Text | Sina Technology Zhang Jun

Source：https://finance.sina.com.cn/tech/2025-05-20/doc-inexeiic0181856.shtml

Yesterday, the HarmonyOS computer was officially released, and the HarmonyOS ecosystem has finally been completed.

What has received much attention is the HarmonyOS folding computer. Although the price is as high as 23,999 yuan – 26,999 yuan, the enthusiasm of Huawei users has not diminished. As of 8:00 on May 20, that is, 14 hours after the reservation started, the number of reservations for the Huawei MateBook Fold Ultimate Master on the Huawei Mall has exceeded 47,000.

For the HarmonyOS computer to break the monopoly of Windows and MacOS, the application ecosystem is a key part. When experiencing the HarmonyOS computer, Sina Technology found that the HarmonyOS computer has a tool named Oseasy virtual machine pre-installed by default, which can run Windows 11 on the HarmonyOS computer, and the Oseasy App Store also provides many Windows applications. This method can also temporarily solve the problem that some applications have not been adapted to HarmonyOS, so as to ensure the user experience.

“Give the world one more choice”

According to Yu Chengdong, Huawei’s Executive Director and President of the Terminal BG, the Huawei MateBook Fold Ultimate Master is currently the world’s largest commercial 18-inch folding computer. When unfolded, it is only 7.3mm thick and weighs only 1.16kg. After the whole machine is folded, it is less than 13 inches and can be easily put into a business carry-on bag, solving the problem that it is difficult to have both a large screen and portability for a computer.

Behind this is the breakthrough in hinge technology. Yu Chengdong said that the Huawei MateBook Fold Ultimate Master adopts the new generation of Xuanwu Water Drop Hinge. The 285mm maximum size folding screen hinge has broken through the problem of deformation that is likely to occur in the production of large-size hinges. The integrated load-bearing main shaft is made of zirconium-based liquid metal material, which is die-cast in a vacuum at nearly 1000°C. The three-section rotating shaft in the hinge adopts a mortise and tenon structure, bringing a tight, stable, reliable and seamless closing experience.

At the same time, the folding computer also has more functions. For example, Yu Chengdong demonstrated on-site functions such as casting the upper screen to the lower screen for viewing, window transfer with three-finger flicking, and calling up the virtual keyboard with an eight-finger tap.

In fact, behind the high attention of the Huawei MateBook Fold Ultimate Master is not only the breakthrough in product form, but also the operating system.

Both the Huawei MateBook Fold Ultimate Master and another new product, the MateBook Pro, adopt the HarmonyOS 5. Previously, Huawei installed the HarmonyOS on mobile phones and tablets. And the launch of the HarmonyOS computer this time can be said to complete the puzzle of the HarmonyOS ecosystem.

According to Yu Chengdong, Windows and MacOS have dominated the computer operating system market for many years, and the domestic software ecosystem started late and has a weak foundation. However, Huawei insists on doing things that are difficult but right, promoting the integration of software, hardware, cloud, and exploring new computer experiences. Now that the HarmonyOS computer is officially launched, it realizes full-link independent control from the kernel to the application ecosystem, giving the world one more choice.

In terms of chips, Huawei did not mention relevant information at the press conference. However, there are rumors that it is equipped with Huawei’s self-developed Kirin X90 processor. This processor came into the public eye at the beginning of this year. At that time, in the Security and Reliability Evaluation Result Announcement (No. 1, 2025) issued by the China Information Security Evaluation Center, the security and reliability rating of the Kirin X90 processor was Grade II. Other domestic CPUs that received the same evaluation include the Phytium Tengyun S5000C-E, Loongson 3B6000, Loongson 3C6000, and Shenwei Weixin H8000.

Regarding the processor model of the HarmonyOS computer, the customer service of the Huawei Mall told Sina Technology that they have not verified the relevant information for the time being.

In terms of price, the HarmonyOS computer is not cheap. Among them, the Huawei MateBook Pro is priced from 7,999 yuan, and the Huawei MateBook Fold Ultimate Master is priced from 23,999 yuan to 26,999 yuan. However, this does not seem to stop Huawei users from experiencing the HarmonyOS computer. As of 8:00 on May 20, that is, 14 hours after the reservation started, the number of reservations for the Huawei MateBook Pro on the Huawei Mall has exceeded 24,000, and the number of reservations for the Huawei MateBook Fold Ultimate Master has exceeded 47,000.

How to solve the problem of “temporarily unable to be replaced”?

For the HarmonyOS computer to truly achieve a breakthrough, the application ecosystem is a key part.

Yu Chengdong said that the applications of the HarmonyOS computer have covered core usage scenarios, including utility tools, financial management, general office, design and creation, audio and video entertainment, education and learning, and games.

He revealed that currently, more than 150 exclusive computer ecosystem applications are being accelerated for adaptation, more than 1,000 integrated ecosystem applications have been adapted, and more than 2,000 integrated ecosystem applications are being accelerated for adaptation; the HarmonyOS computer already supports the connection of more than 1,100 external devices, including more than 800 standard peripherals and more than 300 non-standard peripherals.

However, there are still some applications that need to be adapted.

For example, in terms of social software, according to media reports, QQ has completed the adaptation for the HarmonyOS computer, and WeChat and Enterprise WeChat are accelerating the adaptation and will be launched one after another; for some large professional software, such as Office, PS, CAD, etc., of course, Huawei has also jointly launched alternative software with its partners.

Taking WPS as an example, at the press conference, WPS said that the HarmonyOS version has reconstructed 40 million lines of code, overcome more than 500 technical difficulties, and achieved consistent functionality and experience across all platforms; in terms of CAD, ZWCAD has completed the adaptation of the HarmonyOS for both tablets and computers. In terms of audio and video editing, products of Wanxing Technology (60.800, 0.17, 0.28%), such as Wondershare Filmora, EdrawMind, EdrawMax, etc., have completed the adaptation for the HarmonyOS.

When talking about the application ecosystem, Yu Chengdong also admitted that the HarmonyOS computer has just started and needs continuous growth. He called on developers to join hands to build and share the HarmonyOS world and rewrite the future of China’s computer industry with code together.

If some software cannot be replaced temporarily, how should we deal with it?

When experiencing the HarmonyOS computer, Sina Technology found that the HarmonyOS computer has a tool named Oseasy virtual machine pre-installed by default, which can run Windows 11 on the HarmonyOS computer, and the Oseasy App Store provides many Windows applications. You can even switch freely between the HarmonyOS and Windows by swiping left and right with four fingers on the touchpad, and the shared folders of the HarmonyOS can also be accessed in Windows.

This idea is somewhat similar to that of the HarmonyOS mobile phone. Previously, to solve the ecological problem of apps on the native HarmonyOS mobile phone, Huawei also launched a tool named Zhuoyitong in the HarmonyOS App Store, which can run Android applications. This can also temporarily solve the problem that some applications have not been adapted to HarmonyOS.

Can it break through the enterprise-level market?

It is worth noting that in addition to the Huawei MateBook Fold Ultimate Master and the Huawei MateBook Pro, Huawei also launched a HarmonyOS computer for the enterprise-level market, the Huawei Qingyun HM940.

According to Yu Chengdong, the Huawei Qingyun HM940 is equipped with the system-level AI assistant “Xiaoyi”, which supports text generation, refinement and optimization, meeting records, and meeting minutes collation; Huawei’s self-developed Yunsun architecture ensures strength while being as light as 970g and as thin as 13.5mm, equipped with an OLED original color screen and enterprise-level solutions.

During the press conference, Yu Chengdong also announced the launch of the Qingyun Galaxy Plan, hoping to carry out joint innovation of the HarmonyOS ecosystem together with pioneer customers and excellent partners from all walks of life.

In fact, at the previous HarmonyOS computer communication meeting, Zhu Dongdong, President of the Tablet and PC Product Line of Huawei’s Terminal BG, revealed that in addition to being oriented to consumers, the HarmonyOS computer will also provide enterprise-level solutions, including 1 enterprise-level system base – the HarmonyOS; 2 cloud service platforms – the enterprise application center and the enterprise business deployment cloud; 3 types of solution capabilities – enterprise management, enterprise security, and organizational productivity.

Currently, the domestic independent and controllable (信创) PC is becoming a hot area for computer manufacturers to compete, and the procurement demand of relevant departments is increasing day by day. According to the prediction of CCID Net, the shipment volume of domestic independent and controllable PC units reached 4.8 million in 2023 and is expected to reach 9.5 million in 2026.

However, previously, domestic independent and controllable PCs often carried domestic operating systems such as Galaxy Kirin and UOS, and there is still room for improvement in terms of the application ecosystem and user experience. The arrival of the HarmonyOS computer is more in line with user needs in terms of the application ecosystem and has also achieved integration with the ecosystems of mobile phones, tablets and other terminals, and is expected to obtain more orders in the enterprise-level market.

Walking on two legs, both the ToB and ToC markets, where will the HarmonyOS computer go in the future, and can it break the monopoly of Windows and MacOS? Let’s wait and see.