A week with Huawei Mate 30 Pro: is there life without Google services

03 February 2020
I was missing a lot of apps, but I found a surprising amount of free time in the process.

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  • w
  • wasox
  • 8V}
  • 03 Feb 2020

So, in the end, this device will only sell big in itd home market, where google services are banned, I think it id ok, ccp-huawei had a huge captive market there, chinese people HAVE to use only what ccp allows them to, fine, just fine

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    • Philly TJ
    • EXr
    • 03 Feb 2020

    Philly TJ, 03 Feb 2020I bought the Huawei Max from China this time last year with... moreusing non-Google Android is like driving a stick shift...or using Linux. you have to tinker with it and it's not for everyone...matter fact it's for the brave few.

      • P
      • Philly TJ
      • EXr
      • 03 Feb 2020

      I bought the Huawei Max from China this time last year with android 8.1 and i was able to get GMS on it and it was fine. i did a 2GB update few months ago and non of my Google apps work so I now live life without Google. you have to download apks and if u don't get the right "version" sometimes the app won't work. so it's trial/test sometimes.

      the only thing i can't figure out is...since my phone # is Google Voice...I can use Skype to call out but I can't receive calls. and I can't receive txt to my Google Voice either. I can't receive calls nor can i text.

      Google maps = Here we go for GPS or maps.google.com on brave browser if i want to look around on a map
      Chrome = Brave
      Google Photos = Amazon Photos
      Youtube = m.youtube.com on the brave browser LOL
      Gmail = Outlook app (yes you can get Gmail notifications via Outlook app)

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • sxs
        • 03 Feb 2020

        I think this phone is for me, because most of the time I use apkpure at all not the play store and I disabled it on the 1st day is like I am android user but I just don't want the apps of google itself even do I stop using other google apps but keeps on updating on there own and installing a new thing that I don't care at all it's a frustration for me that I don't want to upgrade apps that I don't really use and can't remove and they piled up into my small internal memory it's sucks, I find this phone a good thing for me android is good and google apps are crap for me

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • MsZ
          • 03 Feb 2020

          Nanees , 03 Feb 2020I have a huawei p20 working normally with GMS, but I'm usin... moreHave you ever tried to sideload something like "here"? I usually install an older version of this (without the ads) and so far it always worked. But I haven't tried to this an a device without GMS. As my previous huawei phone was a Honor 8 which I liked very much atm.

            Anonymous, 03 Feb 2020There is one thing I dont understand: I do agree with the f... moreyou don't pay for the gapps,you pay for the hardware of the phone,the display,cameras,battery etc.,not the freaking google apps man!!!

              Anonymous, 03 Feb 2020I would like to see you get Netflix to run in HD then on th... morei don't use netflix on mobile device,if i want to see a movie i go to the cinema or watch it on big screen tv.

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • KSu
                • 03 Feb 2020

                Anonymous, 03 Feb 2020I'm currently reducing my dependence on Google. I'm using Y... moreYouTube vanced with microG is much better than newpipe as a YouTube alternative.

                  harwey, 03 Feb 2020No Google no cry...:)I'm not crying because I have got all Google Services in my Mate 30 Pro 5G.

                    Anonymous, 03 Feb 2020how can it be masterpiece with throttling SoC inside? desi... moreRead a few before posting here:

                    https://en.wikichip.org/wiki/Kirin_990

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                      • Anonymous
                      • 39b
                      • 03 Feb 2020

                      I'm currently reducing my dependence on Google. I'm using YouTube frequently and occasionally Maps and Drive. As an old Nokia fan I've installed Here for navigation, will set how it goes and I'm hopeful about Huawei's partnership with TomTom. For storage I'm setting up a 2TB NextCloud instance at home.

                      As for YouTube, I suppose it's time to migrate all subscriptions to Newpipe. I'm not aware of a better option.

                      Huawei have already started adding important local apps for banking so I don't see much of an issue.

                        No Google no cry...:)

                          • S
                          • Shui8
                          • KZK
                          • 03 Feb 2020

                          Anonymous, 03 Feb 20201. not true, good optimized SoC is not throttling. just co... moreOnly on benchmark stress test. In real life? Both Kirin 990 & 980 can play any high quality games on maximum quality smoothly, period. No difference for the likes of SD855 & SD845 as well. Score numbers are just better on specsheet & future proof for another 3 years. By that time, most people upgrade their phones already.

                          If you using your phone just by benchmarking instead of gaming, ok.

                            Anonymous, 03 Feb 20201. not true, good optimized SoC is not throttling. just co... moreYou mean a well cooled SoC does not throttle much? There are many phones with SD855 that runs relatively fine under load, there are some that show rather embarrassing sustained performance.

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • Sex
                              • 03 Feb 2020

                              Nick Tagataka, 03 Feb 20201. Every SoC throttles under heavy load. 2. Design is pure... more1. not true, good optimized SoC is not throttling.
                              just compare it with SD855, not to mention 865.... all of them are 7nm process.

                                Anonymous, 03 Feb 2020how can it be masterpiece with throttling SoC inside? desi... more1. Every SoC throttles under heavy load.
                                2. Design is purely subjective.

                                  Anonymous, 03 Feb 2020I think he mean as a inferior device than its predecessor i... moreInferior than its predecessor how?

                                    im quite comfortable all the apps i need are in the appgallery. especially the banking apps.

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • Sex
                                      • 03 Feb 2020

                                      Kissio, 03 Feb 2020I have GMS installed on my Mate 30 Pro 5G (LIO-AN00) thanks... morehow can it be masterpiece with throttling SoC inside?
                                      design-wise, not bad but still not good enough to charge you $1000

                                        • y
                                        • yes,yes,yo
                                        • aX5
                                        • 03 Feb 2020

                                        As a windows phone user, I'll say that a phone without google and social apps is awful.