The new Mate 70 smartphone, which starts at 5,499 yuan ($760), features the HarmonyOS Next operating system, which no longer supports Android-based apps.
The Mate 70 represents a “critical step” in Huawei’s software evolution, Lucas Zhong, research analyst at Canalys, told CNN.
The shift away from the Android ecosystem “will be essential for Huawei to maintain momentum in the premium segment, solidify consumer loyalty, and attract potential platform switchers,” he said.
Major Chinese tech companies have reportedly gotten on board, hiring developers to create compatible apps.
“If no one uses it, no matter how advanced the operating system is, it will have no value,” he said, according to a Wechat post.
Persons:
” Richard Yu, Lucas Zhong, ”, Canalys, Eric Xu, Xu, Mengmeng Zhang
Organizations:
Hong Kong CNN, Huawei, Washington, CNN, Counterpoint Research
Locations:
China, Hong Kong, United States