Huawei Launches First HarmonyOS Laptop and Foldable PC, Marking Milestone for China’s OS Industry

The First HarmonyOS Laptop and HarmonyOS Foldable Computer Officially Launched, Marking a Milestone Breakthrough for Domestic PC Operating Systems

On May 19, Huawei held the nova 14 series and HarmonyOS Computer Launch Event in Chengdu, unveiling the world’s first HarmonyOS foldable computer, the MateBook Fold Extraordinary Master Edition. Huawei Executive Director and Chairman of Terminal BG, Richard Yu, declared: “Today we bring a computer product that will disrupt the industry!”

The MateBook Fold joins Huawei’s Extraordinary Master family, featuring what Huawei calls its “best screen ever” and a HarmonyOS system specially enhanced for PCs. The device starts at 23,999 yuan. In addition, Huawei also released the world’s first HarmonyOS laptop, the MateBook Pro, starting at 7,999 yuan.

Both computers opened for pre‑orders that evening, with official sales beginning on June 6 at 10:08 AM.

“Industry‑Disrupting” HarmonyOS Foldable Computer

Yu emphasized: “Today we finally solved the historical dilemma of large screens and portability being incompatible. We are ushering in a new era of portable all‑in‑one computers.”

• Screen & Portability: The MateBook Fold unfolds to an 18‑inch display, the world’s largest commercial foldable screen computer, with a thickness of just 7.3mm. Folded, it becomes a 13‑inch device weighing only 1.16kg—lighter than the MacBook Air.
• Display Technology: It uses the world’s largest dual‑layer OLED display, with HDR peak brightness of 1600 nits, contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1, resolution of 3.3K, and 92% screen‑to‑body ratio. It is the first PC to adopt LTPO technology, reducing energy consumption by 30%. Yu noted: “This is the first time such complex dual LTPO and dual‑layer OLED technology has been applied to a foldable computer. Our team dared to use such high‑cost technology, showing our determination for the first HarmonyOS foldable PC.”
• Performance: Equipped with dual 3.5mm ultra‑thin aluminum fans and anti‑gravity VC cooling technology, ensuring consistent performance across different usage modes.
• Hinge: The Xuanwu water‑drop hinge achieves breakthroughs with a 285mm size—the largest in the industry—400% increased torque, and 100% improved precision.
• System: HarmonyOS was reconstructed from the kernel up, with enhancements in file management, development environment, graphics engine, and intelligent agents, enabling “instant start, instant open, instant wake.”

Ecosystem Applications

By May 19, over 1,000 ecosystem apps had been adapted to HarmonyOS PCs, with more than 2,000 expected by year‑end. WPS Office Vice President Yao Dong revealed that the HarmonyOS version rebuilt 40 million lines of code and overcame 500 technical challenges, introducing features like dual‑screen presenter mode and one‑click high‑quality PPT generation.

Beijing Academy of Social Sciences researcher Wang Peng commented: “HarmonyOS needs more unique developer tools and resources to attract developers. A thriving third‑party ecosystem is key to success.”

Market Potential

Wang Peng noted that HarmonyOS PCs have huge market potential, with early adoption by leading apps securing a first‑mover advantage. HarmonyOS’s distributed technology and low latency open new possibilities for app development, improving user experience and performance.

Pricing

• MateBook Fold Extraordinary Master Edition:
  • 32GB + 1TB: 23,999 yuan
  • 32GB + 2TB: 26,999 yuan
• MateBook Pro HarmonyOS Edition:
  • 24GB + 512GB: 7,999 yuan
  • 32GB + 1TB: 8,999 yuan

Yu highlighted: “Windows and macOS have dominated for decades, with highly concentrated ecosystems forming strong barriers. Domestic software started late and is weak, but we insist on doing the difficult yet right thing. HarmonyOS computers give the world another choice.”

He added: “Today HarmonyOS computers are officially launched. We finally have a fully self‑controlled operating system from kernel to ecosystem. But this is just the beginning. With your support, we will become a powerful force to change the world. Every line of your code is rewriting the future of China’s PC industry.”

HarmonyOS Becomes “Second in Mobile,” Still Faces a Long Battle

The launch of HarmonyOS PCs not only represents a breakthrough for domestic operating systems in personal computers but also marks the full arrival of the HarmonyOS era across smart devices.

Previously, “Father of HarmonyOS” Wang Chenglu stated: “We analyzed 20 years of PC and mobile industry ecosystems and found that 16% market share is the watershed—beyond that, an ecosystem is basically successful.”

According to Counterpoint Research, in Q4 2024 HarmonyOS reached 19% market share in China’s smartphone OS market, surpassing Apple’s iOS for four consecutive quarters, becoming the second‑largest mobile OS in China.

Why Huawei Developed HarmonyOS PCs

Industry insiders explained that after the U.S. Department of Commerce license expired and was not renewed, Microsoft Windows could no longer supply Huawei. Huawei PCs had to adopt a fully domestic solution, achieving OS localization.

HarmonyOS PCs are fully self‑developed from the kernel, delivering breakthroughs in performance, security, and connectivity. More importantly, they provide new opportunities for domestic software, allowing proactive ecosystem building rather than passive adaptation.

Competitive Advantages

Lin Xianping, Associate Professor at Zhejiang University City College, noted: “HarmonyOS’s ‘Internet of Everything’ attribute is its unique advantage. Unlike other operating systems, HarmonyOS was designed from the start for cross‑platform, distributed capabilities, enabling better interconnection among devices.”

He added that with rapid IoT development, HarmonyOS’s advantage will become more evident. HarmonyOS PCs already support over 1,100 external devices, including 800+ standard peripherals (keyboards, mice, monitors, etc.) and 300+ non‑standard peripherals (printers, tablets, scanners, etc.).

As more devices connect, ensuring compatibility across different systems remains a long‑term challenge. Changing user habits and building loyalty to HarmonyOS will also require significant time and resources.