Huawei’s new Android-free mobile operating system is here

By Bryan M. Wolfe Published October 23, 2024

huaweis android free harmonyos next is here nexthero — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Huawei has announced a significant upgrade to its HarmonyOS operating system. HarmonyOS NEXT is entirely free of Android and, as such, doesn’t support Android-based apps. According to Android Headlines, the OS is based on the open-source OpenHarmony project.

It will launch first in China, but is expected to be available elsewhere eventually. HarmonyOS NEXT will remind many of the company’s original HarmonyOS, but there are key differences, as Android Headlines notes. These include a refreshed lock screen that’s much flatter with new customization options. There’s also a redesigned control center and faster animations. The home screen, however, looks very similar to HarmonyOS.

HarmonyOS NEXT — Huawei

HarmonyOS NEXT incorporates system-level AI capabilities based on the Pangu large language model. Huawei has also developed a new security system called “Star Shield” that provides system-level protection for devices running HarmonyOS NEXT.

Recommended Videos

In announcing the new OS, Huawei Consumer Business Group Chairman Richard Yu said that 15,000 apps and services are now part of the HarmonyOS NEXT ecosystem.

The U.S. has heavy restrictions on Huawei products, which is one of the reasons HarmonyOS NEXT has been created as Android-free. Though Huawei products aren’t entirely banned from being purchased by consumers in the U.S., they are extremely hard to find. Additionally, the U.S. government has banned using Huawei products at the federal level over national security concerns.

HarmonyOS NEXT is currently in public beta in China. It is available for the Huawei Pura 70 series, Huawei Pocket 2, and Huawei MatePad Pro 11 (2024).

In recent months, Huawei has announced several new products, including new Android-based tablets like the MatePad Pro 12.2 and MatePad 12 X. New smartwatches have also been introduced recently.

Topics

Tech News

Mobile and A/V Freelancer

Bryan M. Wolfe has over a decade of experience as a technology writer. He writes about mobile.

Mobile

T-Mobile’s handing out free lines to its most loyal customers

T-Mobile ad with woman on a bike.

T-Mobile has frustrated many customers by announcing price increases for long-time users. However, the company now offers a limited-time deal where specific customers can receive a free line. Before getting too excited, it's important to review the details carefully.

As The Mobile Report reported over the weekend, the No. 3 carrier in the U.S. is offering a free line to customers who have been with the company since at least March 10, 2015.

Mobile

The Google Pixel 9a is here with a startling new look

A promotional image showing someone looking at the Google Pixel 9a.

The Google Pixel 9a is here and it has a brand new look, some new features, a tempting price, and a very tough time ahead of it. The curvy shape of the Google Pixel 8a has gone, replaced by a flat rear panel and flat sides. Not only that, but the iconic Pixel visor-style camera module has disappeared too, and the two cameras have been integrated into the back of the phone. That’s right, there’s no camera bump at all, making it look very unusual in 2025.

Whether you already miss the best design Google has ever come up with on its phones will be down to your personal taste, but if you get the Pixel 9a in the right color, it’ll still make a statement. Along with the ordinary Porcelain and Obsidian (white and black to you and me) models, there are two eye-catching versions: the purple Iris and the red-pink Peony. The Pixel 9a has an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, the rear is made from plastic, and the chassis is aluminum.

Computing

Mobile-based free VR tool is helping people beat speech anxiety

Person wearing a VR kit for speech training.

Virtual Reality was once considered a niche for video games, but over the years, it has found application in many areas. From finding a place in medical education and paving the way for immersive concerts to helping teens and adults deal with psychological distress, the applications of VR are now an ever-expanding domain.
The latest VR innovation comes from the University of Cambridge, and it aims to help people overcome speech anxiety and the fear of public speaking. The institution’s Immersive Technology Lab has launched a free VR training platform that focuses on accessibility and provides expert-curated course material.
Terrified of public speaking? This Cambridge VR solution could eliminate your fear
To that end, the team has created a system that doesn’t necessarily rely on an expensive VR headset. Instead, all it needs is the smartphone in your pocket to provide an immersive experience, fitted atop a mounting kit that can cost as little as $20 a pop.
The training material, on the other hand, is freely available via a website to anyone across the world. Moreover, it is also one of the first products of its kind with a dual-compatible VR player architecture, which means it works just fine with iPhones and Android devices.

“The platform has been built in such a way that whether a participant is using the latest standalone VR headset or an old smartphone inserted into a device mount, they will get the same content and the same experience,” says the team.
The idea is not too different from the Google Cardboard, which cost $15 roughly a decade ago and offered a low-cost route to experiencing VR content by using one’s smartphone. But unlike Google’s approach, we have now entered a market phase where “converter kits” are a lot more polished and use higher quality materials.