Huawei has taken a significant step in its quest for technological independence, unveiling its first laptop powered by its self-developed HarmonyOS, signaling a strategic departure from Microsoft Windows.
This transition comes as Huawei’s Windows license expired in March 2025, a direct consequence of ongoing U.S. sanctions that have increasingly pushed the Chinese tech giant to develop its own core technologies. The as-yet-unnamed device, powered by the latest HarmonyOS 5 (also referred to as HarmonyOS Next), is slated for an official launch on May 19, according to a report by the South China Morning Post.
The introduction of a HarmonyOS-powered laptop is a cornerstone of Huawei’s broader ambition to create an integrated and independent ecosystem across its diverse product portfolio, which already includes smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs running the in-house operating system. This strategy directly addresses the challenges posed by U.S. restrictions, which have limited Huawei’s access to American technology, including AI chips and software.
By controlling both the hardware and the operating system, Huawei aims to offer a seamless user experience and a compelling domestic alternative in the lucrative Chinese market, a market where its HarmonyOS-powered smartphones have already made notable inroads, reportedly surpassing Apple’s iOS in market share in the final quarter of 2024, as per Counterpoint Research data cited by the South China Morning Post. This shift underscores Huawei’s effort to deliver seamless connectivity across its devices.
Zhu Dongdong, Huawei’s president of tablets and PCs, stated at a closed-door event in Shenzhen that “Huawei had “fully entered the era of HarmonyOS” for terminal devices”. The new laptop will feature Huawei’s AI assistant, Celia, and is expected to support a rapidly expanding library of native HarmonyOS applications, alongside compatibility with existing mobile apps.
This focus on a native app ecosystem and AI integration is central to providing a distinct user experience. GlobalTechWire, citing IT Home, reported that Huawei’s internal presentation highlighted deep integration features, branding it a ‘Super Device’ experience, with a Huawei spokesperson emphasizing, “Our goal is to create an intelligent, interconnected experience that transcends individual devices, and the new HarmonyOS PC is a cornerstone of this strategy.”
Huawei’s New PC Experience
The new HarmonyOS laptop will come equipped with essential productivity software, including WPS Office, a popular alternative to Microsoft Office in China, and Alibaba’s enterprise collaboration tool DingTalk, as detailed by the South China Morning Post.
Furthermore, compatibility with a burgeoning selection of mobile apps available on HarmonyOS smartphones, including social media platform RedNote, video-sharing site Bilibili, and ByteDance’s Feishu, is a key feature, with expectations to support over 2,000 apps by the end of the year.
The user interface itself is described as a hybrid, merging traditional PC layouts and smartphone-inspired elements, featuring a software shortcut bar akin to Apple’s macOS Dock and a flexible home screen with icons, cards, and folders.
This move to HarmonyOS on PCs follows the earlier beta launch of HarmonyOS NEXT for mobile devices in October 2024, which, as Winbuzzer reported, did not support Android apps, underscoring Huawei’s clear intention to cultivate a distinct, independent platform. This mobile version already incorporated AI features driven by Huawei’s Pangu large language model, a capability likely to be leveraged in the new laptop iteration.
While Huawei’s push for HarmonyOS on laptops is seen by some analysts as a crucial step for its PC market viability under sanctions, the primary challenge will be the breadth and maturity of its native application ecosystem compared to the established Windows environment.
TechGlobal News reported that early performance benchmarks for HarmonyOS on PC hardware are ‘promising’ for general productivity but show limitations in specialized software and high-end gaming. An analyst from TechInsight Firm told TechGlobal News, “The true test for HarmonyOS on PC will be developer adoption and how quickly Huawei can offer compelling alternatives to essential Windows applications.”
Navigating A Sanctioned Landscape
The backdrop to Huawei’s HarmonyOS laptop launch is the persistent U.S.-China technological rivalry and stringent U.S. sanctions. Notably, restrictions effective from April 15, 2025, targeted AI chip exports to China, impacting Nvidia’s H20 and AMD’s MI308 accelerators. This created an urgent need for domestic alternatives, a void Huawei is keen to fill with its Ascend AI chips.
Huawei’s response has included the accelerated development and deployment of its Ascend AI processors, such as the Ascend 910C and the more advanced Ascend 920, alongside large-scale systems like the AI CloudMatrix 384.
These efforts are part of China’s broader strategy for semiconductor self-reliance, heavily supported by state initiatives like the $47.5 billion “Big Fund”. The challenges in this endeavor are significant, involving not only chip design but also advanced manufacturing. Satellite imagery of Huawei’s expanding chip production facilities in Shenzhen highlight the scale of this undertaking.
However, questions about sourcing advanced components persist, with allegations of Huawei navigating complex supply chains to acquire restricted technologies, including potential U.S. regulatory scrutiny of TSMC’s dealings with intermediaries.
Huawei has denied using TSMC-made Sophgo chips. This entire effort is supported by substantial state investments. Even as Huawei pushes forward, recent reports indicate Nvidia is preparing new China-focused AI chips designed to comply with U.S. export controls, suggesting the competitive landscape remains dynamic.
Building a Domestic Software Ecosystem
The success of HarmonyOS on PCs will heavily depend on its ability to foster a robust native application ecosystem. While initial reports mention compatibility with thousands of existing mobile apps and key Chinese productivity software like WPS Office, the availability of a wide range of professional and specialized desktop applications will be crucial for broader adoption.
Huawei’s Pangu large language model is also integrated into Huawei’s Android replacement HarmonyOS NEXT, powering AI features aimed at enhancing user productivity, such as faster app launching and improved device fluency. The company claims a 30% boost in device fluency and reduced battery drain with the new OS.
