In recent years, geopolitical tensions have significantly influenced the global tech landscape, especially for Chinese tech companies. During Donald Trump’s first presidency, U.S. sanctions prevented American firms from working with Huawei and banned the company from accessing Google’s Play Store and services. Now, with Trump’s re-election and the rekindling of the U.S.-China trade war, Chinese smartphone manufacturers are reportedly developing a contingency plan to prepare for similar restrictions.
Huawei, previously cut off from Google’s ecosystem, has been pushing forward with its own operating system: HarmonyOS. Beyond the OS itself, Huawei has invested in building a complete digital ecosystem, including tools like the Ark Compiler and Petal Maps. This independent approach appears to have inspired other major Chinese phone makers.
According to recent reports, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, and OnePlus are now considering a collaborative effort with Huawei to develop a version of Android that operates independently of Google. Xiaomi’s new operating system, HyperOS 3, is said to be the first step in this transition. However, the extent of collaboration among these brands and Huawei’s exact role remain unclear for now.
Huawei’s decision to drop support for Android apps set a bold precedent. Whether Xiaomi and others will follow suit—and whether they will adopt Huawei’s technologies—remains to be seen. Market data shows that Xiaomi is currently China’s top smartphone vendor, followed by Huawei, Oppo, and Vivo. Together, these four companies accounted for nearly two-thirds of smartphone sales in China during the first quarter of 2025. While Huawei has lost global dominance, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo continue to thrive internationally. If they shift toward building Google-free phones, the global smartphone industry could face a major shake-up.