Huawei launches first HarmonyOS laptops to challenge Windows and MacOS

Huawei has just launched its first laptops running its own HarmonyOS, marking its biggest move yet to break free from Western tech stacks and chip restrictions. The MateBook Pro and foldable MateBook Fold Ultimate Design, revealed Monday in Chengdu, are Huawei’s first PCs shipping without Microsoft Windows or Apple’s macOS.

This launch isn’t a tweak—it’s a full reset. And it’s happening while the U.S. continues to tighten its grip on chip exports to Huawei.

Huawei Unveils First Laptops Powered by Home-Grown HarmonyOS

The launch of MateBook Pro and foldable MateBook Fold Ultimate Design isn’t just about launching new hardware—it’s Huawei doubling down on building a self-contained ecosystem that doesn’t need Microsoft or Apple.

Pushing Past Sanctions, One OS at a Time

Huawei has been locked in a standoff with the U.S. government since 2019, when sanctions cut off access to critical tech from Intel, Microsoft, and Qualcomm. Earlier this year, its Windows license expired. That was the final push. Now, HarmonyOS is at the center of the company’s plan to control its software and hardware from top to bottom.

Huawei has launched 2 laptops powered by its self-developed HarmonyOS operating system.

China has made its debut in breaking the duopoly of Microsoft’s Windows and Apple’s macOS. pic.twitter.com/JdT64z4pJB

— Li Zexin (@XH_Lee23) May 19, 2025

The MateBook Pro and MateBook Fold run HarmonyOS 5—the latest version of the system Huawei started developing back in 2015. It first showed up in smartphones in 2019. Laptop prototypes kicked off in 2021. Today’s models reflect years of behind-the-scenes work.

“The Harmony laptop gives the world a new choice,” said Yu Chengdong, head of Huawei’s consumer business group, during a livestreamed launch. “We kept on doing the hard things but the right things.”

MateBook Pro and foldable MateBook Fold: Specs, Prices, and What’s Inside

The MateBook Fold is aimed at high-end users. It features an 18-inch OLED double screen that folds out into a large display, and it skips the physical keyboard altogether. It’s priced at 23,999 yuan—about $3,328. The MateBook Pro sticks to a traditional clamshell design with a keyboard and starts at 7,999 yuan, or roughly $1,100.

Both laptops are powered by HarmonyOS 5 and use Huawei’s Ark Engine for faster graphics and smoother UI. The company hasn’t confirmed the chip running these devices, but speculation points to the Kirin X90—Huawei’s own 10-core processor. The high price tags, the company said, are tied to the cost of new manufacturing technology for the chipset.

What’s Inside HarmonyOS 5?

HarmonyOS 5—also called HarmonyOS Next—focuses on making Huawei devices work together smoothly. It’s powered by the Kirin X90, Huawei’s new 10-core chip, marking a clear move away from AMD and Intel.

HarmonyOS 5 isn’t just a re-skin. It was rebuilt without reliance on Android or other Western platforms. It’s based on Huawei’s own kernel and security architecture, and is meant to link phones, laptops, tablets, TVs, and more into one ecosystem.

There are three main layers:

• HarmonyOS Base: Built on Huawei’s own kernel, with its StarShield security system baked in.

• HarmonyOS Ecosystem: A growing catalog of native apps built for the platform.

• HarmonyOS Experience: The glue between devices, aimed at delivering a smooth user experience.

Here’s what it offers:

• AI Assistant “Celia”: Can summarize documents, translate text, and build slides.

• Cross-Device Use: Copy files from your tablet to your laptop, or reply to phone messages using your laptop keyboard.

• App Selection: WPS Office, DingTalk, RedNote, Bilibili, and others are available out of the box. Huawei says over 150 apps are ready now, and more than 20,000 are on AppGallery, with 7.2 million developers in the mix as of late 2024.

• Privacy Focus: StarShield aims to address concerns about data handling, something Huawei continues to face scrutiny over internationally.

• App support includes over 150 native apps at launch. Notable names: WPS Office (a local alternative to Microsoft Office), Meitu Xiu Xiu (a photo editor), DingTalk, and Chinese social apps like RedNote and Bilibili.

• App Gallery now features more than 20,000 Harmony-native apps, and by the end of 2024, Huawei reported 7.2 million developers working on the platform.

That said, there are limits. HarmonyOS 5 doesn’t support sideloading apps, nor is it backward-compatible with older Huawei laptops. It’s a closed-loop system—similar to what Apple has done with iOS and macOS. That can offer more control and security, but it’s a dealbreaker for users who prefer open systems like Windows.

China’s OS Gap, and Huawei’s Bet to Close It

China has led in hardware manufacturing for years, but it has lagged behind on operating systems. Windows and macOS have dominated PCs globally for decades. HarmonyOS is Huawei’s attempt to close that gap and take advantage of growing domestic demand for alternatives to U.S. tech.

And it’s working—at least in terms of scale. HarmonyOS has been installed on over 1 billion devices, including smartphones, TVs, and IoT gear. Adding laptops to the mix strengthens Huawei’s position in an environment where Beijing is pushing for more homegrown solutions.

Huawei didn’t comment on which chip is inside the new laptops. But Reuters previously reported that the U.S. has revoked licenses that allowed companies like Intel and Qualcomm to supply chips to Huawei. That means whatever’s inside, it’s almost certainly homegrown.

The Global Picture

Can Huawei convince users outside China to buy in? That’s a much harder sell. The lack of compatibility with Windows apps—and the inability to sideload—limits appeal to developers and power users. And Huawei’s brand still raises flags in markets like the U.S., where lawmakers have long voiced national security concerns.

So far, Huawei seems focused on owning its home turf. That alone could be a win. In a country with more than a billion people, a strong domestic OS alternative has a huge addressable market, even if global adoption stays slow.

What’s Next?

With HarmonyOS on phones, TVs, and now laptops, Huawei is closing the loop on its software independence. The move challenges the Windows-MacOS status quo and signals that the company isn’t just reacting to sanctions—it’s trying to outgrow them.

There’s still a long list of obstacles: developer adoption, global trust, and app availability, to name a few. But Huawei has shown it’s willing to play the long game.

The question now is whether others, especially outside China, will give HarmonyOS a real shot.