Huawei has added three more models to its list of eligible devices for the stable HarmonyOS 4.2 update: the Huawei Pocket S, Huawei Mate Xs 2, and Huawei P50 Pocket.
The update is now available with the 4.2.0.120 build number and requires 8GB of internal storage to be installed. Aside from the models mentioned above, it should also be received by the Huawei Mate Xs 2 Collector’s Edition and Huawei P50 Pocket Custom Edition.
The news follows the rollout of the update to the Mate 60 series and Pocket 2 devices last month, joining the Huawei Mate X5, which received the update earlier. The update is also available in Pura 70 series, which comes pre-installed with HarmonyOS 4.2. Soon, more Huawei devices (including smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and wearables) are expected to receive the update.
The update is expected to enhance various sections of the system and bring some new features. Some of the things users could expect include improved security, better system performance, and some new user interface details.
Here is the changelog of the HarmonyOS 4.2 (4.2.0.120):
Themes
- Introduced a new geometry party theme that lets you select distinct triangular shapes to create a group thus, begins the party by following the click gestures to scroll above or below the lock screen.
- Added a new geometric sticker theme which can pile up different triangular shapes or colorful stickers, creating a personalized theme. Moreover, users can interact with these stickers with click gestures on the lock screen.
- Added a new mood fun theme where you can choose from various cute expressions freely as well as combine them to form an enriched theme via several layout methods.
- Added a new mood sticker theme which uses a rich collection of popular emoticons and 1500+ mood emoticons to form an ever-changing interactive theme hence, making the lock screen more fun.
- The artistic character theme can replace the custom background when cutting out the picture or changing the background, making it more creative.
User Interface
- Celia suggestions widgets can be stacked for display to improve the user experience.
- Polishes the operation details of more scenarios to make visual effects, prompts, etc. more refined and accurate.
System
- Optimize the global search experience and make the home screen pull-down feature smoother.
- Improve the user experience in various scenarios such as application startup, task switching, sliding, interrupting animations, etc., giving you a smoother and smoother operating feel.
- Added a new WLAN network automatic connection tab, which can individually control whether to auto-connect to previously connected WLAN networks.
- Added a new Bluetooth device recording switch. When recording from a distance, you can connect Huawei headphones to record via Bluetooth to get better quality recording.
Security
- Integrates a device-cloud cooperation mechanism to achieve more accurate and faster control of malicious apps.
- Added an anti-false alarm feature to smartly identify viruses and risky applications, making HarmonyOS more pure and secure.
- Blocks in-app ads (pop-up ads when the phone is shaken) by preventing apps from obtaining the device orientation. (Settings > Privacy > Permission Manager > Device Orientation).
- Better control on notification sending permissions for new third-party apps.
- Incorporated the May 2024 security patch to enhance the system security.
Applications
- Upgraded the ‘Huawei Reading’ service. Based on HarmonyOS features, it provides you with a high-quality reading experience such as millions of good books, AI emotional reading, and cross-device circulation.
Optimizations
- Optimizes the display effect of some apps’ interfaces. (for baseline version 4.2.0.110)
