Huawei HarmonyOS NEXT User Interface Leaks, Sets April 18 Launch for Pura 70 Series

Huawei reveals a dual advance in its mobile strategy: the HarmonyOS NEXT interface, dropping support for native Android apps, and setting April 18 as the launch date for its new Pura 70 series.

HarmonyOS NEXT Unveiled: Huawei Ditches Android App Support in Latest Update

HarmonyOS, Huawei's proprietary operating system, is moving closer to a complete public release. Today, Weibo blogger @Flanker_017 (via Gizmo China) published screenshots of HarmonyOS NEXT's user interface running on an actual smartphone (Mate 60).

The photos show a fresh OS look and a big change under the hood: native Android apps are no longer supported. This could be a challenge for customers who utilize a combination of Android and HarmonyOS apps.

The writer expresses concern about apps that keep much local data, such as messaging apps and note-taking tools. Even if customers download the apps again, the lack of a clear mechanism to migrate or access this data may result in a disappointing experience.

Additionally, the blogger stated that the kernel is a novel microkernel. A Linux compatibility module has been added to make it easier to use Linux syscalls. This news follows Huawei's HarmonyOS Eco Thousand Sails Sailing Ceremony in January, where they introduced the HarmonyOS NEXT Milky Way Edition developer preview program.

The developer Beta program will begin in Q2 (April-June) this year, with the commercial version following in Q4 (October-December).

Given the schedule, Huawei still has time to address user experience issues such as app compatibility and data transfer. With a total makeover of the app ecosystem on the horizon, it will be interesting to see how Huawei bridges the gap for customers who are used to the Android app landscape.

Huawei is also actively recruiting app developers by providing financial incentives and training opportunities. The business hopes to have over 5,000 apps on HarmonyOS, spanning popular areas like social media, banking, and gaming.

The success of Huawei's Mate 60 series, powered by a local Kirin CPU with the most recent HarmonyOS, has increased faith in the new OS. The Mate 60 series sold about 1.5 million units during its initial month, indicating considerable consumer demand.

Huawei is actively targeting China's massive smartphone market. HarmonyOS is expected to acquire a key 16% market share in China by the fourth quarter of 2023, drawing a sizable developer base. HarmonyOS currently has nearly 4% of the global market share, putting it on course to challenge Apple's 23%.

Huawei Rebrands Flagship Line: Introduces 'Pura 70 Series' with April Launch Date

Meanwhile, Huawei previously postponed the release of its P70 series. Today, the company formally announced rebranding its flagship P series as "Pura.” So, the forthcoming flagship will be known as the Huawei Pura 70 series.

According to sources, several Huawei-authorized experience retailers in Beijing have stated that the Pura 70 series could arrive before the end of April. A sales representative at a Huawei-authorized experience store in Beijing has disclosed that the Huawei Pura 70 series could hit the shelves on April 18.

According to reports, blind ordering events have begun in the home nation. In these events, consumers submit their phone numbers to sales staff and are notified as soon as the phones become available in stores.

However, this does not guarantee that they will receive the phone. It is determined by the quantity of available units and the sequence in which bookings are received. While officials were unable to share much about the next series, official information is said to be the basis for these assumptions.

According to speculations, the Pura 70 series will include four versions: the Pura 70, the Pura 70 Pro, the Pura 70 Pro+, and the Pura 70 Ultra. The leak from Digital Chat Station reveals the Pura 70 series' color possibilities, storage, and memory configurations.

The official video published today revealing the new branding also teases a triangle camera module for the new phones, a design feature that has been speculated about since the series was known as the Huawei P70.

Photo: Claudio Schwarz/Unsplash