Huawei's HarmonyOS NEXT Faces Major Test With WeChat: Will It Pass?

By Vivian Toh

In the ongoing battle between tech giants for dominance in the smartphone ecosystem, Huawei’s push for its HarmonyOS has taken center stage. While the company has aggressively promoted its latest operating system (OS), the true litmus test has arrived with the launch of a new WeChat version designed specifically for HarmonyOS NEXT. But the early results are leaving many wondering if HarmonyOS NEXT can live up to the hype or if it will falter under the weight of China’s indispensable apps.

High stakes for Huawei and WeChat

WeChat, with over a billion users, is essential for daily life in China. From messaging and payments to social networking and e-commerce, it serves as the digital backbone for millions. Huawei knows that winning over WeChat users is critical for the success of HarmonyOS NEXT. The company has rolled out a public testing phase for the WeChat HarmonyOS NEXT version, but so far, access is limited to a small group of users.

The anticipation is palpable. Industry analysts agree that how well WeChat integrates with HarmonyOS NEXT will either make or break Huawei’s ambitious goals for its Mate 70 smartphone, the first flagship device designed to showcase the capabilities of HarmonyOS NEXT, the native version of the OS.

But as the testing unfolds, it’s clear that the initial WeChat experience on HarmonyOS leaves much to be desired. While the app covers core functionalities like chat and WeChat’s Moments social feed, it lacks several important features such as WeChat’s Channels short video platform, its search engine, financial services, and AI translation. Essentially, it’s a stripped-down, “core-function” version that omits some of the advanced features. This limited functionality is raising eyebrows, especially considering how crucial the large domestic app’s adaptation is for Huawei’s plans.

Challenge of Native HarmonyOS

The new HarmonyOS NEXT, also known as “Native Harmony,” is a completely overhauled operating system, requiring all apps to be rewritten from scratch using Huawei’s proprietary ArkTS programming language. This contrasts sharply with earlier versions of HarmonyOS, which maintained compatibility with Android and allowed developers to port their Android apps with relative ease.

In an attempt to emulate Apple’s closed system, Huawei is positioning HarmonyOS NEXT as a more closed and controlled environment where apps can only be downloaded from Huawei’s app store, and developers of paid apps will be subject to a commission fee. While this strategy mirrors Apple’s successful “Apple tax” model, it also represents a significant shift for developers who have been accustomed to the open Android ecosystem.

For an app as complex as WeChat, the transition to Native Harmony is particularly challenging. The platform’s vast array of features — from messaging and payments to gaming and business services — requires meticulous development and integration. Huawei’s cautious approach is evident in the limited release of HarmonyOS NEXT, which is currently only available for its Mate 60, Mate X5 series and Pocket 2, excluding the more experimental Mate XT triple-folding phone that was launched in September.

Despite the enthusiasm surrounding HarmonyOS, the early results of the WeChat adaptation are raising serious concerns. WeChat’s importance to the Chinese market can’t be overstated, and its integration with HarmonyOS is seen as crucial to the success of Huawei’s entire ecosystem. Yet, our exclusive analysis based on reviews from a small pool of test users who have been granted access to the WeChat version on HarmonyOS Next show a stripped-down experience, with many key functions missing.

Meanwhile, due to system problems with HarmoryOS NEXT, scarce testing opportunities are being snatched up by the “gray industry” through algorithms, and then prices are marked up for illegal trading on the secondary market. This further heightened public and developers’ concerns about the security of the HarmonyOS NEXT system.

Huawei’s broader strategy: Emulating Apple or falling short?

Huawei’s vision for HarmonyOS is clear: the company wants to create an ecosystem that rivals Apple’s, not just in terms of technology but also in terms of revenue. Like Apple, Huawei is moving towards a closed system where developers are required to release apps through its proprietary app store, potentially generating new revenue streams through app commissions.

However, while Apple’s closed system has been wildly successful, Huawei’s path may be more fraught. HarmonyOS still holds a modest 17% share of the Chinese market, and convincing users and developers to switch from Android or iOS will be no easy task — especially if flagship apps struggle to perform.

Road ahead for HarmonyOS

Huawei’s struggle to fully integrate WeChat with HarmonyOS NEXT highlights the broader challenges facing the company’s ambitious plans. Developing a completely new operating system from scratch is no small feat, and convincing developers to invest time and resources into learning a new programming language like ArkTS is an uphill battle. Moreover, Huawei’s decision to emulate Apple’s closed ecosystem, while potentially lucrative, adds additional layers of complexity for developers accustomed to Android’s openness.

As the public testing phase of super apps on HarmonyOS NEXT continues, all eyes are on Huawei. If the company can iron out the kinks and deliver a robust, fully functional version of Chinese apps, it could accelerate the adoption of HarmonyOS NEXT and position Huawei as a serious competitor to Android and iOS. However, if the limited functionality persists, it could undermine user confidence in the new OS, hindering Huawei’s broader ecosystem ambitions.

In the high-stakes world of mobile ecosystems, Huawei’s push for HarmonyOS NEXT is bold, but the clock is ticking. The success — or failure — of HarmonyOS NEXT will likely determine the future trajectory of Huawei’s entire smartphone strategy.

This commentary is the view of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Bamboo Works

Vivian Toh is a Singapore-based journalist who writes about technology and co-founder of Tech Tech China, a technology media startup. You can reach her at techtechchinaeditor@gmail.com. Do not distribute. 

This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga's reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.