During Trump’s first term, American companies were prohibited from working with Huawei, hindering its access to the Play Store. As Trump resumes tensions with China, Chinese smartphone makers including Xiaomi, Oppo, vivo, and OnePlus are reportedly considering alternatives to Android. They may collaborate on a Google-free operating system, with developments like HyperOS 3. Huawei has already removed Android compatibility from its platform, raising questions about whether the other brands will adopt similar measures, such as incorporating Huawei’s Ark Compiler and Petal Maps. Collectively, these companies represent two-thirds of China’s smartphone market share in early 2023.
During President Trump’s initial term, American firms were prohibited from partnering with Huawei, effectively cutting off its access to the Play Store and associated services. With Trump back in office and initiating another trade conflict with China, speculation is rife that Chinese smartphone manufacturers are seeking a contingency plan should they face a similar outcome as Huawei.
On the topic of Huawei, the company developed its own operating system, HarmonyOS. Now, Xiaomi, Oppo, vivo, and OnePlus, alongside Huawei, are reportedly investigating the creation of a Google-free variant of Android.
Rumors suggest that HyperOS 3 will begin to lay the foundation for this initiative. However, it’s still uncertain how much collaboration will occur among the various brands or what role Huawei will play.
Huawei has even gone so far as to eliminate Android app compatibility from its platform. Will Xiaomi and its compatriots take similar steps, and will they incorporate Huawei’s Ark Compiler, Petal Maps, and other technologies? This remains to be seen.
Global market share by company (image source)
According to the latest data, Xiaomi is currently the leading smartphone manufacturer in China, closely followed by Huawei, with Oppo and vivo occupying the third and fourth positions, respectively. Together, these companies represented two-thirds of the smartphones shipped in China during the first quarter of this year. While Huawei has relinquished its global superiority, Xiaomi, vivo, and Oppo remain in the Top 5 worldwide, indicating that a move towards selling Google-free devices could significantly influence the market.
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