When people hear the name Huawei, the first thing that comes to mind is usually smartphones. But if you’ve been following the company lately, you’ll notice that 2025 feels very different. Huawei is no longer just about phones — it’s pushing hard into AI, chips, networking, and even retail solutions. In a way, the company is reinventing itself in front of our eyes.
Big Push Into Chips & AI Power
One of the boldest steps Huawei has taken this year is sharing its chip and computing power roadmap. For years, the company stayed quiet on this front, but now we know the Ascend 950 series will start rolling out in 2026, with follow-ups planned for later. On top of that, Huawei has introduced its SuperPoD clusters — large AI systems built to compete with what companies like Nvidia and AMD are offering.
This move isn’t just about performance. It’s about self-reliance. With all the restrictions Huawei faces globally, building its own chips and compute platforms is the only way forward. The question is: can they deliver performance that truly competes at a global level?
HarmonyOS Finds New Ground
Most of us think of HarmonyOS as Huawei’s answer to Android, but now it’s moving beyond phones. Recently, Huawei launched a smart cash register in China powered by HarmonyOS, in partnership with Alipay. It’s not just about payments — it’s about creating a retail ecosystem where checkout, loyalty, and offers all work seamlessly without extra apps.
If Huawei manages to replicate this in more industries, HarmonyOS could slowly turn into a serious rival not only to Android, but even to Windows in specific segments.
Wearables, Foldables & Earbuds Keep The Buzz Alive
Of course, Huawei hasn’t abandoned its consumer side. The Huawei Watch GT 6 and GT 6 Pro are out, boasting up to 21 days of battery life — something even Apple struggles to match. The new FreeClip 2 earbuds are also getting attention for their open-ear design and AI noise cancellation.
On the phone side, the Pura 80 series and foldables like Mate XT continue to grab headlines in China. These products keep Huawei’s brand visible while the bigger transformation happens quietly in the background.
Intelligent Networks & Connectivity
Another area where Huawei is moving fast is networking. At recent industry events, it revealed its AI-centric Xinghe Intelligent Network, which promises zero packet loss and deterministic latency — things that matter for industries adopting AI at scale. Add to that its new Submarine-Terrestrial Synergy strategy, and you see how Huawei wants to be the backbone of global connectivity, not just a player in smartphones.
Why It Matters
To me, what makes Huawei’s journey in 2025 interesting is that it’s no longer fighting for the same ground as before. Instead of trying to win back the smartphone dominance it once had, it’s building an ecosystem where AI, chips, networks, and software all connect. That’s a bigger, riskier play — but also one that could keep Huawei relevant for the next decade.
At the same time, challenges remain:
- Can their chips truly rival global leaders?
- Will HarmonyOS ever break out internationally?
- And most importantly, how will geopolitics shape the company’s path?
No matter the answers, one thing is clear — Huawei is no longer just a phone company. It’s turning itself into a tech infrastructure giant, and 2025 might just be the year this shift became impossible to ignore.