Tech Desk 
May 03, 2025
The smartphone world might soon change in a big way. Some of the world’s top Chinese phone brands — including Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus, and Huawei — are quietly working on a Google-free Android system.
This move follows concerns over a new US-China tech war, especially if former President Donald Trump returns to office.
During his last term, Trump’s administration banned Huawei from using Google Play Store and US-based apps, which badly hurt Huawei’s global business. Now, other Chinese phone makers are preparing in case they face similar bans.
Industry sources say Xiaomi’s upcoming HyperOS 3 may be the first step toward this change. While not fully confirmed, it could offer new tools that help reduce the need for Google services.
However, it’s unclear if this means phones will fully work without Google or if the change will happen slowly, one step at a time.
Huawei already launched its own system, HarmonyOS, after US sanctions. It no longer supports Android and uses its own tools like Petal Maps and the Ark Compiler. Others may follow Huawei’s example or build their own new systems.
According to early 2025 reports, Xiaomi leads China’s smartphone market, followed by Huawei, Oppo, and Vivo. Together, these brands make up more than two-thirds of China’s phone shipments and also have a huge global market share.
