Huawei's New Phones: A Mix of Android and HarmonyOS

Huawei has just revealed its latest smartphones, the Mate 70 series and the Mate X6, with a twist. Despite the move to HarmonyOS Next, these new devices are still using Android, at least for now. The Mate 70 Pro comes with a spectral imaging sensor for better photo colors and shadows. Meanwhile, the Mate X6 has improved cameras, stronger water resistance, and a better hinge. HarmonyOS Next, announced late last year, won't support Android apps, which is a big change. As of September, over 10, 000 apps were ready for this new platform. But don't expect the Mate 70 or Mate X6 to run HarmonyOS Next right away. Some Mate X6 units might, but both will initially run HarmonyOS 4. 3, which is still based on Android. Future updates will switch to the new Android-free version. Huawei's consumer business head, Richard Yu, said these devices can operate on the new OS, but they won't run it at launch. He also mentioned that the Mate 70 series will offer a choice between HarmonyOS 4. 3 and HarmonyOS Next 5. 0, supporting 100, 000 apps in the coming months. Starting in 2025, all new Huawei releases will run HarmonyOS Next, making this likely the last launch with Android-based devices. However, Huawei hasn't revealed all the specs due to the US ban, but it's believed they use the Kirin 9100 chipset made in China.