Chinese tech giant Huawei announced on Thursday that it will launch its first line of personal computers (PCs) powered by its HarmonyOS operating system on May 19.The upcoming release marks a significant expansion of Huawei's HarmonyOS ecosystem, which already powers its smartphones and tablets.By launching computers equipped with the country's first locally developed operating system for the general public, Huawei seeks to challenge the long-standing dominance of Microsoft's Windows and Apple's macOS in the PC market.Huawei's HarmonyOS-powered computers are the result of five years of research and development.
The company emphasizes that the system incorporates strong security features, including a dedicated security chip for encryption, secure access mechanisms and encrypted data sharing.The new computers will enable seamless interaction across Huawei devices, allowing users to control and move between the screens of their phones, tablets and computers with a keyboard and mouse.HarmonyOS, or Hongmeng in Chinese, is an open-source operating system designed for various devices and scenarios, including intelligent screens, tablets, wearables and cars.
It was first launched in August 2019.Huawei highlights that its HarmonyOS-powered computers support connectivity with over 1,000 external devices and currently feature more than 150 dedicated PC applications, along with over 300 ecosystem-compatible apps.Analysts note that Huawei will face challenges in attracting users during the early stages, as mainstream operating systems like Windows and macOS offer a broader and more mature application ecosystem.