In a stunning turn of events, Huawei, a Chinese tech giant at the center of US-China tensions, has announced that over 900 million smartphones now use its in-house operating system Harmony OS. Speaking at a developer forum, Richard Yu, chairman of Huawei’s consumer business group, touted the company’s achievement, stating, “We have done in 10 years what our European and American counterparts have done in more than 30 years, and have achieved independent control of the core technology of the operating system.”
Harmony OS, known as “Hongmeng” in Chinese, was introduced in 2019 following Huawei’s placement on a US trade blacklist. This blacklist restricted American firms from supplying tech and software to Huawei without a license, leading to challenges for the company’s smartphone ambitions. Despite these setbacks, Huawei has seen a remarkable resurgence, with sales of flagship smartphones rising by 72% in the first five months of 2024 compared to the previous year.
Notably, Huawei has expanded its reach beyond smartphones, venturing into new areas such as electric vehicles and artificial intelligence. The company’s AI framework, powered by its Ascend processors, has been recognized for its effectiveness in training large language models. Additionally, Huawei’s net profit skyrocketed by 564% to $2.71 billion in the first quarter, fueled by revenue growth in its consumer segment and new businesses like smart car components.
The success of Huawei’s smartphones has had a direct impact on Apple, with data from Counterpoint Research showing a shift in market share. Apple, which led China’s smartphone market with nearly 20% share in the first quarter of 2023, dropped to third place in the first three months of this year. Meanwhile, Huawei’s market share has surged to 15.5%, up from 9.3% in 2023.
Despite facing challenges and restrictions, Huawei’s remarkable comeback in the tech industry is evident through its innovative approaches and expanding market presence. The company’s resurgence serves as a testament to its resilience and determination to reclaim its position at the top of the industry.
