Huawei Technologies has officially launched its first laptops powered by its in-house Harmony operating system. The MateBook Fold and MateBook Pro, unveiled on Monday, run on HarmonyOS 5, marking a major milestone for the Chinese tech giant as it intensifies its efforts to reduce reliance on Western technology.
Originally developed in 2015 and first deployed on Huawei smartphones in 2019, HarmonyOS was conceived as a multi-platform operating system capable of powering a wide range of devices from smartwatches to smart TVs. The release of HarmonyOS 5 on laptops is Huawei’s most ambitious step yet, signaling a strategic push to break into a market long dominated by Microsoft’s Windows and Apple’s macOS.
The launch comes at a time when Huawei faces ongoing U.S. sanctions restricting access to key semiconductor technologies. These constraints have spurred the company and China at largeto invest heavily in self-reliance, especially in critical areas such as software and chip development. The Harmony-powered MateBooks not only represent a technological milestone but also serve as a statement of resilience amid geopolitical tensions.
Both the MateBook Fold and MateBook Pro offer premium hardware and are designed to appeal to both business professionals and tech-savvy consumers. Huawei claims that HarmonyOS 5 provides a seamless, secure, and highly integrated user experience, particularly well-suited for the company’s growing ecosystem of connected devices.
Despite China’s dominance in hardware manufacturing, its software ecosystem has historically lagged behind. With HarmonyOS making inroads into the PC market, Huawei hopes to offer a compelling alternative to the duopoly of Microsoft and Apple. However, global adoption remains a significant hurdle, given the entrenched user bases and software compatibility issues surrounding established operating systems.
Still, Huawei’s foray into Harmony-powered computing could signal the beginning of a new era in the global tech landscape one where digital sovereignty and ecosystem independence become key strategic priorities. As Huawei continues to innovate under pressure, the world will be watching to see if HarmonyOS can truly rival the titans of Silicon Valley.
