Huawei’s HarmonyOS eyes growth in the PC operating system market

Huawei has launched the HarmonyOS PC operating system in the market as an answer to its Western rivals. However, the target achievement is still incomplete. After an official unveiling, the OEM is focusing on developing its new product’s user base.

HarmonyOS PC is Huawei’s self-developed laptop operating system that challenges the Windows and macOS duopoly in the market. With new AI features and faster booting methods over macOS, Huawei expects a win in this game.

Let’s dive into the operating system market analysis over the past few years!

In early 2023, HarmonyOS had only 8% of the smartphone market, while Android acquired around 72% shares and iOS with 20% shares in the Chinese market.

But 2024 appeared as a magical year for Huawei, where its self-made OS – HarmonyOS NEXT expanded its lead over Apple iOS and drew level with Google Android.

While Android continued to dominate the Chinese smartphone OS market with 64% in Q4 2024, HarmonyOS obtained 19%, two percent more than iOS. With this slight rise, Huawei hopes to gain ground for HarmonyOS in the PC operating system race.

PC operating system market: Q1 2025

StatCounter report shows that Windows remained a dominant operating system in the global PC market for Q1 2025. It owns 25.79% – the second-highest after Android in the worldwide operating system market ranking. macOS gained 2.02%.

Despite being a foreign-based product, Windows held a significant share of 80.18% in the Q1 2025 Chinese PC market, the highest figure. Meanwhile, macOS achieved 1.21%, below Linux, probably due to Apple products’ restriction in the country.

Amid these rivalries, Huawei is looking to occupy space for HarmonyOS and free its consumers from the dominance of Windows and macOS in the PC market.

Perhaps, it will be easy for HarmonyOS PC to initially surpass macOS due to its faster and smoother experience. Although it may take some time to defeat the Windows monopoly in the Chinese PC operating system market.