TECH

Huawei Unveils HarmonyOS PCs in Challenge to Windows–MacOS Duopoly

Published: May. 20, 2025 7:14 a.m. GMT+8

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A MateBook X Pro laptop on display at a Huawei’s flagship store in Shenzhen. Photo: Bloomberg

Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. unveiled its first personal computers Monday in Chengdu, with machines powered by the company’s self-developed chips and HarmonyOS operating system in a direct challenge to the long-standing dominance of Windows-Intel (Wintel) and Apple’s macOS technology.

The MateBook Fold, priced from 23,999 yuan ($3,328), features an 18-inch foldable screen and a split keyboard, while the lighter MateBook Pro, starting at 7,999 yuan, follows a more conventional laptop design with a 14.2-inch display. Huawei did not disclose the specific chip used in either model, but industry observers believe the devices are equipped with the company’s Kirin X90 processor built on an Arm architecture.

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Huawei launched its first PCs powered by in-house chips and HarmonyOS, bypassing Windows and Intel after U.S. export restrictions.
The MateBook Fold starts at 23,999 yuan ($3,328) and the MateBook Pro at 7,999 yuan, both believed to use Kirin X90 processors.
HarmonyOS, now China’s second-largest mobile OS by market share (17% in Q1 2024), supports 1,000+ PC apps and connects over 1 billion devices.

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Who’s Who

Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.: Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. is a Chinese tech giant that recently launched its first personal computers featuring self-developed chips and the HarmonyOS operating system, challenging Windows-Intel and Apple’s macOS dominance. Amid escalating U.S. export restrictions, Huawei accelerated its shift to localized hardware and software. HarmonyOS now powers over 1 billion devices and has attracted millions of developers, becoming China’s second-largest mobile OS by market share, according to Counterpoint Research.

Microsoft Corporation: According to the article, Microsoft Corporation’s Windows operating system previously powered Huawei’s personal computers, but Huawei’s license for Microsoft Windows expired in March 2024. This change, along with tightened U.S. export restrictions, accelerated Huawei’s move toward its own self-developed chips and HarmonyOS, ending reliance on Microsoft’s software for its new PC lineup. Microsoft’s software, particularly Windows, has long dominated the global desktop market.

Intel Corporation: According to the article, Intel Corporation is an American chipmaker whose export permissions to Huawei were revoked in May due to tightening U.S. export restrictions. This development, along with expired Microsoft Windows licenses and blocked Qualcomm exports, has accelerated Huawei's transition to using its self-developed chips and HarmonyOS operating system in its personal computers, bypassing traditional reliance on Intel technology.

Qualcomm Incorporated: According to the article, in May, American chipmakers including Qualcomm had their export permissions revoked, restricting them from supplying technology and products to Huawei. This move was part of broader U.S. export restrictions that have accelerated Huawei’s efforts toward developing fully localized PC hardware and software solutions.

Apple Inc.: Apple Inc.’s macOS technology is mentioned as a key competitor to Huawei’s new HarmonyOS-powered PCs, which are positioned as direct challengers to both Apple’s macOS and the Windows-Intel (Wintel) ecosystem. The article notes that, in China’s smartphone market, Huawei’s HarmonyOS has surpassed Apple’s iOS in market share, with HarmonyOS at 17% and iOS at 16% in the first quarter of 2024.

WPS Office: WPS Office is a popular productivity application suite supported by Huawei’s HarmonyOS PCs. It is included among the over 1,000 apps already compatible with the new HarmonyOS laptops, and is specifically mentioned as one of the key productivity platforms available for users, highlighting Huawei’s effort to provide essential office software on its self-developed operating system.

Feishu (Lark): According to the article, Feishu (also known as Lark) is one of the popular productivity platforms now supported on Huawei’s HarmonyOS PCs. HarmonyOS has expanded to support over 1,000 apps, including Feishu, enabling users to access collaborative and productivity tools within Huawei’s growing PC software ecosystem.

DingTalk: According to the article, DingTalk is one of the popular productivity and entertainment platforms supported by Huawei’s HarmonyOS PCs. HarmonyOS now enables over 1,000 apps, and DingTalk is mentioned as an example of an application compatible with the new Huawei personal computers, supporting desktop use for office and collaboration tasks.

QQ Music: According to the article, QQ Music is one of the popular productivity and entertainment platforms now supported by Huawei’s HarmonyOS PCs. This means users can access and use QQ Music on the new HarmonyOS-powered personal computers launched by Huawei.

Counterpoint Research: According to the article, Counterpoint Research is cited as a source for market share data. It reports that HarmonyOS accounted for 17% of China’s smartphone shipments in the first quarter of 2024, surpassing iOS’s 16%, while Android led with 68%.

AI generated, for reference only