Huawei’s post-Android operating system, HarmonyOS, has reached its third major release. The original was unveiled in mid 2019then came and went version 2 to reach 90 million users by September last year. It now powers over 300 million devices with an additional 170+ million devices using the HarmonyOS Connect platform (a way for third-party companies to build compatible devices). And now version 3 is coming.
HarmonyOS 3.0 has already made its debut with the to reveal of the Huawei MatePad Pro 11, which is expected to reach international markets soon. The new operating system has a new look, improved widgets and also multitasking.
First, let’s look at the Universal Card widget format. They are easy to customize with different shapes, sizes and styles. This allows them to be grouped together when it makes sense, the widget automatically resizes to fit. And if there are too many to fit, you can stack them on top of each other and easily switch between them.
The new operating system also has the ability to connect to two pairs of headphones (eg the FreeBuds Pro 2). This allows you to listen to music with a friend. Connectivity is an important part of the system, but let’s take a look at the new privacy features first.
The new OS version keeps a log of how often each app accesses your location, camera, microphone, files or contacts. It will show you a chart so you can decide to remove the permissions manually, but the system can do it automatically too. It also monitors malicious app behavior, suspicious network activity, and other threats. Untrusted apps can get fake permissions, allowing them to open a seemingly empty image gallery or text inbox with nothing in it, for example.
Check which apps have accessed your location • Give apps false permissions
The system also has simple tools to remove potentially sensitive data when sharing photos, such as the embedded time and location. It can also scan through screenshots and blur phone numbers, addresses and so on.
Huawei also worked on optimizations. HarmonyOS 3.0 improves the launch time and responsiveness of apps and reduces power consumption during gaming (compared to HarmonyOS 2.0).
HarmonyOS 3.0 builds on the core idea of the system: to create “super devices”, the combination of two or more smart devices working together. The user interface is quite simple, you get a view of connected devices as bubbles and you just drag one bubble to another to merge them into a super device.
Making a super device is as easy as drag and drop
Here’s a simple example: you’re editing video on your Huawei MateBook, but want to use a bigger screen. If you, say, a MateStation X you can just drag the monitor icon onto the laptop icon and you will immediately get wireless screen sharing active.
Easy on-screen casting
HarmonyOS devices don’t need to be on a shared Wi-Fi network for the super-device magic to work. They sense each other, for example with a Huawei tablet next to a Huawei phone you can answer calls and display text messages as if it were the same device. You can also do the above trick and play games and videos from your phone on the larger tablet screen.
A HarmonyOS phone can connect to a tablet, giving it access to 4G, calls and messages
This seamless multimedia interconnectivity extends to HarmonyOS smart TVs as well. For example, you can connect two smart speakers (e.g. Huawei Sound X) and use them as stereo speakers for the TV. Or if you need to keep it low, you can use a few TWS buttons instead, all connected to the simple drag-and-drop interface.
Listen to your TV through a pair of connected smart speakers or with TWS earbuds
The ecosystem extends beyond Huawei’s products. You can have a compatible treadmill and pair it with a Huawei watch to track your workout and also play some music if you add a headset to the super device.
HarmonyOS Connect also allows third-party companies to create devices
HarmonyOS is now also in cars (watch our review), allows you to cast smartphone apps on the car dashboard, similar to Android Auto. All this also applies to smart home gadgets.
HarmonyOS now has an alternative to Android Auto
Huawei plans to begin a massive update of existing devices to HarmonyOS 3.0 in September. The list of supported devices is yet to be announced.