HarmonyOS NEXT

HarmonyOS NEXT (Chinese: 鸿蒙星河版; pinyin: Hóngméng Xīnghébǎn) is a proprietary distributed operating system that succeeded the similarly named HarmonyOS, with the main difference that the "Next" operating system was developed by Huawei to support only HarmonyOS native apps. HarmonyOS NEXT is primarily aimed at software and hardware developers that deal directly with Huawei. Unlike Android-based HarmonyOS versions 1 to 4 (2019-2024) and the global market EMUI operating system, the Next version (starting with HarmonyOS Next 5) does not include the Android AOSP core and is incompatible with Android applications.

HarmonyOS NEXT both discards the common Unix-like Linux kernel and replaces the previous multikernel system with its own bespoke HarmonyOS microkernel. The rich execution environment (REE) version of the HarmonyOS microkernel is placed at its core, with a single framework as kernel mode. The operating system shares lineage with the lightweight LiteOS real-time operating system for resource-constrained devices like smart wearables and IoT products.

On August 4, 2023, at Huawei Developers Conference 2023 (HDC), Huawei officially announced HarmonyOS NEXT, the next version of HarmonyOS, which supports only native APP apps via Ark Compiler and native APIs in the HarmonyOS SDK. The kernel of HarmonyOS NEXT no longer includes the compatibility layer of AOSP framework with Android libraries from EMUI in the user space and cannot run Android apk apps natively, as was the case with the initial dual-framework HarmonyOS.

The first internal preview version of the system was revealed on August 4, 2023, and the first preview version was released to registered public developers on January 18, 2024. The first devices tested with the developer preview version were the Mate 60, Mate 60 Pro and Mate X5 phones.

On October 22, 2024, HarmonyOS 5.0.0 was officially launched as the "HarmonyOS NEXT 5" brand, after the public beta was released on October 8, 2024. The first device to feature HarmonyOS NEXT at sale was the Huawei Mate 70, which went on sale in China in November 2024. By installing the all-new operating system on a newly launched device, Huawei created a new competitor to Android and iOS. Future Huawei devices are to be sold mainly with HarmonyOS NEXT, creating a third player in the market for smartphone operating systems worldwide.

On May 8, 2025, a HarmonyOS computer running the HarmonyOS 5 operating system made its debut in Shenzhen, following the expiration of Huawei's Microsoft Windows licence in March.

The HarmonyOS Kernel (HongMeng Kernel), sometimes referred to as the Harmony kernel, is a computer operating system (OS) kernel developed by Huawei since August 2023. It is used in the HarmonyOS 5 version of the proprietary HarmonyOS distributed operating system, replacing previous versions that utilized the AOSP compatibility layer, the Linux kernel, and the LiteOS kernel.

The HarmonyOS Kernel utilizes a microkernel architecture, which aims to improve security and performance by isolating critical components of the system.

The HarmonyOS kernel is a microkernel at rich executed environment level for software outside hardware-based HarmonyOS TEE kernel, called tee_OS, enabling greater modularity and larger portions of the OS to benefit from memory protection at kernel mode. HarmonyOS NEXT maintains the speed of a monolithic Linux kernel while incorporating a modular OpenHarmony system. It achieves compatibility through an abstraction layer that supports POSIX APIs and integrates musl-libc for advanced devices. This design allows HarmonyOS NEXT to efficiently handle critical tasks in user mode within its commercial distribution. The kernel has Linux ABI compatibility by placing an ABI-compatible shim in IC0 (kernel space) with support for OpenHarmony and AOSP complex framework hardware migration deployments, which redirects Linux system calls to IPC and serves as a central repository for global state. The kernel also reuses Linux drivers through driver containers, which balances between compatibility and critical path performance, while having control plane and data plane separation to improve performance. HarmonyOS kernel capabilities in context switching, network, application startup time, load, frame loss, interrupt latency, etc., and also performance optimised in smart routers and smart vehicles with real time capabilities functions.

As of October 23, 2024^[update], HarmonyOS kernel runs on ARM64 devices on HarmonyOS 5.0.0 Release (Beta) version with current version 1.9.3.B010.

HarmonyOS NEXT is designed with a hybrid approach, combining the efficiency of a monolithic Linux kernel with modular elements from OpenHarmony. By utilizing a kernel abstraction layer, it ensures compatibility while maintaining performance optimization.

The system integrates a POSIX-compliant compatibility layer, enabling smoother interoperability with third-party applications. Furthermore, musl-libc is incorporated to support more advanced devices, facilitating optimized performance for critical user-mode tasks.

This kernel design allows HarmonyOS NEXT to handle complex computational tasks effectively while remaining lightweight for various device categories. Its balance between modularity and speed ensures stable operations in both consumer electronics and industrial applications.

The kernel features Address tokens that connects the Access token manager that is an essential component in OpenHarmony-based distributed operating systems, responsible for unified app permission management based on access tokens. Access tokens serve as identifiers for apps, containing information such as app ID, user ID, app privilege level (APL), and app permissions. By default, apps can access limited system resources. ATM ensures controlled access to sensitive functionalities which combines both RBAC and CBAC models as a hybrid ACL model.

• Full-stack, self-developed HarmonyOS NEXT core operating system integrated that includes:
  • Native AI LLM model: PanGu-Σ
  • Native Generative AI framework: MindSpore
  • Native Integrated Development Environment: DevEco Studio IDE and DevEco Testing
  • Native Design system: HarmonyOS Design
  • Native Programming framework: ArkUI / ArkUI-X (cross-platform)
  • NativeCompiler & Runtime: Ark Compiler, BiSheng Compiler and Ark Runtime
  • Native File system: EROFS/HMDFS distributed file system
• Native in-house Cangjie programming language alongside ArkTS as primary programming languages support for native HarmonyOS system and kernel
• AOSP system and Linux kernel of EMUI system userland on System Service Layer removed from native compatibility on phones and tablets alongside some other devices via native OpenHarmony user mode.
• Primary HarmonyOS native app file package, APP for HarmonyOS apps only
• Native Package management subsystem
• Refined and primary native in-house Ark Engine multimedia API graphics stack system that comes with ArkGraphics 2D and ArkGraphics 3D with Cangjie support across all devices with developer access
• Linux and LiteOS RTOS base on wearables, phones, tablets on System Service Layer replaced with self-developed REE version of HarmonyOS kernel, Microkernel architecture.
• API 10, 11 features bundled
• New API 12 features
• HarmonyOS NEXT SDK with previous classic HarmonyOS SDK API levels, alongside full standard OpenHarmony SDK development kit access support conglomerated in a complete and comprehensive in-house HarmonyOS SDK API 12, in a form of full development kit.
• PC mode when keyboard used on MatePads and phone docked
• Native Generative Edge AI computing API system features for Edge Computing
• Native Generative AI and Multimodal learning LLM Voice Assistant Celia/XiaoYi [China & Global] - Powered by Huawei Pangu AI model, supports Chinese and English with Celia Proactive Suggestions and Developers can add Celia Voice services to their atomic services improvements and applications.
• OpenHarmony versioning core baseline of HarmonyOS NEXT system versioning underlining the HarmonyOS operating system baseline versioning
• OpenHarmony user mode contains the kernel abstract layer that wraps the Linux syscall compatible layer via POSIX compatible, third-party musl from LiteOS lineage for HarmonyOS NEXT system kernel, in-house Microkernel.
• OpenHarmony Device Connector (HDC) native support, a command line tool for connecting and debugging HarmonyOS devices as well as OpenHarmony devices in interoperability, including self debugging on PC-side with native toolchain system. Replaces Android Debug Bridge on classic dual-framework OpenHarmony L3-L5 based EMUI and HarmonyOS AOSP userland base.
• Exclusive to in-house Kirin and HiSilicon chips optimisation and adaptation alongside selected Snapdragon legacy chips
• New visual graphical interfaces based on Neumorphism and Glassmorphism design language trend, visual elements on HarmonyOS Design language system for Spatial computing
• Modified native Task Switcher interface for PC, phones, tablets and foldables
• ArkData powered by GaussDB for ArkTS HarmonyOS native development
• New native AppGallery app designed for installation of native HarmonyOS apps only.
• WebView component based on the ArkWeb software engine.
• Native HMS Core integration & push API
• New Permission application system with Capability-based security-like REE kernel features, alongside native OpenHarmony-based Access token manager implements unified app permission management on Core File Kit, departure from previous versions of HarmonyOS with AOSP framework
• Advanced native multitasking and Task switching system
• Continuity of applications between devices via native Distributed Package Management Service (DBMS) from Distribution Service Kit API.
• Spatial computing support
• Native Spatial Audio support in Audio Kit API
• Harmony Intelligence backend stack embedded across the OS, with PanGu 5.0 LLM with Embedded variant, MindSpore AI framework with Neural Network Runtime API kit with smarter Celia virtual assistant.
• New Celia UI call from, holding gesture-based navigation bar to enlarge. Drag information into clipboard with text, photo, docs to Celia navigation bar for analyzing.
• Collaboration between apps with the New distributed soft bus, App hop, Cross devices gallery
• New upgraded Live Window with Lockscreen enhancements for native HarmonyOS apps integration, like delivery info, maps integrated with native Petal Maps APIs and third party mapping APIs technologies etc.
• Native Petal Maps includes Sequential Planning with Map Mode, Semi Modal
• Upgraded Desktop Mode for MatePad tablets and new Desktop PC systems for Matebook and MateStation PCs
• New split-screen interface
• New boot animation screen of HarmonyOS with OpenHarmony compatibility label of "Huawei" boot image
• 30% performance boosts, 10.7% native custom HarmonyOS kernel performance boost compared former Linux kernel
• OpenHarmony compatibility test for existing and new devices
• 5.5G connectivity support with existing 5G, 4G in native telephony stack of OpenHarmony-based HarmonyOS NEXT
• Bluetooth BLE 6.0 & NearLink 2.0 support
• China local initial launch

Pan Jiaofeng, president of the Institute of Science and Technology Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, stated in October 2024 that HarmonyOS NEXT had "achieved complete independent research and development across the entire chain and process, from the kernel to the database, programming language, and development environment." He highlighted the significant role of the operating system in the development of China's digital economy and digital transformation.

The Hong-Kong-based newspaper Ta Kung Pao commented in October 2024 that HarmonyOS NEXT had "essentially broken the United States' decades-long technological monopoly and demonstrated to the world China's unwavering commitment to the path of independent innovation."

HarmonyOS NEXT was opened for public testing in October 2024. While some applications exhibited smoother performance compared to previous versions, others experienced issues such as lag or crashes. Some application vendors advised users to exercise caution when upgrading.

Shanghai-based semiconductor analyst Li Tongyu noted at the launch that, although Huawei had secured adaptations from many developers, "most of these applications are demo versions with only basic core functionalities."

Zhu Yuezhong, an assistant professor at Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology and an observer of Taiwan's semiconductor industry, remarked that, despite HarmonyOS moving away from Android's source code, at launch in October 2024 "the number of corresponding applications remains a concern."

The 21st Century Business Herald remarked in October 2024 that many niche or "long-tail" applications had yet to be migrated or adapted to the new system.

In October 2024, analyst Zhuo Weian commented that, although Apple Inc. had set a precedent with its closed ecosystem, "HarmonyOS's similar model presents significant challenges for developers accustomed to the open Android ecosystem." He also noted that expanding HarmonyOS to the global market was considered difficult.

In contrast, the newspaper Ta Kung Pao opined in October 2024 that Huawei was "actively collaborating with global developers and partners, laying the groundwork for HarmonyOS's global expansion."

• HarmonyOS
• OpenHarmony
• EulerOS
• LiteOS
• DevEco Studio

• Official website