Huawei to Debut HarmonyOS PC on May 19

But can it compete with the dominance of Windows?

by Louis Eriakha

Updated May 12, 2025

Huawei’s rocky relationship with the U.S. has reshaped its entire tech ecosystem. After sanctions in 2019 cut off access to U.S. companies and products like Google and Android, Huawei had no choice but to develop its operating system, HarmonyOS.

Fast-forward to today, and that gamble is paying off. HarmonyOS-powered smartphones have overtaken Apple’s iPhones in China, grabbing 19% of the market last quarter compared to Apple’s 17%. But smartphones were just the start.

This year, Huawei’s licence to use Microsoft Windows on its PCs expired. Normally, it could have renewed, but because Huawei remains blacklisted in the U.S., it’s barred from doing business with American firms, including Microsoft. The only reason that its laptops kept shipping with Windows until now was due to existing contracts with these companies. With that safety net gone, Huawei needed a new plan—and fast.

Enter HarmonyOS PC.

On May 8, Huawei officially launched HarmonyOS for desktops, designed to go head-to-head with Windows. The OS, in development for over a decade, is Huawei’s boldest push yet toward tech independence. It will debut at the Huawei Developer Conference (HDC 2025) in June and promises enhanced performance, security, and seamless multi-device collaboration. Huawei claims it supports 2,000+ apps and 1,000+ external devices, with Ark graphics for slick visuals, StarShield for data security, and Nearlink tech for easy device pairing.

HarmonyOS PC is designed to bring Huawei’s Apple-like ecosystem full circle. Already, devices like the Mate 60 series smartphones, MatePad tablets, and Aito electric vehicles (Huawei’s car brand) run HarmonyOS. Now, with PCs in the mix, Huawei aims for true cross-device integration, things like sharing your keyboard and mouse across devices, continuing apps between phone and PC, and streamlined office work.

Huawei previously explored Linux as a fallback OS for laptops, but it was always a stopgap. Linux couldn’t offer the fully integrated experience Huawei wanted. HarmonyOS, on the other hand, gives Huawei total control and a chance to build something of its own.

The first HarmonyOS-powered laptop is expected on May 19, with HarmonyOS 6 launching soon after. As AI-powered PCs gain traction, with Canalys predicting they’ll account for 40% of global shipments by next year, Huawei is positioning HarmonyOS as a serious player.

The big question now is: Can HarmonyOS break out beyond China and truly rival Windows? Huawei’s not playing defence anymore, it’s aiming for the top.