EMUI

Last updated

Huawei EMUI
Logo of Huawei EMUI.png
Developer Huawei
OS family AOSP (Linux, Unix-like), Classic HarmonyOS on OpenHarmony L3-L5 convergence
Working stateCurrent
Source model Free software with proprietary components
Initial releaseJuly 30, 2012;11 years ago (2012-07-30)
Latest release EMUI 14.2 / April 25, 2024;0 days ago (2024-04-25),
Update methodFirmware over-the-air
Package manager Huawei AppGallery (2012 - present, both Global and China),
APK files, .app (since EMUI 12)
Platforms32 and 64-bit ARM
Kernel type Multikernel, combination of Monolithic: modified Linux kernel; and HMOS TEE microkernel (since EMUI 13)
License GNU General Public License v3,
Apache License 2.0,
Proprietary
Succeeded by HarmonyOS (HarmonyOS NEXT), MagicOS 8
Official website consumer.huawei.com/en/emui/ & www.hihonor.com/global/emui/

EMUI (formerly known as Emotion UI, and also known as MagicOS (formerly known as Magic UI on Honor smartphones since 2019) [1] is a HarmonyOS/Android (operating system) mobile operating system developed by Chinese technology company Huawei. It is used on the company's smartphones and tablet computers.

Contents

Instead of Google Mobile Services, EMUI devices have used Huawei Mobile Services, such as the Huawei AppGallery, since 2020 due to United States sanctions imposed during the trade war against China. From Version 13 (2022), Huawei additionally bundled the HarmonyOS TEE microkernel with the Android system; this microkernel for example handled identity security features such as the fingerprint authentication. [2]

History

On 30 July 2012, Huawei introduced Emotion UI 1.0, based on Android 4.0. It features a voice assistant app (only in Chinese), customizable homescreens and theme-switching. [3] The company rolled out installation files for the Ascend P1 through their website. [4] The company claims that it is "probably the world's most emotional system". [5]

On 4 September 2014, the company announced EMUI 3.0, along with Ascend Mate 7 in the pre-IFA event in Berlin. The user interface was ever since called "EMUI" instead of "Emotion UI". In Mainland China, the release introduces the Huawei AppGallery application store; international markets continued to use Google Play. [6]

In late 2015, Huawei introduced EMUI 4.0, based on Android Marshmallow. [7] In 2016, EMUI 5.0 was introduced, based on Android Nougat. [8] In 2017, Huawei introduced EMUI 8.0, based on Android Oreo; beginning with this release, the version number would now be aligned with that of the Android version from which it was derived. [9]

Huawei unveiled EMUI 9.0, based on Android Pie, at IFA in 2018. Huawei stated a goal for the release to make EMUI more "simple", "enjoyable", and consistent; it included various usability tweaks, reorganized settings menus, dark mode, gesture navigation, and GPU Turbo 2.0. [10] [11] [12] Beginning with EMUI 9.0.1, new Huawei devices ship with the company's EROFS file system for its system partitions, which is designed for higher performance in read-only settings on devices with limited resources. [13] [14] [15] In July 2019, Huawei released EMUI 9.1 [16]

EMUI 10, based on Android 10, was announced 9 August 2019 at the Huawei Developer Conference. [17] It features an updated interface with larger "magazine"-styled headings, new animations, colour accents inspired by painter Giorgio Morandi, and Android 10's system-wide dark mode support. [18] Beginning 2020 due to United States sanctions against Huawei (which prohibit U.S.-based companies from doing business with the company), new EMUI smartphones sold internationally (beginning with the Mate 30) were no longer certified by Google, did not include support for Google Mobile Services (GMS) including Google Play, and were marketed as running EMUI with no reference to the Android trademark. These devices introduced the AppGallery and Huawei Mobile Services to international markets as an alternative to Google-provided software. [19] [20]

In 2020 alongside the P40, Huawei announced EMUI 10.1, which adds multi-window support, and the new first-party apps Celia and MeeTime. Huawei announced updates for some of its existing devices in June 2020. [21] In September 2020, Huawei publicly announced HarmonyOS 2.0 support for EMUI 11 updated smartphone devices as the company shifts towards HarmonyOS development. In December 2020, Huawei released the HarmonyOS 2.0 beta for the P30, P40 and P50, which iterates from EMUI 10. [22]

From October 2021, Huawei planned to launch an upgrade bridge to EMUI 12 to older Huawei smartphone models gradually in the first half of 2022 in global markets while HarmonyOS 2 launched in domestic markets, thereby preparing EMUI's successor, HarmonyOS, for global markets in the following years. [23]

EMUI 12 (2022) was the first EMUI version based on HarmonyOS 2 with a OpenHarmony 2.1.0 core which featured its own distributed file sharing called Distributed File System that adapted with HarmonyOS-powered smart devices with smart TVs, smart speakers and other types of devices which was created from native (HDFS) HarmonyOS Distributed File System [24] and could run native HarmonyOS Ability Package apps. EMUI 12 supported Large Folders that grouped similar apps in a large folder and named the folder for better organised management and discovery of apps. [25]

The difference between running .app based apps on EMUI 12 and HarmonyOS was that EMUI 12 did not support Atomic Services and App Snippets in the form of interactive visual card based widgets. EMUI 12 also did not support HarmonyOS Multi-Device Task Viewer and had a watered-down Super Device user experience via Device+. [26] The EMUI 12 update for older global versions of Huawei smartphones was based on Android 10. [27]

On 20 October 2022, Huawei unveiled EMUI 13 on their official website. [28] It inherited the main features unveiled with HarmonyOS 3, such as widgets that can be stacked on top of one another or folders that can be resized like Android widgets.

Independent Honor, MagicOS 8 with Android 14 reported on 21 July 2023 for delayed November launch, which was eventually launched on January 10, 2024. [29] [30]

HarmonyOS 4.0 was released on 4 August 2023. EMUI 14 was demonstrated on Mate 60 RS Ultimate Edition at MWC Barcelona 2024 via Huawei's booth, Barcelona, Spain on February 27, 2024. [31] On, 5 March 2024, Huawei Germany announced the EMUI 14 beta program for 13 global smartphone models that comes with HarmonyOS 4 features. The rollout reportedly, is planned for summer, between June 6 till 25 2024 release on nine models along with Nova 11i models on July 3, 2024, [32] also newer Huawei Mate 60 and P70 flagships bundled with the new software. [33] [34]

On April 25, 2024, Huawei rolled out EMUI 14.2 with no major new features, features system stability in Russia with countries planned to follow suit shortly. [35]

Version history

Version Android/HarmonyOS history Year of releaseLast stable release
Emotion UI 1.xAndroid 2.3 - 4.320121.6
Emotion UI 2.xAndroid 4.2 - 4.420132.3
EMUI 3.xAndroid 4.4 - 5.120143.1
EMUI 4.x Android Marshmallow (6.x)20154.1
EMUI 5.x Android Nougat (7.x)20165.1
EMUI 8.x Android Oreo (8.x)20178.2
EMUI 9.x
MagicUI 2.x		 Android Pie (9)20189.1
EMUI 10.x
MagicUI 3.x		 Android 10 201910.1
EMUI 11.x
MagicUI 4.x		 Android 10 or Android 11 for MagicUI 4.2202011.0
EMUI 12.x
MagicUI 5.x		 Android 10 (for existing legacy devices), Android 11 (for devices that pre-shipped with EMUI 12) and HarmonyOS 2 (China) microkernel (OpenHarmony 2.1.0 L3-L5 Dual Frame)

[36]

202112.0
EMUI 13.x [37] MagicOS 7.x [38] Based on HarmonyOS 3 (OpenHarmony 3.1 L3-L5), Android version: Android 12 202213.1
EMUI 14.x [39] Based on HarmonyOS 4 (OpenHarmony 3.2 L3-L5), Android version: Android 12 202414.2

Reception

Earlier versions of EMUI have been criticized for placing all app icons on the home screen, with some reviewers saying that it tries to imitate Apple's iOS. The app drawer has been brought back as an option in EMUI 5.0. [40] PC Magazine 's Adam Smith criticized EMUI for being bloated with duplicate apps and the settings menus being difficult to navigate. [41] EMUI lacks support of AptX and SBC-XQ, which limits audio quality on Huawei devices.

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honor (brand)</span> Chinese smartphone brand

Honor is a Chinese consumer electronics brand majority-owned by Shenzhen Zhixin New Information Technology Co. Ltd, a state-owned enterprise controlled by the municipal government of Shenzhen. It was formerly a subsidiary of Huawei, who sold the brand in November 2020. Honor develops smartphones, tablet computers, wearables and mobile device softwares.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huawei Mate series</span> Android phablet smartphone line by Huawei

The Huawei Mate series, formally the Huawei Ascend Mate series, is a line of high-end HarmonyOS-powered phablet smartphones produced by Huawei, and is one of their flagship products along with the Pura series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One UI</span> Software overlay by Samsung Electronics Limited

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HarmonyOS (HMOS) is a distributed operating system developed by Huawei for smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, smart watches, personal computers and other smart devices. It has a multikernel design with dual frameworks: the operating system selects suitable kernels from the abstraction layer in the case of devices that use diverse resources. The operating system was officially launched by Huawei in August 2019.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huawei P40</span> High-end Android smartphone line by Huawei

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huawei Mobile Services</span> Proprietary software service

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celia (virtual assistant)</span> AI virtual assistant developed by Huawei

Celia is an artificially intelligent virtual assistant developed by Huawei for their latest HarmonyOS and Android-based EMUI smartphones that lack Google Services and a Google Assistant. The assistant can perform day-to-day tasks, which include making a phone call, setting a reminder and checking the weather. It was unveiled on 7 April 2020 and got publicly released on 27 April 2020 via an OTA update solely to selected devices that can update their software to EMUI 10.1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huawei AppGallery</span> Mobile app distribution platform developed by Huawei for the HarmonyOS operating system

Huawei AppGallery is a package manager and application distribution platform, or marketplace 'app store', developed by Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. It serves as the official app store for devices running Huawei HarmonyOS, Huawei EMUI, Microsoft Windows is also supported via Mobile Engine emulator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huawei P50</span> Smartphones released by Huawei in 2021

The Huawei P50 and P50 Pro are HarmonyOS-based high-end smartphones manufactured by Huawei. Unveiled on 21 July 2021, they succeed the Huawei P40 in the P series. In March 2023 Huawei released their successor Huawei P60 Series phones in China, and in May 2023 it released the Huawei P60 Pro in Europe.

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DevEco Studio is the official integrated development environment (IDE) for Huawei's HarmonyOS operating system, built on JetBrains' IntelliJ IDEA software and Huawei's SmartAssist designed specifically for HarmonyOS development. It is available for download on Microsoft Windows and macOS based operating systems.

The version history of the HarmonyOS distributed operating system began with the public release of the HarmonyOS 1.0 for Honor Vision smart TVs on August 9, 2019. The first expanded commercial version of the Embedded, IoT AI, Edge computing based operating system, HarmonyOS 2.0, was released on June 2, 2021 for phones, tablets, smartwatches, smart speakers, routers, and internet of things. Beforehand, DevEco Studio, the HarmonyOS app development IDE, was released in September 2020 together with the HarmonyOS 2.0 Beta. HarmonyOS is developed by Huawei. New major releases are announced at the Huawei Developers Conference (HDC) in the fourth quarter of each year together with the first public beta version of the operating system's next major version. The next major stable version is then released in the third to fourth quarter of the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OpenHarmony</span> Family of open-source operating systems based on OpenHarmony

OpenAtom OpenHarmony, or abbreviated as OpenHarmony (OHOS), is a family of open-source operating systems based on HarmonyOS derived from LiteOS, donated the L0-L2 branch source code by Huawei to the OpenAtom Foundation. Similar to HarmonyOS, the open-source distributed operating system is designed with a layered architecture, which consists of four layers from the bottom to the top, i.e., the kernel layer, system service layer, framework layer, and application layer.

The HarmonyOS App Pack or the App file, identified with the file extension ".app", serves as the file format used by the HarmonyOS operating system. It functions as a native HarmonyOS app for distribution and installation through Huawei AppGallery, or for distribution through Huawei Ability Gallery in respect of installation-free apps under both current classic dual-framework and HarmonyOS NEXT system. The App file is also used by a number of other open source HarmonyOS-based operating systems such as OpenHarmony and Oniro OS-based operating systems for distribution and installation of applications, video games and middleware. Including non OpenHarmony-based operating systems, such as GNU Linux-based Unity Operating System that supports the app file format.

HarmonyOS NEXT is a proprietary distributed operating system and an iteration of HarmonyOS, developed by Huawei to support only HarmonyOS native apps. The operating system is primarily aimed at software and hardware developers that deal directly with Huawei. It does not include Android's AOSP core and is incompatible with Android applications.

Ark Compiler, also known as ArkCompiler, is a unified compilation and runtime platform that supports joint compilation and running across programming languages and chip platforms, also operating systems of open-source OpenHarmony, Oniro OS, alongside proprietary HarmonyOS with single core system HarmonyOS NEXT included on native APP in Event-driven programming in a unified development environment and formerly built for Android-based EMUI for Huawei smartphones and tablets with HMS-enabled apk apps on AppGallery that improves app performance. It supports a variety of dynamic and static programming languages such as JS, TS, and ArkTS. It is the compilation and runtime base that enables OpenHarmony, Oniro OS alongside HarmonyOS NEXT to run on multiple device forms such as smart devices, mobile phones, PCs, tablets, TVs, automobiles, and wearables. ArkCompiler consists of two parts, compiler toolchain and runtime.

ArkTS is a high-level general-purpose, multi-paradigm, compiled programming language developed by Huawei which is a superset of open-source TypeScript, in turn a superset of JavaScript formerly used in July 2022 HarmonyOS 3.0 version, alongside its evolved percussor, extended TypeScript (eTS) built for HarmonyOS development as a shift towards Declarative programming. ArkTS compiles to machine code via it's Ahead-of-time compilation Ark Compiler. ArkTS was first released in September 30, 2021 on OpenHarmony, and the ArkTS toolchain has shipped in DevEco Studio since version 3.1, released in 2022. Since, OpenHarmony 4.0 release on October 26, 2023, ArkTS APIs has been added to the open source community to contribute.

Huawei HiCar is a mobile app developed by Huawei to mirror features of an Android EMUI and HarmonyOS device, such as a smartphone, on a car's dashboard information and entertainment head unit.

References

  1. ↑ Wright, Arol (18 November 2019). "Android 10-based Magic UI 3.0 update rolls out for the Honor View 20 and Honor 20". XDA Developers. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  2. ↑ Barcza, Marton (30 June 2021). "How Huawei plans to take over (HarmonyOS explained)". YouTube. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  3. ↑ Robertson, Adi (1 September 2012). "Huawei's Emotion UI drops the app drawer, adds beginner-friendly features to Android 4.0". The Verge. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  4. ↑ Smith, Mat (30 August 2012). "Huawei shows off early version of Emotion UI for Android, packs a 'stock' skin too (hands-on)". Engadget. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  5. ↑ "Huawei's new Emotion UI gets its own Chinese official website, should be up for download soon". Android Authority. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  6. ↑ Arora, Hitesh (4 September 2014). "Huawei Launches Metal-Clad Ascend G7 With Android 4.4 KitKat at IFA". NDTV Gadgets360.com. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  7. ↑ Martonik, Andrew (26 November 2015). "Huawei announces Mate 8 in China, sporting Marshmallow and Kirin 950 processor". Android Central. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  8. ↑ Gondhia, Nirave (4 November 2016). "What's new in EMUI 5?". Android Authority. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  9. ↑ "Top 5 tips and tricks for getting the most out of EMUI 8". Android Central. 29 December 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  10. ↑ Gordon, Scott Adam (1 September 2018). "Huawei announces Pie-based EMUI 9.0 at IFA 2018: find out what's new here". Android Authority. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  11. ↑ "Clean, Current & Custom: Here's what's new with EMUI 9.0". TechCrunch. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  12. ↑ "Have you tried the new Dark Interface from EMUI 9 | HUAWEI Support UK". consumer.huawei.com. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  13. ↑ Michael Larabel (19 November 2018). "There Is Finally A User-Space Utility To Make EROFS Linux File-Systems". Phoronix. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  14. ↑ Xiang, Gao (31 May 2018). "erofs: introduce erofs file system". Linux kernel (Mailing list). Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  15. ↑ Xiang, Gao (4 July 2019). "erofs: promote erofs from staging". Linux kernel (Mailing list). Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  16. ↑ "Huawei releases EMUI 9.1 update roadmap". GSMArena.com. 24 June 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  17. ↑ John H. Jr. (9 August 2019). "Huawei announced the EMUI 10 at HDC 2019". Huawei Central. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  18. ↑ "Huawei EMUI 10 update: What's new and when will it come to your phone?". Pocket-lint. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  19. ↑ Warren, Tom (19 September 2019). "Huawei confirms the new Mate 30 Pro won't come with Google's Android apps". The Verge. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  20. ↑ Porter, Jon (12 May 2020). "Huawei's P30 Pro gets another rerelease to keep the Google dream alive". The Verge. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  21. ↑ "Huawei announces plans for global EMUI 10.1 rollout". Android Police. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  22. ↑ Amadeo, Ron (2 February 2021). "Huawei's HarmonyOS: "Fake it till you make it" meets OS development". Ars Technica. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  23. ↑ Sarkar, Amy (30 October 2021). "EMUIHuawei EMUI 12 launched, rollout start in 2022". Huawei Central. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  24. ↑ Li, Deng (2 March 2022). "EMUI 12: Distributed file sharing". Huawei Central. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  25. ↑ Sarkar, Amy (14 April 2022). "EMUIHuawei EMUI 12 Feature: Large Folders [Video]". Huawei Central. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  26. ↑ Lesner, Leszek. "EMUI 12 vs HarmonyOS - Feature Differences!?". YouTube. Techview Podcast. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  27. ↑ "EMUI 13 will come with Android 12?". Huawei Central. 23 July 2022.
  28. ↑ "EMUI 13 - HUAWEI Global". consumer.huawei.com. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  29. ↑ Michail. "Honor MagicOS 8.0 announced with intent-based UI and platform-level AI". GSMArena. GSMArena. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  30. ↑ Sarkar, Amy (21 July 2023). "MagicOS 8.0 (Android 14) eligible devices". HC Newsroom. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  31. ↑ Guison, Duey. "Mate 60 RS Ultimate Edition Makes an Appearance at MWC 2024". unbox.ph. unbox.ph. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  32. ↑ Matsui, Emiko. "Huawei likely to start EMUI 14 stable rollout in June 2024". HC Newsroom. HC Newsroom. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  33. ↑ Sarkar, Amy. "Download the EMUI 14 beta app from here". HC Newsroom. HC Newsroom. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  34. ↑ Matsui, Emiko. "Breaking: Huawei launches EMUI 14 beta program". HC Newsroom. HC Newsroom. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  35. ↑ Matsui, Emiko (25 April 2024). "Huawei surprises users with new EMUI 14.2 update, amid EMUI 14 beta rollout". Huawei Central. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  36. ↑ "EMUI 13 will come with Android 12?". Huawei Central. 23 July 2022.
  37. ↑ "HUAWEI Mate 50 Pro Specifications - HUAWEI Global". consumer.huawei.com. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  38. ↑ Honor MagicOS 7.0 Official Introduction , retrieved 22 November 2022
  39. ↑ Matsui, Emiko. "Huawei showcased Mate 60 RS Ultimate Design at MWC 2024". HC Newsroom. HC Newsroom. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  40. ↑ Rutnik, Mitja (25 July 2019). "What is EMUI? A closer look at Huawei's Android skin". Android Authority. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  41. ↑ Smith, Adam (24 May 2019). "Huawei P30 Preview". PC Magazine . Retrieved 7 September 2019.
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