Chinese tech company Huawei is gearing up to launch its first smartphone featuring a fully homegrown operating system on Tuesday. This marks a significant move in Huawei's quest to challenge the dominance of Western tech giants.

Most mobile phones today are powered by Apple's iOS or Google's Android, but Huawei aims to change the landscape with its latest Mate 70 devices, which will operate on the company’s own HarmonyOS Next.

This launch represents a major comeback for Huawei, which faced several challenging years under strict U.S. sanctions. Despite those obstacles, the company has seen a resurgence with rapidly increasing sales.

"The search for a scalable mobile operating system that isn’t dependent on Western companies has been a long journey in China," said Paul Triolo, a Partner specializing in China and Technology Policy. However, the introduction of this new smartphone—powered by an advanced chip made in China—demonstrates the determination of Chinese tech companies to move forward, he added.

Huawei's new Mate 70 smartphone is scheduled to be officially unveiled during a launch event at its Shenzhen headquarters on Tuesday afternoon. The anticipation is high, with over three million units already pre-ordered on Huawei's online platform, although pre-orders don't require a commitment to buy.

The stakes are significant for Huawei. Unlike an earlier version that relied on Android’s open-source code, the new HarmonyOS Next requires a complete overhaul of apps to work seamlessly on Huawei's devices.

"HarmonyOS Next is a groundbreaking homegrown operating system—a milestone for China in reducing dependence on Western technology, offering performance enhancements," said Gary Ng, a senior economist at Natixis. The Mate 70 smartphone will be revealed during a company event at Huawei's headquarters in Shenzhen on Tuesday afternoon.

MORE......