HarmonyOS NEXT Review: Can Huawei's "Pure-Blood" OS Challenge iOS?

YOUSSEF MOSSTAKIM
HarmonyOS NEXT Review: Can Huawei's "Pure-Blood" OS Challenge iOS?
HarmonyOS NEXT Review: Can Huawei's "Pure-Blood" OS Challenge iOS?

HarmonyOS NEXT Review: Can Huawei's "Pure-Blood" OS Challenge iOS?

For years, the mobile world has been a duopoly, a story of two American giants: Google's Android and Apple's iOS. But in 2025, a third contender has finally entered the global arena in earnest. Born from necessity and fueled by national ambition, Huawei's HarmonyOS NEXT is here. This is not just another "skin" on top of Android; it is what Huawei calls a "pure-blood" operating system, built from the ground up with no Android code whatsoever. It represents one of the biggest and most audacious bets in tech history. But the critical question remains: is it any good? Can it truly challenge the polished, dominant ecosystem of Apple's iOS?

What is "Pure-Blood" HarmonyOS?

Previous versions of HarmonyOS still maintained a layer of compatibility with the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) to run Android apps. HarmonyOS NEXT completely severs that tie. It does not use the Linux kernel like Android, but instead uses Huawei's own microkernel. This means it cannot run Android apps natively. All apps for the new OS must be built specifically for the HarmonyOS platform. It's a bold move that completely resets Huawei's app ecosystem, but one the company believes is necessary to achieve true independence and unlock a new level of performance and security.

The User Experience: Smooth, Fast, and Deeply Integrated

Our in-depth testing on the latest Huawei Pura series smartphone reveals an operating system that is impressively fluid and responsive. The performance is, in many cases, visibly smoother than its Android-based predecessors. Huawei has leveraged its full control over the hardware and software stack—much like Apple—to achieve a high degree of optimization.

The standout feature is the "Super Device" ecosystem integration. The ability to seamlessly drag and drop files between a Huawei phone, tablet, and laptop, or to use a phone's camera as the webcam for a PC, is incredibly polished and intuitive. The integration between devices feels even deeper and more effortless than Apple's Continuity in some respects. The entire UI is designed around a "card-based" system, offering glanceable widgets and services that feel modern and efficient.

The Achilles' Heel: The App Ecosystem

This is the make-or-break challenge for HarmonyOS NEXT. By abandoning Android compatibility, Huawei is betting that it can convince developers—both in China and globally— to build native apps for its new platform. In China, the effort has been a resounding success. Major Chinese apps for banking, social media (like WeChat), and shopping have all launched native HarmonyOS versions, thanks to a massive push from Huawei.

However, the international picture is far more challenging. While the number of global apps is growing, many key Western services, particularly those from Google (YouTube, Gmail, Google Maps), are still absent. For a user in the USA or UK, the lack of these core applications remains the single biggest barrier to adoption. Huawei is working to fill these gaps with its own alternatives and web-based solutions, but it's a steep uphill battle.

The Verdict: Can It Challenge iOS?

After extensive testing, the answer is a complex one. In terms of raw performance, UI fluidity, and hardware/software integration, HarmonyOS NEXT is a legitimate and impressive competitor to iOS. It is a world-class operating system that proves Huawei is a formidable engineering powerhouse.

  • For users in China: Yes, it is already a powerful and viable alternative to both iOS and Android.
  • For users in the USA and Europe: The challenge is the app gap. Until a critical mass of essential Western applications is available on its AppGallery, HarmonyOS NEXT will remain a choice for tech enthusiasts and those willing to live outside the Google ecosystem.

Conclusion: A New Power Has Risen

HarmonyOS NEXT is a monumental achievement. It is the first new, mainstream mobile operating system in over a decade to pose a credible threat to the existing duopoly. While its international success is far from guaranteed and will depend entirely on its ability to attract global developers, it has undeniably changed the conversation. The mobile OS world is no longer a two-horse race. A new power has risen in the East, and Apple and Google are now forced to pay very close attention.