Huawei’s dramatic shift in strategy, marked by the official debut of HarmonyOS as a desktop replacement for Microsoft Windows on its laptops, signals a profound transformation in the global operating system landscape. Once aligned closely with Western tech giants, Huawei now finds itself at the intersection of geopolitics, technology innovation, and domestic market momentum. Its response—an accelerated development and rollout of HarmonyOS—offers a fascinating case study in how global constraints can spawn indigenous innovation and redefine an entire digital ecosystem.
The story begins with U.S. trade restrictions that severely limited Huawei’s access to American software and hardware, including the Microsoft Windows operating system. According to a report by Tom’s Hardware and corroborated by the South China Morning Post, Huawei’s license to use Windows expired in March last year, with no prospect of renewal under current international sanctions. This forced the Chinese tech behemoth’s hand, pushing it to accelerate its investment in HarmonyOS, an operating system whose roots date back to 2012 but which only began to see public deployment in 2019 with the launch of the Honor Vision smart TV.
By 2021, HarmonyOS had become commonplace on Huawei’s smartphones, transitioning older Android models to the new in-house platform as well. The progression from connected TVs to handsets was a logical one, but replacing Windows, entrenched for decades as the de facto desktop operating system, poses a far greater technological and cultural challenge. Huawei’s unveiling of a yet-to-be-named laptop running HarmonyOS 5—sometimes referred to as HarmonyOS Next—marks, for the first time, a direct challenge to Microsoft’s hold on the personal computing market, albeit initially in China.
Early indications suggest this strategy is resonating within China. HarmonyOS-powered smartphones have reportedly overtaken Apple’s iPhones in domestic market share, snagging a robust 19% compared to Apple’s 17% last quarter. Multiple industry analysts confirm this trend, emphasizing that the creation of a tightly integrated software ecosystem may further accelerate customers’ willingness to adopt HarmonyOS not only on their phones but also on laptops and, eventually, desktops.
Nonetheless, the company is clear about the core software proposition. Early demos and official statements confirm that the new HarmonyOS laptops will run a desktop environment designed from the ground up for this purpose, distinct from the mobile or tablet versions previously seen. Among the apps confirmed at launch are WPS Office—a robust, free alternative to Microsoft Office that is widely used and respected within China—and DingTalk, Alibaba’s popular enterprise collaboration suite. These apps, combined with the promise of native support for “thousands” of HarmonyOS mobile applications, could mitigate potential early adopter frustrations stemming from software availability issues.
Still, questions remain about the depth of app support for more specialized, professional software commonly found in fields like engineering, graphic design, scientific research, or advanced media production. Western software vendors—such as Adobe, Autodesk, and many others—do not currently offer native HarmonyOS versions of their programs, nor are they expected to do so in the short term due to ongoing international restrictions. This gap may limit the immediate appeal of HarmonyOS laptops for certain professional segments but is unlikely to be a dealbreaker for mainstream consumers or students.
Independent security researchers are only just beginning to analyze HarmonyOS at the desktop level, and full reviews of its architecture, threat models, and privacy guarantees will undoubtedly continue to emerge over the coming months. Some early technical dives suggest that HarmonyOS is built on a microkernel architecture, enabling better isolation of core system services, which can enhance resistance to certain classes of exploits compared to traditional monolithic kernels like that of Windows or Linux.
However, there are caveats. Critics warn that transparency and code access remain concerns; HarmonyOS’s source code is not as freely auditable as that of mainstream Linux distributions. Additionally, for users outside China, issues of surveillance or government-mandated data access have long been a point of contention when it comes to Chinese software. These conflicting narratives—around Western and Chinese technology alike—underscore the increasingly geopolitical nature of operating system adoption.
Second, the lack of internationally recognized software support will be a barrier for anyone whose work relies on specialized tools. This challenge is compounded by the possibility of ecosystem lock-in: as more device functionality becomes tied to unique HarmonyOS features—particularly those exploiting fast device-to-device communication and cross-platform synchronization—it may be increasingly difficult for users to later migrate to non-Huawei platforms.
Third, while HarmonyOS is primarily a domestic play for now, Huawei’s aspirations likely extend to international markets over time. Here, the company faces not only competitive resistance from Microsoft, Apple, and Google, but also ongoing regulatory and political scrutiny regarding privacy, security, and technology standards.
However, this does not preclude HarmonyOS from becoming a major force within the world’s most populous digital market. Given China’s sheer consumer base and top-down mandate for technological self-sufficiency, HarmonyOS could, within a few years, be powering hundreds of millions of laptops, tablets, and other smart devices—all without recourse to Western software infrastructure. In doing so, it would represent one of the first truly viable alternatives to the Windows-macOS duopoly in computing history, at least at scale.
If HarmonyOS’s desktop push succeeds, the reverberations will be felt not only in China but in other regions contemplating greater independence from global tech giants. Companies in Russia, India, and elsewhere are reportedly watching the HarmonyOS experiment closely, considering their own responses to platform risk and technological dependency.
Source: Tom's Hardware HarmonyOS replacing Windows on Huawei laptops — delivers connectivity across the ecosystem
From Sanctions to Self-Reliance: The Forced Evolution of HarmonyOS
The story begins with U.S. trade restrictions that severely limited Huawei’s access to American software and hardware, including the Microsoft Windows operating system. According to a report by Tom’s Hardware and corroborated by the South China Morning Post, Huawei’s license to use Windows expired in March last year, with no prospect of renewal under current international sanctions. This forced the Chinese tech behemoth’s hand, pushing it to accelerate its investment in HarmonyOS, an operating system whose roots date back to 2012 but which only began to see public deployment in 2019 with the launch of the Honor Vision smart TV.By 2021, HarmonyOS had become commonplace on Huawei’s smartphones, transitioning older Android models to the new in-house platform as well. The progression from connected TVs to handsets was a logical one, but replacing Windows, entrenched for decades as the de facto desktop operating system, poses a far greater technological and cultural challenge. Huawei’s unveiling of a yet-to-be-named laptop running HarmonyOS 5—sometimes referred to as HarmonyOS Next—marks, for the first time, a direct challenge to Microsoft’s hold on the personal computing market, albeit initially in China.
Building a Cohesive Ecosystem: The Apple Model, With a Twist
Huawei’s vision clearly borrows from the playbook of Apple, Inc., whose tightly integrated iOS, iPadOS, and macOS platforms have reigned supreme in offering users a seamless cross-device experience. HarmonyOS’s claim to fame is its ability to power an entire spectrum of consumer electronics: smart TVs, tablets, smartphones, wearables, and now, laptops. This unified approach means development and deployment of new features can, in theory, roll out across device types instantaneously, enhancing Huawei’s capacity for rapid ecosystem advancement.Early indications suggest this strategy is resonating within China. HarmonyOS-powered smartphones have reportedly overtaken Apple’s iPhones in domestic market share, snagging a robust 19% compared to Apple’s 17% last quarter. Multiple industry analysts confirm this trend, emphasizing that the creation of a tightly integrated software ecosystem may further accelerate customers’ willingness to adopt HarmonyOS not only on their phones but also on laptops and, eventually, desktops.
HarmonyOS on Laptops: What We Know Today
Despite the hype, publicly available technical details about the upcoming HarmonyOS-powered laptops remain scarce. Huawei has not disclosed specific CPU support, RAM capacities, or other core hardware specs. Historically, Huawei’s mobile computing lineup has relied predominantly on Intel and AMD processors. Theoretically, laptops equipped with such hardware should be capable of running other operating systems—including Windows, Linux, or dual-boot configurations—if not actively restricted by firmware or HarmonyOS itself.Nonetheless, the company is clear about the core software proposition. Early demos and official statements confirm that the new HarmonyOS laptops will run a desktop environment designed from the ground up for this purpose, distinct from the mobile or tablet versions previously seen. Among the apps confirmed at launch are WPS Office—a robust, free alternative to Microsoft Office that is widely used and respected within China—and DingTalk, Alibaba’s popular enterprise collaboration suite. These apps, combined with the promise of native support for “thousands” of HarmonyOS mobile applications, could mitigate potential early adopter frustrations stemming from software availability issues.
Compatibility and App Ecosystem
One of Windows’ enduring strengths is its immense compatibility with legacy software, peripherals, and development environments. HarmonyOS, in contrast, is still in the early stages of ecosystem maturity. However, Huawei is leveraging its deep integration across devices and existing dominance in China’s app development community to ensure that core productivity and communication apps are available from day one. This includes not only WPS Office and DingTalk, but also key banking, educational, and media apps that are mission-critical to Chinese users and enterprises.Still, questions remain about the depth of app support for more specialized, professional software commonly found in fields like engineering, graphic design, scientific research, or advanced media production. Western software vendors—such as Adobe, Autodesk, and many others—do not currently offer native HarmonyOS versions of their programs, nor are they expected to do so in the short term due to ongoing international restrictions. This gap may limit the immediate appeal of HarmonyOS laptops for certain professional segments but is unlikely to be a dealbreaker for mainstream consumers or students.
Security, Privacy, and Independence: Core Selling Points
Central to Huawei’s pitch is the promise of greater security, data privacy, and digital sovereignty. With U.S. sanctions framed in the context of national security concerns, Huawei has positioned HarmonyOS as an operating system free of foreign oversight. Chinese government agencies and state-owned enterprises have already signaled support for the use of domestic software platforms as a matter of policy, accelerating the move away from Western systems.Independent security researchers are only just beginning to analyze HarmonyOS at the desktop level, and full reviews of its architecture, threat models, and privacy guarantees will undoubtedly continue to emerge over the coming months. Some early technical dives suggest that HarmonyOS is built on a microkernel architecture, enabling better isolation of core system services, which can enhance resistance to certain classes of exploits compared to traditional monolithic kernels like that of Windows or Linux.
However, there are caveats. Critics warn that transparency and code access remain concerns; HarmonyOS’s source code is not as freely auditable as that of mainstream Linux distributions. Additionally, for users outside China, issues of surveillance or government-mandated data access have long been a point of contention when it comes to Chinese software. These conflicting narratives—around Western and Chinese technology alike—underscore the increasingly geopolitical nature of operating system adoption.
Risks and Obstacles: The Hard Road Ahead
While HarmonyOS’s rise highlights Huawei’s ability to swiftly marshal resources and talent, it also reveals a set of formidable challenges. The first is user inertia: Windows remains the default for enterprise productivity, gaming, and countless niche tasks. Even with a strong offering—and assuming no technical barriers to dual-booting or virtualization—many users will be reluctant to abandon familiar workflows, especially in global markets where local software compatibility matters less.Second, the lack of internationally recognized software support will be a barrier for anyone whose work relies on specialized tools. This challenge is compounded by the possibility of ecosystem lock-in: as more device functionality becomes tied to unique HarmonyOS features—particularly those exploiting fast device-to-device communication and cross-platform synchronization—it may be increasingly difficult for users to later migrate to non-Huawei platforms.
Third, while HarmonyOS is primarily a domestic play for now, Huawei’s aspirations likely extend to international markets over time. Here, the company faces not only competitive resistance from Microsoft, Apple, and Google, but also ongoing regulatory and political scrutiny regarding privacy, security, and technology standards.
Opportunities and Strengths: The Case for HarmonyOS
Despite the obstacles, Huawei is uniquely positioned to make the HarmonyOS transition work, at least in its home market:- Device Breadth: Huawei’s hardware ranges from smartphones and wearables to laptops, tablets, TVs, and IoT devices, all of which can run HarmonyOS.
- Ecosystem-First Philosophy: By tightly linking app and account ecosystems, Huawei encourages brand loyalty and offers an integrated experience that could reduce platform churn.
- Government Backing: Policy support from Chinese authorities provides both top-down encouragement for businesses and long-term market protection, effectively guaranteeing early adoption rates.
- Developer Momentum: As more and more Chinese app developers pivot to HarmonyOS, the “app gap” relative to Google Play or Microsoft Store is expected to narrow, especially for everyday productivity, communication, media, and commerce.
- Increased Market Share: In overtaking Apple’s market share in China with HarmonyOS smartphones, Huawei has demonstrated its ability to rapidly convert existing user bases when ecosystem and pricing factors align.
Seamless Connectivity and Cross-Device Innovation
Perhaps the most significant promise of HarmonyOS is its potential for frictionless interoperability. Early HarmonyOS devices, particularly in the smart home and mobile arenas, have already demonstrated “super device” functionality, allowing users to seamlessly transfer files, stream media, or execute tasks across screens with minimal setup. Extending this to the laptop form factor should, if executed well, make for an experience akin to Apple’s Handoff or AirDrop—but with deeper integration across even more device categories, including smart appliances, automotive systems, and smart city infrastructure.The International View: Will HarmonyOS Succeed Outside China?
At present, HarmonyOS’s prospects for significant penetration outside China remain limited. Western markets are likely to remain skeptical, both due to entrenched brand loyalty (particularly towards Windows and macOS) and lingering concerns about privacy, security, and political entanglements. Software compatibility with established international standards remains a sticking point; unless Huawei or third-party developers invest heavily in app porting or emulation, adoption outside China will continue to lag.However, this does not preclude HarmonyOS from becoming a major force within the world’s most populous digital market. Given China’s sheer consumer base and top-down mandate for technological self-sufficiency, HarmonyOS could, within a few years, be powering hundreds of millions of laptops, tablets, and other smart devices—all without recourse to Western software infrastructure. In doing so, it would represent one of the first truly viable alternatives to the Windows-macOS duopoly in computing history, at least at scale.
Looking Ahead: The Future of HarmonyOS and Digital Sovereignty
Huawei’s HarmonyOS campaign is more than a technical or commercial maneuver; it is emblematic of broader shifts in global technology supply chains and the rising importance of digital sovereignty. The move away from Western platforms isn’t purely a matter of politics or sanctions. It reflects a realignment in the relationship between governments, corporations, and consumers—a desire for control over core technology, protection of domestic industries, and assurance that local values and priorities are embedded in digital infrastructure.If HarmonyOS’s desktop push succeeds, the reverberations will be felt not only in China but in other regions contemplating greater independence from global tech giants. Companies in Russia, India, and elsewhere are reportedly watching the HarmonyOS experiment closely, considering their own responses to platform risk and technological dependency.
Critical Takeaways
- For Chinese consumers: HarmonyOS laptops represent a compelling, ecosystem-driven alternative to Windows-powered devices, especially for those prioritizing local language support, domestic app ecosystems, and integration with other Huawei hardware.
- For enterprises: The move signals an opportunity for reduced licensing fees, enhanced data sovereignty, and greater compliance with Chinese regulatory mandates—but at the cost of temporarily diminished access to established international productivity and creative software.
- For global tech watchers: HarmonyOS’s march onto laptops is a landmark event, with potential to reshape the operating system market—at least within “walled garden” markets—and accelerate broader trends toward digital self-reliance.
Conclusion
HarmonyOS replacing Windows on Huawei laptops is not merely a workaround imposed by external constraints; it is a pivot towards long-term ecosystem control, customer integration, and digital independence. While significant hurdles remain—particularly around software compatibility, international trust, and cross-border standards—the foundations laid by HarmonyOS’s success in smartphones, coupled with aggressive ecosystem-first innovation, mean this is a watershed moment for China’s domestic tech industry. Whether HarmonyOS’s model of seamless device connectivity, data sovereignty, and ecosystem loyalty will extend beyond the world’s largest market remains to be seen—but its domestic impact is already profound, and its global implications impossible to ignore.Source: Tom's Hardware HarmonyOS replacing Windows on Huawei laptops — delivers connectivity across the ecosystem