HarmonyOS NEXT Public Beta: More Polished, More iOS-like, But It's a Different Future

HarmonyOS NEXT Public Beta: More Polished, More iOS-like, But It's a Different FutureTo experience the latest developments of HarmonyOS NEXT public beta, I specifically chose the only straight-screen phone participating in the public beta the Huawei Mate60 Pro for the upgrade. All the following content is based on the public beta version and aims to provide a reference for everyone

HarmonyOS NEXT Public Beta: More Polished, More iOS-like, But It's a Different Future

On October 8th, HarmonyOS NEXT finally upgraded to its public beta version. This is the final large-scale test before its official commercial launch, signifying its proximity to the final version. After this upgrade, my feelings are mainly concentrated in two areas: Firstly, the system fluency has been significantly improved. Secondly, the functions and third-party applications have been significantly enhanced and enriched. More importantly, in many details of design and functionality, it exhibits a clear "Apple-like" feel, even surpassing iOS in some aspects.

To experience the latest developments of HarmonyOS NEXT public beta, I specifically chose the only straight-screen phone participating in the public beta the Huawei Mate60 Pro for the upgrade. All the following content is based on the public beta version and aims to provide a reference for everyone.

Smooth Experience, Animations Match iOS

The smooth experience of HarmonyOS NEXT can be felt from the lock screen interface. The camera button on the screen can be freely slid back and forth, the pop-in and pop-out animations are incredibly smooth, while the image in the viewfinder updates in real time. Considering that camera startup typically consumes a lot of phone resources, even flagship models often require a waiting time of around 3 seconds. However, HarmonyOS NEXT exhibits astonishing fluency and speed in both quick start and normal startup, with almost no waiting time. This is even more efficient than iOS's handling, fully demonstrating the powerful performance of the system.

In addition to startup speed, HarmonyOS NEXT has also improved some animations and effects, further enhancing this smooth feeling. Operations such as swiping up to enter the multitasking interface, swiping sideways to enter the negative one screen, pulling down the control bar, opening large folders, etc., have all added new animations, enhancing the user's immersive and realistic experience with the system. These new animations were achievable in the past, but considering battery life limitations, they couldn't be fully implemented. When restructuring the system, HarmonyOS NEXT underwent extensive optimization work, increasing performance by 30% while reducing power consumption by 10% to 20% to enable these animations and prevent excessive burden on the phone's power consumption.

The effect of this improvement can even be seen in some third-party applications. For example, on Little Red Book (Xiaohongshu), clicking on a post now has the same silky smooth scrolling animation as iOS. As more and more applications are adapted, there will be more and more using this animation.

Some users may be curious why HarmonyOS NEXT invests so much effort in animations and effects. In fact, this is crucial for improving fluency. From a different perspective, why do many people feel that iPhones with 60Hz refresh rates feel smooth and lag-free? Delicate, realistic animations play a significant role.

Practical Functions Return, Tending towards Perfection

The functionality and playability of HarmonyOS NEXT have taken a quantum leap compared to version 4.2. Let's start with some new features that are more noticeable.

Integration of Shortcut Functions

In previous internal testing versions, Huawei placed some useful shortcut functions on the lock screen interface. Now, Huawei has concentrated them in the function key at the bottom left corner of the lock screen, making it easy for users to quickly launch functions like flashlight, calculator, stopwatch, scan, etc. To prevent accidental touches, Huawei has even specially designed a long-press activation mode. This little function has great potential. Imagine: In addition to system functions, could features like scan payment, ride codes, which require quick activation, also be placed here?

Wallpaper Settings and AI Image Enhancement Upgrades

When setting wallpapers in HarmonyOS NEXT, AI will first scan the picture's layout, placing the time in an appropriate position. This function is not only suitable for real photos, but also works well with some exquisite anime illustrations. The key positions won't be obscured, which will satisfy anime fans. Of course, AI only helps you choose a suitable composition. You can still manually zoom or adjust the wallpaper composition.

Another detail worth mentioning is that multi-selection of pictures can now finally directly create a collage or compare photos. To facilitate user operations, Huawei has added a multi-select button in addition to the original long-press, which is very thoughtful.

The AI image enhancement section has added a new AI background function, including desaturation and blurring. You must have seen photos like this: a completely gray background with a model holding various brightly colored objects, like a red umbrella, yellow balloons, etc. The desaturation function in AI background can achieve similar effects. For example, with a photo, AI will automatically recognize the subject, and the background part will be automatically desaturated, creating a photo that can be directly published on social media platforms. Blurring applies a blur effect to the background, which can be combined with desaturation. This function is not only suitable for photos but also for other pictures with clear subjects, even including game screenshots.

Other features like AI image enlargement, brightening, correction, etc., which existed in version 4.2, have not yet been implemented and are expected to return fully in the commercial version.

Privacy and Security

In addition to the improvements in fluency and functionality, HarmonyOS NEXT also demonstrates advantages over Android in terms of privacy and security.

In terms of image access, the traditional logic is that applications scan all the pictures on a phone. This process carries the risk of privacy leaks. However, under the mechanism of HarmonyOS NEXT, applications can only access the images and videos you select, effectively protecting users' personal privacy.

Furthermore, which applications can access and use which permissions are clearly displayed in the "Privacy and Security" settings, ensuring that every permission use is under the user's control.

The Evolution of Xiaoyi (Huawei's AI Assistant)

The changes to Xiaoyi are also significant. Dialogues, tables, images, Word documents, etc., can all be dragged into Xiaoyi. After recognition, it can extract schedules, summarize content, generate Excel files, generate mind maps based on documents, etc., with obvious practical value that students and office workers will enjoy. For user convenience, Xiaoyi is deeply rooted in the system. This small horizontal bar can even be used as a back button. iOS still lacks a reliable back functionality, while HarmonyOS NEXT has set an example here. It is strongly recommended that iOS learn from this.

Some Improvements

HarmonyOS NEXT has also made improvements to some existing features.

The negative one screen, which many users, including myself, often use, has finally been simplified in HarmonyOS NEXT. It now only has three sections: the top search bar, services, and news. The advertisements and application recommendations that were previously criticized have disappeared.

Huawei has also reorganized the control bar. Commonly used features can finally be displayed on one page, with the brightness bar at the bottom, making it easy to operate with one hand while not obscuring the main content of the screen.

The transit station and side bar, which "disappeared" in the internal beta version, have returned. The former is as convenient as before, while the latter feels unfinished. Currently, it only has these 5 functions and does not support customization. This part will have to wait for later versions to be improved.

Application Ecosystem Construction

Overall, the HarmonyOS NEXT public beta version has no problems in use. So, what about another key problem application adaptation when using it as the main device?

With Huawei's appeal, HarmonyOS NEXT doesn't have to worry about the lack of applications, it's just a matter of time. For example, the HarmonyOS version of WeChat has already started inviting internal testers. The adaptation progress of video applications is very encouraging. Douyin (TikTok), Kuaishou, Bilibili, Tencent Video, Youku Video, etc., have all been launched, and the necessary functions are all available. Douyin during internal testing could only be used to watch videos, not post them. Now, normal posting and shooting are possible. However, some niche applications like Douyin Volcano Edition and Lightning Fast Edition have not yet been launched.

Among music applications, Kuwo Music has not yet been launched, but QQ Music, NetEase Cloud Music, Ximalaya, Lazy Listening, etc., have been released. There are really too many lifestyle applications. Popular ones like Ele.me, Meituan, Dianping, McDonald's, KFC, Luckin Coffee, Starbucks, Wannianli (a calendar app), and the applications of the three major mobile operators, etc., are all available. Basically, anything you can think of is available now.

In terms of travel applications, the current absence of Traffic Police 12123 and Baidu Maps is noticeable, and many Baidu-related applications have not yet been released. Other travel applications, like 12306 (Chinese railway ticket booking app), Amap (Highde Map), Didi Chuxing (including driver version, enterprise version), Ctrip, Fliggy, Qunar, various car rental applications, etc., have all been released.

Financial applications like Alipay, the four major banks, and some mainstream banking Apps are available, but Yun Flash Pay (UnionPay's mobile payment app), WingPay, and some local banks are missing. Hopefully, they will be available soon in subsequent version updates.

For work applications, DingTalk and WPS, which were previously strongly called for, already have HarmonyOS versions. What is currently missing are cloud