Is Huawei's Plan Really Working? HarmonyOS Takes Off and Aims to Conquer the World

HarmonyOS is growing, even in the smartphone sector. Huawei's "bet," after the ban imposed by the USA, could be a winning one. In just a few years, the Chinese company has managed to reach a significantly high number of active devices.

Continuous Growth

The latest data confirms that there are over 55 million active smartphones worldwide as of March 2026 that use HarmonyOS. The vast majority are used in China. For the future, of course, the goal is to continue to grow after reaching the survival threshold.

Ke Jixin, the Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology in China, officially confirmed this data and added:

"National software, such as operating systems and databases, is constantly improving. We have witnessed a radical transformation in the user experience of national software compared to a few years ago, as it has become smoother and easier to use."

The results achieved in recent years have been significant. Huawei and China look to the future and will continue to focus on HarmonyOS, aiming to grow further and strengthen their market position with increasing independence.

The actual numbers will need to be monitored quarter by quarter, but the goals are clear. By 2026, active devices running HarmonyOS (not just smartphones) are expected to exceed 100 million units, and the growth program will continue in the future, with the aim of reaching markets outside of China as well.

This is indeed a more complicated goal but not impossible. Just a few years ago, creating an alternative operating system seemed extremely complicated, but Huawei has managed to achieve satisfactory numbers despite the difficulties related to the US ban.