Huawei has confirmed its first smartphone made without access to Google apps will be released in the UK later this month
- The Mate 30, revealed in September, will finally come to the UK on February 20
- Huawei had put its UK release on hold due to its inability to support Google apps
- The device comes with a 6.53-inch display as well as a quadruple rear camera
Chinese smartphone maker Huawei has confirmed that its first smartphone made without access to Google apps will be released in the UK later this month.
The Mate 30, which goes on sale for £899 on February 20 in the UK, was originally revealed in September last year.
But it did not receive a UK release date due to its inability to support Google Mobile Services apps such as YouTube, Gmail and Maps.
Huawei was unable to support Google’s full suite of apps on the Mate 30 because of trade restrictions placed on the company by the US.
The US effectively blacklisted Huawei in May last year amid ongoing allegations that the company is a threat to American national security – which Huawei has denied.
The new Mate 30 Pro will therefore launch in the UK with EMUI 10, Huawei’s own smartphone operating system based on Android 10.
A Huawei Mate 30 Pro smartphone on display in a Huawei brand store at the Aviapark shopping mall in Russia. Mate 30 Pro became the first Huawei smartphone to go without Google Mobile Services
‘We are delighted to bring the Mate 30 Pro, a device which unleashes the full potential of the smartphone, to the UK,’ said Anson Zhang, managing director of Huawei’s UK consumer business group.
‘Huawei prides itself on delivering stand-out experiences for our customers – and the Mate 30 Pro is the ultimate expression of that philosophy, redefining what is possible on a smartphone.’
Huawei has been able to use its own version of Android – Google’s operating system for mobile devices – because it is open source and therefore freely available.
But it hasn’t had access to the Google Play Store, which hosts the millions of apps available on Android.
The Chinese firm has therefore promoted and enhanced its own ‘Huawei App Gallery’ as an alternative.
The Mate 30 will be sold exclusively through Carphone Warehouse.
Instead of Google Mobile Services, Huawei launched its own version of Google’s Play Store, the Huawei App Gallery
To make up for the lack of Google apps, UK customers who order the new Mate 30 Pro will also get a pair of its noise-cancelling FreeBuds 3 wireless headphones and a Huawei Watch GT2.
‘This device does not come with Google Mobile Services, so we have a dedicated VIP support team on hand for you once purchased,’ the Carphone Warehouse website says.
The Mate 30 comes with a 6.53-inch display as well as a quadruple rear camera system which includes two 40-megapixel lens, an eight-megapixel lens and a 3D depth-sensing camera.
Huawei’s announcement comes on the day rival manufacturer Samsung is due to unveil its own new line of flagship smartphones, as well as a new foldable device.
The Korean tech giant ran an advert for the new ‘Galaxy Z Flip’ during the Oscars on Sunday night.
HOW CHINA COULD TARGET APPLE AND OTHER US COMPANIES IN RETALIATION FOR HUAWEI BAN
China could retaliate against America for its treatment of Huawei in a number of devastating ways – the most likely would be to targeting US companies that do business in the region, such as Apple. Greater China ranks third among the regions that generate the most revenue for the company, behind the US and Europe.
Additionally, the majority of Apple’s supply chain consists of Chinese companies that manufacture key components like sensors, OLED displays and other parts used in the iPhone.
If Apple can’t rely on Chinese manufacturers, it may be forced to move to suppliers in the US or elsewhere, which could result in an increase in iPhone prices.
Additionally, some Chinese consumers have already latched onto a growing ‘Boycott Apple’ movement in retaliation, which means Apple may suffer lasting damage to its brand in the region as a result of the Huawei ban.
Apple isn’t the only US firm that’s likely to feel an impact. Tech companies that rely on Huawei as a major will also be hurt.
‘The announced tariffs, if implemented, will be the gut punch for tech companies and its suppliers,’ said Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives.
Intel, Microsoft, Qualcomm Broadcom and Micron provide components or services that are used in Huawei products, while Corning glass and Dolby speakers are used in Huawei phones.
What devices could be impacted by the decision?
Existing and new Huawei phones will be hurt the most when it comes to security updates.
These devices will no longer be able to access over-the-air security updates supplied by Android, as well as new software versions, like Google’s upcoming Android Q.
Google ships Android security updates to device owners automatically.
But Huawei devices will be forced to use the open source version of Android, which means the firm will learn of security updates the day they’re issued and, as a result, will have to ship them out to users manually.
This could leave Huawei devices vulnerable to attacks or other security flaws in the time that it takes to download new security updates.
Huawei would also be left out of future Android software updates. Since it’s using an open source version, it can’t legally market its phones as being Android devices.
The ban will most likely affect Huawei’s line of Mate laptops as well.
Huawei’s computer business relies heavily on chips made by Intel, Qualcomm and others, as well as Microsoft’s Windows operating system.
Since these companies aren’t doing business with Huawei, it’s not yet clear what this means for future laptops made by the firm.
Source: Read Full Article