Huawei launches first HarmonyOS-powered laptops amid U.S. tech restrictions
Huawei Technologies has launched two new laptops — the MateBook Fold and MateBook Pro — marking its first computers powered by the company’s own HarmonyOS operating system. The unveiling comes as U.S. export restrictions continue to limit Huawei’s access to advanced semiconductor technologies.
Revealed during a livestreamed event on Monday, the MateBook Fold features an 18-inch foldable OLED display without a physical keyboard, priced at 23,999 yuan (approximately $3,328). The MateBook Pro, a more conventional model with a keyboard, starts at 7,999 yuan.
The laptops run HarmonyOS 5, Huawei’s latest iteration of its operating system, which debuted on smartphones in 2019. The company began adapting HarmonyOS for computers in 2021. The OS now supports more than 150 applications, including Kingsoft’s WPS Office and Meitu Xiu Xiu, offering alternatives to mainstream software like Microsoft Office and Adobe tools.
Huawei did not reveal the chips used in the new laptops but acknowledged that production costs influenced pricing. The launch follows Washington’s decision in 2023 to block U.S. chipmakers like Intel and Qualcomm from supplying Huawei, adding to the company’s push toward self-reliance. Huawei says over a billion devices now run HarmonyOS, with a growing developer base exceeding 7.2 million.
