Huawei launches HarmonyOS 6: a smoother, smarter, and more secure system
Huawei has officially unveiled HarmonyOS 6 at its 2025 developer conference in China. This new version of the operating system represents a significant step forward with a redesigned interface, deeper AI integration, and enhanced performance across the entire Harmony ecosystem.
It’s also worth noting that the brand has dropped the NEXT suffix used in the previous version.
HarmonyOS 6: A Sleeker and More Responsive Design
HarmonyOS 6 introduces a more cohesive and natural visual experience, featuring smooth animations and an adaptive brightness system that reacts to interactions (voice assistant, photo editing, privacy management, etc.).
The lock screen benefits from AIGC (Artificial Intelligence Generated Content) customizations, capable of automatically creating artistic signatures and wallpapers by analyzing the user’s typography and images.
Mood themes change according to the user’s state of mind, complete with corresponding captions and emojis, while the “Fuzzy Ball” theme reacts to voice commands with dynamic visual effects.
Enhanced Performance and Multi-Device Integration
Powered by the new Ark Engine, HarmonyOS 6 delivers measurable speed gains:
- +11% for app startup
- +21% for page rendering
- +30% for content loading
Compared to HarmonyOS 5, overall performance improves by 15%, while battery life extends by up to 51 minutes.
The content sharing feature has also been revamped: over 60 applications now support the Tap-to-Share function, and users can drag files from one device to another simply by gazing at it.
HarmonyOS 6 can even open a large PDF in just 0.6 seconds, compared to 55 seconds on Windows 11, according to Huawei.
AI, Creativity, and Connected Health
AI is at the heart of the system. The photo app now incorporates contextual intelligent portrait features that automatically adjust lighting and depth of field. The AI One-Click Filming function transforms static photos into animated clips.
The Xiaoyi voice assistant has become smarter: it understands dialects, executes multi-step tasks, and manages automatic file categorization, recording transcription, and summary generation.
On the health side, the AI Health Assistant offers voice consultations, hospital navigation, appointment management, and automatic medical report interpretation via iFLYTEK.
Security and Privacy: A New Intelligent Shield
With its new StarShield Security architecture, Huawei enhances security at all levels, from the system core to applications.
Among the new features:
- Family Anti-Fraud: detects suspicious calls and can cut communication remotely.
- AI Anti-Fraud: blocks deepfake attempts during video calls.
- Anti-Peek Protection: masks sensitive content if someone is looking at the screen.
- Encrypted sharing and “View-Once” mode, preventing screenshots and file reuse.
The HPIC (HarmonyOS Personal Intelligent Computing) framework ensures that AI data processing remains local and private, even during cloud operations.
Accessibility and Family Control
HarmonyOS 6 also introduces visual assistance tools for real-time navigation, an eye protection mode, and remote tracking to monitor a loved one’s location or activity.
Compatible Devices and Deployment Schedule
The public beta began on October 22, 2025, in China, with a gradual rollout expected by the end of 2025. The territories of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan are not included for now.
October 2025 — Public Beta
- Mate 70
- Mate 60
- Mate X6
- Mate X5
- Pura 80
- Pura 70
- Pura X
- Pocket 2
- Nova 12 to 14
- MatePad Pro 13.2″/12.2″/11 Pro
October 2025 — Closed Beta
- Mate XT
- MateBook Fold Ultimate Design
- MatePad Pro 12.2” (2025)
- Watch 5/GT 5
- FreeBuds 6/7i
- FreeArc
November–December 2025
- Nova 14 Lite
- Enjoy 70X
- MatePad Mini/Air/11.5S
- Watch Fit 4
- FreeBuds Pro 4
- FreeClip 2
IoT Products
- Smart Mate TV
- Smart Home X2 Pro
- Router X1
- Sound X Series
- Smart Door Lock 2
In summary, HarmonyOS 6 focuses on three pillars:
- Smoothness and interconnectivity across devices.
- Intelligence and creativity serving everyday life.
- Enhanced data protection powered by AI.
With this version, Huawei continues to build a comprehensive and independent ecosystem, blending smartphones, tablets, PCs, wearables, and connected devices.
