Huawei challenges Microsoft with an unexpected twist in their laptops
Huawei’s Bold Move in the Laptop Market
Huawei is once again at the forefront of a technological shift following the restrictions imposed by the United States. This time, it’s not about phones, but about their laptops. Faced with the impossibility of continuing to manufacture devices with Windows licenses, the company is moving quickly and taking a step that many did not expect. The future of their laptops no longer depends on Microsoft… at least not in China.
The Game-Changing Ban
Being on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s blacklist is synonymous with obstacles. Huawei knows this well: first, it lost its link with Google, and now with Microsoft. The inability to use Windows licenses on new devices marks a turning point for their laptop lines.
Although they can still sell devices with Windows already manufactured, they cannot produce new ones without a license. This situation affects both the Chinese and European markets, highlighting the fragility of depending on a single operating system. But Huawei already has an alternative plan.
The Response: Goodbye Windows, Hello HarmonyOS
As early as 2024, Richard Yu anticipated the change: future Huawei PCs would no longer use Windows. Instead, they would come with HarmonyOS, the operating system developed by the company. This transition makes sense in the Chinese market, where Huawei has a loyal audience and a growing ecosystem.
HarmonyOS Next is the new bet: a system with its own core, without traces of Android or Linux. Its goal is ambitious: to integrate PCs, mobile phones, watches, and electric vehicles under the same platform. The PC version will begin to roll out this year, although for now, it is limited to China.
Linux as Plan B in Europe
While HarmonyOS matures, Huawei has been forced to find a viable solution outside of China. They found it in Linux. Their new laptop, the [model name], leaves Windows behind and comes with a Linux environment.
This move represents a bold bet. Although the hardware is the same as the model with Windows, the operating system changes completely. It is sold for 1,352 euros at the exchange rate, but is only available in China.
