Huawei were caught off-guard by the Trump sanctions in 2019. As sanctions bit and the Chinese telecoms giant’s ability to use the nigh-on ubiquitous Google Mobile Services became restricted, they attempted to create a new ecosystem to sate their western fanbase. Alas, many comfortable Android users were not up for jumping through any hoops in getting all of their favourite apps up and running on Huawei Mobile Services.
It’s been two years since our last major Huawei smartphone review. On a whim, I whipped out a Huawei P40 Pro review unit and started afresh on the device. I was surprised that much had changed.
Closer to Entry Level
To clarify, by starting afresh I mean without using Phone Clone to restore the device and the apps straight to the P40 Pro. The first noticeable thing during a fresh install is a page of apps tailored to your region that Huawei thinks you might like.
It’s a mixture of ads and genuinely useful stuff like Snapchat, Curve, Dublin Bus app, Revolut. The ads are worth a few bob obviously but a suggestions page full of apps you might be surprised were available on the device might have been better.
Appy Days
I skipped restoring from past EMUI devices and was fairly quickly left to fend for myself after a quick set-up. Huawei App Gallery is vastly improved since 2020. Both in terms of content and how to find/install the content.
For example, even Google apps show up on Huawei App Gallery. Huawei App Gallery offers the APKPure option or its own quick app option.
The APKPure option of downloading a third-party .apk has been streamlined to where it’s basically a two-click affair. Huawei does scan third-party .apk files to verify their integrity but the warning over using third-party .apk files might scare off the most casual of users.
The availability of apps on APKPure is impressive and practically all the apps I use were available and up to date.
But keeping them up to date is another matter with Huawei Mobile Services. Presently, apps downloaded via APK Pure or any other service (bar Huawei Gallery do not download and apply updates automatically.
However, the other approach to missing apps will come in handy with particular instances.
Quick Option
The ‘OPEN’ option through Quick App is arguably the better option for phone casuals and the only way to get the (mostly) full experience from Google’s apps – something we’ll go into more depth on later.
Quick App simply opens the browser version, allows you to save your log-in and subsequently sign-in (mostly) seamlessly. Quick App also adds a shortcut icon to your homepage.
This works amazingly well for all the apps I used including YouTube, Gmail and Google Maps. The Quick App keeps you signed in and aside from the less-than-optimised layout of each in their browser form, it works the vast majority of the time.
Over a few weeks, I found that YouTube though Quick App would sign me out at random every few days.
YouTube and Gmail were mostly functionally intact. I liked, commented and subscribed – notifications should be on but I couldn’t get that feature to work.
While Google Maps placed me, stored my home and otherwise directed me as normal, it wasn’t able to interface with compatible smartwatches.
Google It
Google apps still do not allow a user to sign in on the apps without its Google Mobile Services installed.
YouTube and Google Maps apps downloaded via APK files are useless without GMS. YouTube will kick you tell you need GMS to use the app and will exit to home screen. Gmail will simply refuse to let you sign in.
To use Google Apps without the Quick App option, you’ll need GSuite, which we discuss below.
Quirks
There are two notable quirks to be seen in two of the world’s most popular apps. Netflix is easily available on the App Gallery via APKPure. Users can then sign in as normal. However, content is restricted to Standard Definition or SD content as latter Huawei’s lack the DRM for HD, HDR and 4K streaming.
WhatsApp is similarly easy to access, download and sign-in. However, your Back-Up file is likely in a Google Drive and you can’t bring it over. Without Phone Clone, that content would be unavailable on the new device when using WhatsApp.
It must be noted that both can be spoofed by slightly more advanced users with an app suite called GSpace.
GSpace solves both of these issues, allowing a GSpace version of Netflix in glorious HD or 4K and with the GSpace WhatsApp being able to restore your Google Drive WA backup.
GSpace Option
The other, other accessible option is to use the GSpace app. GSpace effectively tricks Google into thinking you are rocking a pre-Trump ban device like the Huawei P30 Pro or Nova 4.
It works perfectly. Shortcuts can be made to each entry under the GSpace umbrella to make it almost as easy to use as running the apps natively.
The downside that the app is ad-supported unless you pay to get rid of the ads. While a couple of quid a month won’t break the bank, it’s a subscription to use your phone as intended where other workarounds exist.
The Workarounds Though
The need for workarounds was the biggest problem with the first western rollout of Huawei Mobile Service devices. Any extra work to get it running and any compromise on the user experience harmed the prospects of HMS.
Reviews advised consumers of the work involved and of the unfamiliarity of the platform. Consumers duly obliged by not buying the devices.
Since then, more apps are supported natively but the majority of users will still need to avail of Huawei’s workarounds.
The effort involved in setting up those apps now is mostly minimal, the implementation of APKPure into App Gallery is excellent.
Scanning each third-party app offers some peace of mind. But the prior warning message about third-apps and Huawei’s exclusion from liability is likely to put a few people off.
Similarly, Quick Apps work really well at filling the hole left by native Google apps but the mobile web versions of the apps are likely different enough to put off the most casual of phone casuals.
GSpace is a small step up in terms of the expertise needed. But in exchange you get what you want running perfectly. However, GSpace costs money or comes with ads so it’s hardly a perfect solution either.
The improved HMS experience does lower the bar of entry though. Whether Huawei choose to once again push their smartphone business in the west once they feel like that bar is low enough is another matter.
As it stands, those minimally versed in smartphone maintenance could easily live with HMS. Those tempted by the still competitive Huawei P40 Pro would find that camera comes with minimal loss of convenience.
