Huawei has taken a bold step in its pursuit of technological independence by launching its first laptops running HarmonyOS, a homegrown operating system developed to reduce reliance on Western software ecosystems. The release of the MateBook Fold and MateBook Pro, which officially run HarmonyOS 5, signals a deeper shift in China’s tech strategy, particularly in response to sustained U.S. restrictions targeting Huawei’s access to critical semiconductors and operating systems.
With the global tech market dominated for decades by Microsoft’s Windows and Apple’s macOS, Huawei’s launch of laptops powered by its own system marks a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing efforts to localize key technology stacks. According to Yu Chengdong, head of Huawei’s consumer business group, “The Harmony laptop gives the world a new choice. We kept on doing the hard things but the right things.”
Breaking Free from the Western Tech Ecosystem
Huawei began developing HarmonyOS in 2015, officially introducing it in 2019 after the U.S. placed the company under trade restrictions over national security concerns. Since then, HarmonyOS has been deployed across more than a billion devices, including smartphones, TVs, and now computers. The operating system’s open-source version, OpenHarmony, is positioned as a “national OS” in China, with growing adoption across various sectors like finance, aerospace, and education.
The launch of the Harmony-powered laptops highlights Huawei’s continued drive to create a complete tech ecosystem—from chips to operating systems—despite significant limitations imposed by Washington. The MateBook Fold, which features an 18-inch foldable OLED screen and no physical keyboard, is priced at 23,999 yuan (approximately $3,330), while the MateBook Pro, with a more conventional design, starts at 7,999 yuan (about $1,110).
Huawei did not disclose which processing chip powers these devices, but attributed their high price tags to the cost of new manufacturing technologies for chipsets—widely speculated to be due to the lack of access to affordable chips from U.S. giants like Intel and Qualcomm. Last year, the U.S. government revoked licenses that had previously allowed American companies to supply chips to Huawei, following the backlash against Huawei’s AI-enabled laptop powered by an Intel processor.
Building a Self-Sustaining Ecosystem
Huawei’s HarmonyOS for laptops currently supports over 150 native applications, including WPS Office (a Microsoft Office alternative) and photo-editing app Meitu Xiu Xiu. The ecosystem is gaining momentum, with over 7.2 million developers creating applications for the platform by the end of 2023.
What began as a response to geopolitical pressure has evolved into a national initiative. Chinese authorities have actively promoted OpenHarmony, setting up innovation centers and encouraging companies to migrate from foreign systems to local alternatives. Charlie Cheng, deputy manager of the Harmony Ecosystem Innovation Centre in Shenzhen, noted that open-sourcing the OS gives developers a “customisable springboard” while avoiding the licensing costs typically associated with Android and Windows.
China’s broader goal is to localize its digital infrastructure, insulating it from future geopolitical disruptions. President Xi Jinping has urged the country to “wage a difficult battle” to develop its own tech foundation amid U.S. export controls and sanctions on advanced technologies.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the rapid growth of HarmonyOS, Huawei’s success in the global laptop market is far from guaranteed. While the system has become the second most popular mobile OS in China, surpassing iOS in early 2024, it has yet to gain traction internationally. Furthermore, HarmonyOS now no longer supports Android-based apps, creating a closed ecosystem that could limit user adoption outside China.
Still, Huawei’s latest move reflects a larger pattern: China’s ambition to control its tech destiny. The HarmonyOS laptops aren’t just new devices—they are symbols of resilience and national pride. With further investment and continued restrictions from the West, Huawei may succeed in reshaping how emerging markets think about software sovereignty.
