Huawei mobile platform HarmonyOS expands China adoption, tops Apple’s iOS in 2024

The domestic market share of HarmonyOS was ahead of Apple’s iOS for four consecutive quarters last year

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The increased adoption of HarmonyOS in mainland China reflects Huawei’s continued resurgence in the domestic 5G smartphone market. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 6:00pm, 13 Mar 2025

Huawei Technologies’ home-grown mobile operating system, HarmonyOS, saw increased adoption throughout 2024 in mainland China, the world’s largest smartphone market, as the Shenzhen-based company prepares to launch a new handset powered by the platform’s latest version that does not support Android apps.

For the fourth consecutive quarter, the domestic market share of HarmonyOS was ahead of Apple’s iOS in the three months ended December 31, when it reached 19 per cent, according to the latest data released on Wednesday by Counterpoint Research.

HarmonyOS’ December quarter share was up from 16 per cent a year ago and higher than its 17 per cent share in each of the three previous quarters in 2024, Counterpoint data showed.

Still, Android remained the dominant mobile operating system on the mainland with a fourth-quarter share of 64 per cent, the same as a year earlier. Apple’s iOS had a 17 per cent share last quarter, down from 20 per cent a year ago.

Globally, Android continued to lead the industry last quarter with a 74 per cent market share, followed by Apple with 22 per cent, according to Counterpoint data. HarmonyOS, which is still only available on the mainland, remained flat with a 4 per cent quarterly share throughout 2024.

Richard Yu Chengdong, chairman of Huawei Technologies’ consumer business group, unveils HarmonyOS Next in Shenzhen on October 22, 2024. Photo: Xinhua

The rising adoption of HarmonyOS on the mainland reflects Huawei’s continued resurgence in the domestic 5G smartphone market, where it competes against major Chinese Android handset makers.