As expected, Huawei launched the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro smartphones today. But the new handsets will ship sans Google apps, thanks to a U.S. governmental blacklisting.
The handsets are both technically impressive, especially the Mate 30 Pro, which boasts a quad-lens camera system with a 40 MP primary sensor, an edge-to-edge “horizon” display with elegantly curved sides, and the Kirin 990 5G system on a chip (SoC).
But the big news, of course, is that the Mate 30 series utilizes the open source version of Android and doesn’t ship with core Google apps like the Google Play Store, Gmail, Google Maps, and YouTube. Huawei didn’t discussed the Google issue during the launch, but some have speculated that it will use so-called “stub” apps on the phones, as it does with certain models in China, that will auto-update to the real Google apps when the user activates the phones. Huawei officials have only said that it will be “quite easy” for users to get the apps.
Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — and get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift!
"*" indicates required fields
I’ll report back when we know more, but the lack of built-in Google apps, plus uncertainty about Huawei’s future in smartphones generally, is sure to hurt sales, especially outside of China.
Huawei will also announce new fitness trackers, smart watches, TVs, and tablets at the event.
PeterC
<blockquote><em><a href="#468197">In reply to wright_is:</a></em></blockquote><p>I gotta be honest, this is my opinion too. I usually have to flash lineage os onto a oneplus for this type of handset, or sailfish onto an Xperia device. Now if I buy this I get a great designed handset, awesome camera, fabulous screen and no google. If they do similar with mid range Honor branded devices I know so many companies who’d buy them for the same reason.</p><p><br></p><p>We so desperately need a 3rd mobile os alternative, or an EU based app store/os alternative, but this is just as good. I honestly think they will succeed in their huawei app store, not in the US obviously, but I see that as a bonus really. Breaking free of US tech dominance is much needed but it will take time, but their home market sales alone will ensure success, I’m just surprised they didn’t make one mate 30 variant harmony os based, I thought/understood the lite version would be EMUI 10 on harmony os… </p>
PeterC
<blockquote><em><a href="#468262">In reply to lprell:</a></em></blockquote><p>No, they had to stop working on future chip designs, past chip designs are licensed in perpetuity. Component supply for manufacturing though is where the tough times will come for huawei, maybe.</p>
PeterC
<blockquote><em><a href="#468235">In reply to Vladimir:</a></em></blockquote><p>Kirin is produced by hisilicon, a huawei company. The chips are manufactured by TSMC who also manufacture apples A series chips. There are a number of arm licensed chips in the pipeline which were licensed prior to the ban which whilst arm is a British company they were bought by Japans SoftBank a few years back. Due to some US IP involvment in the designs arm was “pressganged” to stop business ties with hisilicon.</p><p><br></p><p>Huawei have a few lines of chip developments which already have perpetual licenses from arm holdings granted, and there has been massive investment in the last 5 years in China for its own chip designs and manufacturing facilities too and now form part of their self reliance program. </p>
dontbeevil
<p>love it, unfortunately I bought a p30 pro few months ago with scroogle apps, hopefully futur P series also will come without spybloatware</p>
PeterC
<blockquote><em><a href="#468216">In reply to lprell:</a></em></blockquote><p>It’s always worth remembering that China has some 700 million or more smartphone users who don’t have access to google play store or apps anyway…. they use Chinese based app stores. Export huawei models had google play store etc. These are the devices where there will be sales downturns. The US trade ban oddly is now forcing huawei to now develop its own App Store to cater to European and other western regional users, and today they announced a $1.5 billion developer program for app coders to develop for them. That’s huge.</p>