At its annual developer conference, HUAWEI unveiled HarmonyOS 6, the latest version of its proprietary OS. The update brings design improvements, performance improvements, and several new features, including AI-powered ones.
One of the key innovations is the Intelligent Agent Framework (HMAF), which enables more natural interaction between the user and the device. It is based on an improved virtual assistant XiaoYi, which is able to understand commands in natural language.
The framework also supports various tools such as ChatExcel for managing spreadsheets using voice, Dianping Agent for restaurant recommendations, and Code Flying Agent for developing HarmonyOS apps. There is also the popular Google Circle to Search feature for searching by image.
Another significant feature is Touch and Share, which is a new method for exchanging files and connecting to games. To do this, just hold your smartphone close to a compatible computer screen. So far, the tool only works in the HUAWEI ecosystem.
HarmonyOS 6 also introduces the Super Privacy Mode, designed to improve data protection. It uses a three-stage mechanism to protect user data from malicious apps and potential threats. Users in China now have the ability to make remote payments at gas stations and parking lots by automatically detecting the fact of refueling.
Although the HarmonyOS ecosystem still lags behind Android and iOS in terms of the number of apps, HUAWEI shares encouraging data. According to a company representative, there are currently more than 30,000 native apps in development, and 5,000 are already available to users.
The HarmonyOS 6 beta is now available to developers in China on Mate 70/70 Pro, Mate 60/60 Pro, Mate X5, MatePad Pro 11″ (2024), and MatePad Pro 13.2″ (2025). There is no information yet about the global rollout of the firmware.
