Huawei Mate 30 Series Launched Without Google Apps as US Sanctions Bite

Huawei is using its own, stripped-down version of Android, whose basic code is provided free of charge by Google.

By Associated Press | Updated: 20 September 2019 10:49 IST

Huawei Mate 30 Series Launched Without Google Apps as US Sanctions Bite

Photo Credit: Christof Stache/ AFP

Highlights

Mate 30 phone series runs on open source version of Android
Mate 30 sports a four-camera system
Prices start at EUR 799

Huawei launched a new flagship smartphone on Thursday but it comes without popular Google apps such as Chrome or YouTube after US sanctions kicked in, limiting its appeal to consumers.

The Chinese tech giant's Mate 30 phone series, including one for new 5G networks, runs on an open source version of Google's Android operating system, which by default doesn't come preinstalled with the US company's suite of popular apps and services that licensed versions have.

It also doesn't come with the Google Play Store, the main way users outside China access Android apps.

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Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei's consumer business, told reporters after the launch that consumers "can download (the apps) by themselves" from third party sites.

"For us, we can't really install the apps."

Huawei, the world's second-biggest smartphone maker, is fighting to save its business after the Trump administration blocked access to US components and technology in May on national security grounds.

Washington has issued temporary exemptions that let Huawei maintain software for existing devices, but they don't cover new products such as the Mate 30.

The Mate 30, powered by Huawei's new Kirin 990 advanced chipset, sports a four-camera system and screen that curves nearly 90 degrees around its long edges, for a borderless effect. Prices start at EUR 799 ($880 or roughly Rs. 62,600).

Huawei is using its own, stripped-down version of Android, whose basic code is provided free of charge by Google.

The Chinese company's phones are popular in Europe and Asia. but little known in the US, where its telecom switching gear has been effectively blocked for years over fears it could be used for spying by China's communist rulers.

The Mate 30 will go on sale next week in China but won't hit European stores until next month as the company gathers consumer feedback, said Yu.

He said the company hadn't expected the trade dispute to last so long when it was planning the launch.

"This US-China trade war delayed us and is still not stopping, so we've become the bargaining chip between two great nations," Yu said.

Losing access to Google's mobile apps will make it harder for Huawei to battle Samsung for top spot in the mobile phone market, because it will be less attractive to wireless carriers, said Jean Baptiste Su, principal analyst at Atherton Research.

"I don't think operators will risk having millions of disappointed customers that rely on Google services (who) see it doesn't work on their brand new devices," he said.

In a bid to reduce reliance on Google, Yu said Huawei is spending $1 billion encouraging global developers to make apps compatible with its own app gallery, which is mainly used in China. It will take a 15 percent commission, compared with 30 percent rivals such as Apple charge, he said.

Huawei Mate 30

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.62-inch

Processor HiSilicon Kirin 990

Front Camera 24-megapixel

Rear Camera 40-megapixel + 16-megapixel + 8-megapixel

RAM 6GB

Storage 128GB

Battery Capacity 4200mAh

OS Android 10

Resolution 1080x2340 pixels

More Huawei mobiles Huawei mobiles price in India

Huawei Mate 30 Pro

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.53-inch

Processor HiSilicon Kirin 990

Front Camera 32-megapixel

Rear Camera 40-megapixel + 40-megapixel + 8-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB

Battery Capacity 4500mAh

OS Android 10

Resolution 1176x2400 pixels

More Huawei mobiles Huawei mobiles price in India

Huawei Mate 30 5G

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.62-inch

Processor HiSilicon Kirin 990

Front Camera 24-megapixel

Rear Camera 40-megapixel + 16-megapixel + 8-megapixel

RAM 6GB

Storage 128GB

Battery Capacity 4200mAh

OS Android 10

Resolution 1080x2340 pixels

Huawei Mate 30 Series Launched Without Google Apps as US Sanctions Bite

More Huawei mobiles Huawei mobiles price in India

Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.53-inch

Processor HiSilicon Kirin 990

Front Camera 32-megapixel

Rear Camera 40-megapixel + 40-megapixel + 8-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB

Battery Capacity 4500mAh

OS Android 10

Resolution 1176x2400 pixels

More Huawei mobiles Huawei mobiles price in India

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