Huawei's HarmonyOS is expected to overtake Apple's iOS to become the second-largest operating system in China this year after the company launches its Mate 60 models.

Huawei's next version of HarmonyOS won't support Android apps.

All of Huawei’s smartphones run on HarmonyOS, a homegrown Android alternative that was launched in August 2019. Three months before its launch, Huawei was banned from buying software, chips and other US-origin technology from suppliers without Washington’s approval.

The widespread adoption of HarmonyOS will boost Huawei’s return to the 5G smartphone segment. In late August 2023, the company unexpectedly launched the Mate 60 Pro – a smartphone equipped with an advanced domestically produced 5G chip. This gave them an advantage over the two American giants in the Chinese market.

HarmonyOS Next, which is expected to launch this year, will not support Android-based apps. A preview version of the new operating system will be released in the first quarter of 2024, and Huawei is also stepping up cooperation with other major Chinese companies to develop apps.

Ant Group, the financial technology arm of Alibaba Group Holding, said last month it is building a new version of its mobile payments app Alipay based on the HarmonyOS operating system.

Meanwhile, JD.com and e-gaming giant NetEase, along with food delivery market leader Meituan, have also started recruiting engineers to build native apps for HarmonyOS.

McDonald's China – with a network of more than 5,500 restaurants as well as over 200,000 employees – has become one of the first multinational food companies in the mainland to adopt HarmonyOS Next.