Huawei Mobile Platform Harmonyos Expands China Adoption, Tops Apple’s Ios In 2024

Huawei Technologies’ home-grown mobile operating system, HarmonyOS, saw increased adoption throughout 2024 in mainland China, the world’s largest smartphone market, as the Shenzhen-based company prepares to launch a new handset powered by the platform’s latest version that does not support Android apps.

For the fourth consecutive quarter, the domestic market share of HarmonyOS was ahead of Apple’s iOS in the three months ended December 31, when it reached 19 per cent, according to the latest data released on Wednesday by Counterpoint Research.

HarmonyOS’ December quarter share was up from 16 per cent a year ago and higher than its 17 per cent share in each of the three previous quarters in 2024, Counterpoint data showed.

Still, Android remained the dominant mobile operating system on the mainland with a fourth-quarter share of 64 per cent, the same as a year earlier. Apple’s iOS had a 17 per cent share last quarter, down from 20 per cent a year ago.

Globally, Android continued to lead the industry last quarter with a 74 per cent market share, followed by Apple with 22 per cent, according to Counterpoint data. HarmonyOS, which is still only available on the mainland, remained flat with a 4 per cent quarterly share throughout 2024.

Richard Yu Chengdong, chairman of Huawei Technologies’ consumer business group, unveils HarmonyOS Next in Shenzhen on October 22, 2024. Photo: Xinhua

The rising adoption of HarmonyOS on the mainland reflects Huawei’s continued resurgence in the domestic 5G smartphone market, where it competes against major Chinese Android handset makers.

Privately held Huawei last year saw strong smartphone sales growth, as it launched new models such as the Mate 70 series and provided a series of price cuts.

The company’s China smartphone shipments were up 24 per cent year on year in the December quarter and 37 per cent for the whole of 2024, according to data from research firm Canalys.

US-sanctioned Huawei led China’s smartphone market in January, according to a Counterpoint report in February, on the back of a government subsidy scheme that started on January 20. That programme provided consumers with a 15 per cent subsidy – capped at 500 yuan (US$69) per purchase – for buying smartphones, tablets and smartwatches that cost under 6,000 yuan.

The smartphone subsidy scheme is likely to drive further growth for HarmonyOS, according to Counterpoint.

Huawei Technologies’ mobile operating system, HarmonyOS, is expected to see further domestic adoption on the back of the Chinese government’s subsidy scheme. Photo: Reuters

A few weeks ago, Huawei teased that a new smartphone powered by HarmonyOS Next – the latest iteration of its mobile platform – would be launched this month, providing another boost to the adoption of its operating system.

The official version of HarmonyOS Next and the new device, which was reported to be a type of foldable smartphone, would be launched on March 20, the company announced on Thursday.

Barred from accessing US-origin technologies under Washington’s trade sanctions, Huawei has been pushing for the adoption of HarmonyOS Next, which no longer supports Android apps.

HarmonyOS Next has gone through 30 different versions and received over 4 million user feedbacks since its beta launch last October, according to Richard Yu Chengdong, chairman of Huawei’s consumer business group, in a video posted on Wednesday.

Over 20,000 native apps and services have been made available on HarmonyOS Next, with 20 applications exceeding 2 million downloads, Yu said. Huawei expects all of its smartphones and tablets to run the new operating system this year.