Huawei’s proprietary kernel, Starshield security architecture, and seamless integration between devices such as mobile phones, TVs, and tablets.
The laptop could also run on Huawei’s Kirin X90 chip, a 10-core processor developed in the country. The company has not checked the specifications, but there is little doubt due to a lack of Western suppliers. The entire technology stack is in Chinese.
Huawei’s consumer chief Yu Chengdong summed it up during a launch event in Chengdu.
“Harmony laptops give the world a new choice. We continued to do the difficult things, but continued to do the right things.”
Specifications and strategic pricing
matebook fold (flagship foldable):
18 inch OLED display, no physical keyboard
Price: ¥23,999 ($3,328)
MateBook Pro (traditional design):
Clamshell form factor with keyboard
Price: 7,999 yen ($1,100)
Both models use Huawei’s ARK engine for fast UI rendering, and include built-in productivity apps such as WPS Office and DingTalk (which replace US software).
Close the ecosystem loop
Harmonyos 5 is designed to unify the Huawei ecosystem. Its features include:
CELIA AI Assistant: Handles summary, translation and presentation
Cross-device functionality: file transfer, unified messaging
App Ecosystem: Over 150 native apps available at launch. Currently, over 20,000 harmonios apps live in Appgallery
Developer Community: 7.2 million developers in late 2024
However, there are trade-offs. This system does not support sideloading and is not backward compatible with older laptops. This is to draw a comparison with Apple’s closed iOS/MacOS approach.
China’s OS Gap – and Huawei’s Ambitious Bet
For decades, China has dominated hardware manufacturing, but relied on a US controlled operating system. Harmonos represents China’s most serious attempt to build a sovereign alternative that could ultimately replace Western software, at least within the boundaries.
And it’s gaining traction. Harmonyos is already installed on over a billion devices, from smartphones to smart TVs. Adding laptops will strengthen its position as China seeks independence in its strategic technology sector.
Global outlook
Outside of China, adoption can be a difficult battle. Harmonyos’ incompatibility with Windows apps, combined with geopolitical baggage, makes Western expansion difficult. Security concerns continue to plague the Huawei brand, especially in the US
However, Huawei may not need the West to win.
With China’s vast domestic market and increasing state support for local alternatives, the company is betting that Harmonio can thrive at home, setting the stage for perhaps wider global impact.
Conclusion
The launch of Huawei’s harmonio-powered laptops is more than just a product milestone. This is a bold step towards technology independence. This is a direct challenge to decades of dominance in the US software.
By cutting back on Windows, Macos, Intel and Qualcomm, Huawei shows that it has not stopped flowing through Silicon Valley, and perhaps beyond that, of computing in China.
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