What Does Honor’s Agentic OS Mean for Terminal Makers?

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On June 24, during the opening day of MWC Shanghai, Honor’s President of Product Line, Fang Fei, made a powerful statement from the stage: the next decade of mobile devices will shift from being mere containers for applications to platforms for intelligent agents. This declaration signifies Honor’s bold step into redefining the core of mobile operating systems, unveiling their plans for the next-generation system, Agentic OS.

Honor has announced that it intends to launch the complete technical framework of Agentic OS by July 2026, with phased results to be showcased through MagicOS 11, bringing users a glimpse of this new direction. Behind this move lies a strategic departure from traditional app-centric models, acknowledging the profound influence of AI development. As large language models mature—from answering questions to understanding user intent, planning tasks, and executing commands across multiple applications—the role of operating systems is poised for a fundamental transformation.

While Honor isn’t the first company to explore this terrain—Huawei recently introduced HarmonyOS 7 with agent-based restructuring, and Xiaomi announced Pengpai OS 4, deeply integrated with AI agents—industry-wide momentum indicates a collective shift. Many major players are now emphasizing the concept of AI agents as a core part of next-generation operating systems, sparking questions: Is this a consensus forming within the industry, or a competitive chase fueled by emerging anxieties about future entry points?

Honor’s take on this transition highlights several technological innovations centered around three core capabilities of AI agents: perception, planning, and action. During the presentation, Fang Fei described how Honor is advancing these dimensions. On perception, the company is evolving sensing methods by integrating AI capabilities directly into devices—enhancing “YOYO suggestions” to shift from users searching for services to services proactively recognizing user needs. It’s also pushing for a ubiquitous perception ecosystem, dispersing AI sensing across smartwatches, earbuds, and glasses, all managed centrally by smartphones acting as the computational hub.

In planning, Honor has developed a suite of proprietary large models across devices, exemplified by YOYO Claw, a multi-device AI framework for PCs, phones, tablets, and smart home gadgets. As for action, the system leverages tools like Magic GUI, large models such as Magic Agent, and integrated sensors to automate complex, multi-step tasks via the intelligent agent, showcasing impressive applications like the Robot Phone, which boasts embodied intelligence and realistic human interaction. Additionally, Honor has introduced its self-developed humanoid robot, which recently participated in a professional race and even broke the half-marathon record—a remarkable proof of technological progress.

Further, Honor’s prior investments—such as launching their own “Lobster” AI agent YOYO Claw and integrating AI into the MagicBook series—lay the groundwork for Agentic OS. These initiatives, along with the evolution of MagicOS, signal an ongoing transition from traditional tools to proactive, intent-driven, cross-platform intelligent agents.

Fang Fei highlighted a critical industry shift: the move from GUI-based interactions to agent-centric UIs, long-term user context over isolated apps, and a paradigm where the device becomes an environment for understanding and connecting with users via natural language and intent. Users will no longer flick through apps but instead communicate with intelligent agents that plan and execute services seamlessly.

However, this shift isn’t without challenges. The existing mobile internet relies heavily on app-based traffic—developers attracting users through applications, platforms controlling distribution and entry points, and users consuming services within a fragmented app ecosystem. Transitioning to an agent-driven model requires a significant upheaval of these structures, potentially restructuring data sharing, interface protocols, and industry standards. Collaboration among manufacturers to establish common protocols and open ecosystems will be crucial.

Looking ahead, Honor’s plan to release the full technical framework in July 2026 and subsequent phased features via MagicOS 11 suggests that the race for the next-generation operating system may intensify between major brands like Xiaomi and Huawei. As these tech giants race to define the future interface of connected devices, the question becomes: what will a truly AI-powered operating system look like, and which company will lead the way?

Honor’s announcement at MWC Shanghai has prompted the industry to reconsider the fundamental nature of operating systems in the age of AI agents. As this paradigm takes shape, all eyes will be on how these systems evolve from mere tools into autonomous, intelligent partners that redefine our interaction with technology.