Huawei abandons Windows in its computers
Huawei is ready to ditch Windows on its upcoming PCs in favor of HarmonyOS.
A company executive confirmed that the current laptops may be the last batch to run a third-party operating system.
Yu Chengdong, president of Huawei's consumer business, attended a live broadcast on September 20. During the interview , he said that Huawei's upcoming PCs will come with HarmonyOS instead of Windows.
Huawei should drop Windows support after US ban, executive says
The company was blacklisted by the US in 2019, and has since struggled to access advanced technologies, chip manufacturing tools and even improved software.
The company now aims to become self-reliant by introducing a new operating system free of foreign components.
As a result, the current Matebook products may be the last batch to run Windows and Huawei may soon introduce computers running HarmonyOS.
Dong said Huawei has long been reducing its reliance on foreign parts, noting that upcoming hardware and software products will be more efficient.
The executive added that the company has used a range of American components so far, although it has significantly reduced its use of those components after sanctions and is now working to replace them completely.
The company used HarmonyOS as a key operating system for various devices, although it did not install it on its computers due to its ability to access Windows.
In the past few years, the company has been preparing a backup plan for laptops to combat the increasing sanctions.
It is currently unclear whether Huawei plans to launch HarmonyOS for the domestic market only or to offer it to global consumers through devices such as tablets and watches.
Things should become clearer with the official launch of HarmonyOS in the near future.
Dong also talked about HarmonyOS Next, a mobile operating system based on a completely new kernel different from Linux.
HarmonyOS Next won't run Android apps, and Huawei is touting the OS as offering superior performance and security.