On Wednesday, Huawei unveiled its next-generation operating system, HarmonyOS 6, and announced that the upcoming Mate 80 series will be the company’s first flagship smartphones to feature the new system. Centered on the themes of “smooth, intelligent, and secure,” the update leverages deep software-hardware integration to deliver an enhanced smart experience across devices.
As the first devices to launch with HarmonyOS 6, the Mate 80 series are expected to debut by the end of November, possibly powered by the Kirin 9030 chipset.
Why it matters: The launch showcases Huawei’s development of HarmonyOS as a self-owned system independent of Android and iOS. The industry is curious about the performance of the Kirin 9030, as it could demonstrate Huawei’s latest chip innovation despite ongoing global restrictions.
Details: HarmonyOS 6 is the sixth major update to Huawei’s HarmonyOS since the first version, HarmonyOS 1, was launched in August 2019.
- HarmonyOS 6 brings improved smoothness, with a 15% performance boost for devices upgrading from HarmonyOS 5 and a 40% boost for those upgrading from HarmonyOS 4, according to Huawei. Currently, over 23 million devices run HarmonyOS 5, and major apps such as WeChat have completed compatibility updates.
- Huawei’s system AI assistant, Xiao Yi, has been upgraded to a proactive service model, capable of handling complex tasks with a single command, from travel planning and check-in to medical appointments. Supporting 16 dialects and image recognition for visually impaired users, Xiao Yi now powers over 80 HarmonyOS app AI assistants across healthcare, travel, and entertainment.
- HarmonyOS 6 introduces enhanced privacy and security features, including proactive risk alerts that can automatically detect several types of potential scams during incoming calls. Users can also securely share files, and they can choose to restrict access to specific recipients or have the files self-destruct after a single view.
Context: The Huawei Mate 80 series is expected to launch in mid to late November, with sales beginning in early December. All models will come preinstalled with HarmonyOS 6 and powered by the Kirin 9030 processor, featuring an active cooling fan system for the first time, according to MyDrivers. The lineup includes 6,000mAh silicon-carbon batteries, and some versions may also support 100W wired and 80W wireless fast charging.
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