Being Info 
On May 8, 2025, Huawei officially revealed its first HarmonyOS-powered laptop, the MateBook Pro, marking a significant shift away from Microsoft Windows. This Huawei HarmonyOS laptop brings together AI integration, native apps, and a new operating system built from the ground up using Huawei’s Hongmeng kernel.
First Look at the HarmonyOS MateBook Pro
At an event in Shenzhen, Huawei gave consumers their first hands-on experience with the HarmonyOS laptop. Attendees could test the software and interact with the redesigned desktop environment.
Key physical highlights:
- Matte texture with a sleek, modern finish
- Greyish-blue color scheme
- Centered Huawei branding in silver font on the back
- HarmonyOS logo on the keyboard area
- 140W fast charging with USB-C power adapter
- Power button doubles as a fingerprint sensor
Turning on the laptop displays the HarmonyOS boot screen, setting the tone for Huawei’s independent ecosystem.
A Desktop-Class HarmonyOS Experience
The new Huawei HarmonyOS laptop uses an upgraded version of HarmonyOS that moves far beyond previous mobile iterations. Key desktop-class features include:
- A familiar taskbar and dock
- Resizable and movable app windows
- Built-in terminal environment with partial Linux command support
- Support for over 2,000 native HarmonyOS apps (and growing)
Huawei’s custom Hongmeng kernel ensures a smooth, unique experience while maintaining partial compatibility with Linux features.
Built-In AI with Celia Assistant
AI is central to the laptop’s experience. Huawei’s Celia AI assistant can:
- Summarize meetings and long documents
- Create presentation slides
- Retrieve local files
- Access third-party software
- Perform voice-command-based productivity tasks
AI is integrated throughout the OS—not just as a tool, but as a core functionality.
Native App Ecosystem and Device Integration
Though the laptop does not support Windows or Android apps, it supports:
- Native HarmonyOS apps like WPS Office, RedNote, Feishu, Bilibili
- HarmonyOS phone apps that run natively on the laptop
- Seamless Huawei phone integration via HarmonyOS Connect
- Data import tools for Windows users
Huawei aims to grow the HarmonyOS ecosystem, but current offerings are heavily China-focused.
Hardware Specs and Early Performance
The Huawei MateBook Pro features:
- A custom Kirin X90 chip (2GHz max clock speed)
- 970g lightweight build
- Smooth multitasking performance, as seen in social media demos
- App store and terminal access for advanced users
Although the CPU is not as powerful as leading Intel or AMD chips, early feedback shows stable and fluid performance for productivity tasks.
Who Is the Huawei HarmonyOS Laptop For?
This laptop targets a niche market:
- Government agencies
- State-owned enterprises
- Privacy-focused users in China
These sectors are already moving away from foreign software and hardware due to security concerns and policy mandates.
A Strategic Move in a Sanctioned World
Huawei’s move to create the first HarmonyOS PC is driven by:
- U.S. sanctions blocking access to Microsoft, Google, and Intel
- The need for a self-reliant computing platform
- Strategic investment in domestic chip and software development
This is not just a product—it’s a statement of independence.
Looking Ahead: May 19 Launch
Huawei will officially launch the HarmonyOS laptop on May 19. Additional specs, availability, and pricing details are expected to be revealed then. Stay tuned for more updates on this industry-first HarmonyOS notebook.
