Add MobilityArena as a preferred source on Google
There are a lot of technical articles out there explaining what HarmonyOS is and what it is about. If you are a non-techie, a lot of it blows over your head. Here is a simple, non-technical article explaining Huawei’s new operating system to you.
- What is HarmonyOS?
- Will HarmonyOS be used on smartphones?
- Are Android apps compatible with HarmonyOS?
- Does HarmonyOS have an app store?
- How soon will we see HarmonyOS in a device?
- Who manages Harmony OS?
- Will HarmonyOS allow root access?
- What is the difference between Harmony OS and HongMeng OS?
- Wrapping Up
What is HarmonyOS?
HarmonyOS is an operating system developed for all kinds of connected devices – smart TVs, smart watches, smart homes, smart speakers, etc.
To understand what an operating system is, think of Android OS and iOS. They are operating systems or platforms – softwares on which Android phones and iPhones run respectively.
Will HarmonyOS be used on smartphones?
While HarmonyOS is developed primarilly for non-smartphones, it can be used on smartphones as well. Huawei says that for now, Android OS will continue to be the operating system on their smartphones, unless things get out of hand and they have no choice but to switch.
According to Huawei, with a few minor tweaks, they can switch from Android to HarmonyOS for their phones in as short as two days.
Are Android apps compatible with HarmonyOS?
Right now, Android apps can not run on HarmonyOS, but Huawei says that they can be tweaked or modified to do so. In addition to Android apps, HTML5, and Linux apps can also be ported over to the new OS. Simply put, for now, you cannot use Android apps on a HarmonyOS device.
Does HarmonyOS have an app store?
Huawei already has an app store, called AppGallery, and is working with developers to have Android apps ported and published there. AppGallery will be available for Harmony OS.
How soon will we see HarmonyOS in a device?
The first device to run Huawei’s new OS has been announced by Huawei – two smart TVs called Honor Smart Screen and Smart Screen Pro.
Honor Smart Screen smart TV sells for 3799 yuan (or about $538), while the Smart Screen PRO costs 4799 yuan, or about $680.
There are rumours that the first smartphone to run HarmonyOS will be announced soon. The story is that Huawei’s Mate 30 series have not been given Google Play certification yet and so will not support Google Play services and apps. If Google does not grant the certification, Huawei may be forced to produce the Mate 30 devices with its new operating system. All of this will play out before the end of 2019, so it won’t be too long before we see how things go.
Who manages Harmony OS?
HarmonyOS is developed and managed by Huawei. The company began development work in 2017 and has worked solo mostly till now. But it plans to make the platform open source and invite other manufacturers to join in co-developing and managing it. This is scheduled to happen in 2020.
Fellow Chinese brands like OPPO, Vivo, and others may be interested in signing up so as to have a contingency plan should they also find themselves with their backs against the wall.
Will HarmonyOS allow root access?
Huawei says that, for security reasons, HarmonyOS does not permit root access. This is to avoid some of the security issues that plague Android OS. But chances are that you don’t care; you are not a techie anyway, so don’t worry about it.
What is the difference between Harmony OS and HongMeng OS?
Huawei’s operating system was initially reported as being known as HongMeng OS. However, Huawei has made an official announcement of HarmonyOS as the official name, so they are one and the same thing.
Wrapping Up
It is early days yet for Huawei’s new operating system. There is no question about how successful it can be as a software for wearables and Internet of things devices. As a smartphone platform, however, it is a different matter. We will have to wait and see how things play out between Huawei on the one side and the US government on the other side. That game of chess is the first frontier. What happens after that remains to be seen.
Author:InfoDesk
Add MobilityArena as a preferred source on Google
You are a middle income earner and have a budget of ₦70,000 and want to buy a smartphone that looks and feels fantastic and that also has some flagship features without you spending on a flagship. Here are your options if you are hunting for the best cell phones under $200.
You have a good job and would be classified as a middle income earner. Or you run your own business, and it is doing well enough for you to enjoy some finer things of life without scrounging. You have got taste and want a mid-range smartphone – a good balance between performance, utility and good looks.
The Best Cell Phones Under $200
In other words, you want the best value for money without having to buy the most expensive smartphones in the market. And honestly, most people do not need a flagship phone. Most of the phones listed below will deliver solid performance even for the most demanding tasks. Those in the lower half of the spectrum will buck a bit if you push them hard, but for everyday usage, all of them will run fine without hiccups.
The Best Cell Phones Under $200
So, if you have a budget of ₦70,000 or $200, here are the best options for you to spend your hard-earned money.
Lenovo Z6 Youth (aka Lenovo Z6 Lite) 4GB/64GB
Lenovo Youth Edition aka Lenovo Z6 Lite is number one on the list of the best cell phones under $200.
Lenovo makes some really solid phones , and it is a shame that they are not active here. For ₦64,000 or $180, you can cop yourself the 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage variant of Lenovo Z6 Youth Edition. And it is the sweetest deal ever. Qualcomm Snapdragon 710: check. 4 GB RAM: check. 64 GB storage: check. 4050mAh battery with 15W quick charging: check.
And if you aren’t impressed already, it has a rear triple camera, a 6.3″ display, and a ceramic textured back. The catch is that it isn’t officially available in the country, so you have to order from an online store like Gearbest, AliExpress and the like and have it shipped to you. Lenovo Z6 Youth Edition specifications .
Redmi Note 7 4GB/64GB
If you are not given to the idea of ordering online and having your phone shipped in, your next best option among the best cell phones under $200 is the 4GB/64GB variant of Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 7, and it will set you back by ₦66,900.00 (about $188). You will return home with some change (N3,000) and a lovely smartphone that is hard to break or scratch.
The 4000mAh battery will take you through a full day – unless you spend all of your day on the phone Instagraming, Facebooking and Tweeting. There is 18W fast charging on the specs sheet, so if you somehow manage to drain the battery, you can top it up really quickly if a compatible fast charger is available.
Because it has a Snapdragon 660 processor inside, you will have no trouble playing games and using it for more demanding tasks. (14 nm). Screen size? A nice 6.3 inches. The user interface is Xiaomi’s custom software, MIUI, which has many useful features but also bloatware. And expect to be annoyed by ads occasionally. Yes; you can disable the ads – run a Google search for a tutorial. Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 specifications .
Huawei Y9 2019 4GB/64GB
It is powered by a Hisilicon Kirin 710 processor, which is quite capable for mid-range phones, though we wish it was a Kirin 970 chip in there instead. But the 710 is a respectable contender to the Snapdragon 660 and is close enough in performance. You shouldn’t have any issues with gaming and other intensive activities on the Y9 2019.
Nokia 5.1 Plus 6GB/64GB
Nokia 5.1 Plus is powered by MediaTek’s MT6771 aka Helio P60 processor. It is about the closest chip to a Snapdragon 660 from MediaTek in terms of performance, and will ensure that heavier tasks and gaming aren’t frustrating experiences. Pair that with 6 GB of RAM and stock Android OS, and you can expect smooth handling.
The battery is of 3060mAh capacity, but there is no fast charging, which is a shame, really. But with a compact 5.86″ display and pure Android OS running, it won’t run out of power in a hurry. You also get 64 GB internal storage, and a microSD card slot.
This phone has also got the classiest design and build on this list. This is premium material fit for the boardrooms of Broad Street and Victoria Island. The Nokia 5.1 Plus will set you back by ₦66,000 only. That is about $185.
Samsung Galaxy A30
Samsung’s gladiator on our list of the best cell phones under $200 is the A30, one of the company’s new models taking on the mid-range market. You will find it in the market for ₦68,000 (about $191). What do you get in return? A 6.4″ Super AMOLED display. It isn’t every day that you get to see a Super AMOLED display at this price point, so that is a huge plus.
Under the hood is an Exynos 7904 processor. It isn’t quite up to par with a Snapdragon 660 power house, but it is a valid contender. As such, heavy tasks and gameplay on the A30 shouldn’t be a pain. To keep the lights on is a 4000mAh paired with15W quick charge technology. Not bad at all.
The Best Cell Phones Under $200: The Reserve List
If you select from any of the above smartphones, you would have got for yourself one of the best cell phones under $200. However, there are a number of other smartphones under $200, though they are not as capable or as feature-packed as those already itemized above.
TECNO Camon 11 Pro
For ₦67,000 ($188), the CAMON 11 Pro from TECNO Mobile offers you a fairly beefy 3750mAh battery, MediaTek MT6762 Helio P22 processor, 6 GB of RAM, and 64 GB internal storage. There is no fast charging though. The long notched display is 6.2 inches in size and there is a rear dual camera.
OPPO A5s 4GB/64GB
OPPO Mobile wants you to return home with ₦4,000 change and offers you the A5s. It has a beefy 4230mAh battery too, which you will find hard to drain. It is unfortunate though that there is no fast charging technology built in, so quick top-ups can be painful. Still, it has a respectable 6.2″ display and underneath that is a MediaTek MT6765 Helio P35 processor. The A5s costs ₦65,000 (about $183). OPPO A5s specifications .
Infinix Note 6
For the same ₦65,000 ($183), Infinix Note 6 offers you a stylus experience – something that will draw creative people like flies to a nightlight. It has a triple camera at the back, a fingerprint scanner, and a 4000mAh battery. Again, there is no fast charging in the picture here. The display is 6.01″ in size. Internal storage is 64 GB, and there is 4 GB RAM for app switching. Infinix Note 6 specifications .
Infinix S4
Wrapping up this list of the best cell phones under $200 (or ₦70,000) is the 4 GB/64 GB variant of the Infinix S4. It is powered by a MediaTek MT6762 Helio P22 processor, has a triple camera setup at the back, and has a 4000mAh battery. There is no fast charging. The S4 package goes for ₦64,500, or $181, only. Infinix S4 specifications .
The Best Cell Phones Under $200: Wrap up
All the smartphones listed on this page have 64GB internal storage. All of them have a fingerprint reader. And all of them have a minimum of 4GB of RAM.
The great advantage of buying a smartphone that costs $200 or less is that you can put some of the cash you would have spent on a premium smartphone away in mutal funds or stocks or some other investments. If you are a young person, you might think that you need spending money now. What you don’t want to find out in your old age is how much more you need money then.
- Don’t miss our reviews .
- Follow our news on Google News .
- Join our WhatsApp Group , to be notified of the most important articles and deals,
- Follow us on Instagram , Facebook , Twitter , and YouTube .
Author:Mister Mobility
Digital Skills and Communication Coach | Mobile Phone Connoisseur since 2001 | Tech Blogging since 2004
