Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. News

Huawei will release the Mate 30 Pro in the U.K. … without Google apps

By

The Huawei Mate 30 Pro will be yours to own in the United Kingdom beginning February 20, with preregistration opening on February 11. The phone will be sold exclusively through retailer Carphone Warehouse, and comes with an exceptionally generous bonus package containing a black Huawei Watch GT2 and a pair of Huawei Freebuds 3 true wireless headphones. The price has been set at 900 British pounds, or about $1,160, which is competitive given the device’s specification.

All sounds normal, right? Well, not exactly, because the Huawei Mate 30 Pro is not a completely “normal” phone. Due to the continued battle with the U.S., Huawei does not have access to Google’s mobile services which includes the Google Play Store. Therefore, although the phone runs Android 10, it does not have the Play Store or the preinstalled suite of Google apps. While anyone who follows mobile news will probably know this, many regular people just looking for a new phone do not, and that presents a unique situation.

Recommended Videos

Registration needed for the Mate 30 Pro

Visit Carphone Warehouse’s Mate 30 Pro registration page, and a note states:

“The new Mate 30 Pro comes with Android 10, EMUI 10 and the Huawei App Gallery. This device does not come with Google Mobile Services, so we have a dedicated VIP support team on hand for you once purchased.”

The Huawei Mate 30 Pro may not be available in Carphone Warehouse stores for you to try out, making the support team an important part of the initial setup process for some new owners. How much of a pain is the lack of the Google Play Store? It does make life difficult, but not impossible. For a start, there is Huawei’s own growing App Gallery store, and you can install Amazon’s App Store too, where many apps missing from the App Gallery can be found.

Also, as we found on our review Mate 30 Pro, if you use a Phone Clone app it’s possible to install some missing and otherwise difficult to obtain apps too. However, this is a workaround and you probably will encounter bugs and issues with updates by trying to sideload apps outside of an app store. The software will be the aspect that most will struggle with on the Mate 30 Pro, but the hardware is great.

The Mate 30 Pro is worth the effort

The camera is the real star here. It has two 40-megapixel cameras, an 8-megapixel telephoto camera, and a 3D sensing depth camera too. It takes incredible super-slow-motion videos, 4K ultra-low light time lapses, has a 5x optical zoom, and a 30x digital zoom, plus an array of artificial intelligence-driven features too. On top of that, the Mate 30 Pro uses the latest Kirin 990 processor, has 3D face unlock, a stunning waterfall-style 6.5-inch screen, and a buttonless chassis too.

Those who want the Huawei Mate 30 Pro aren’t going to have it easy, with the necessity to register interest first, and then adjusting to a new way of app installation, but the phone is worth the effort.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Andy Boxall
Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
The U.K. wants to break up Google and Apple’s cloud gaming stranglehold
Playing Diablo Immortal on the Asus ROG Phone 5.

The U.K.'s Competition and Market Authority (CMA) is opening an investigation into Apple and Google's dominance of the mobile browser and cloud gaming markets, the body announced today. Both companies could face fines and additional regulation if found guilty of anticompetitive behavior.

The investigation comes as a result of a consultation the body had launched in June, finding that Apple and Google's duopoly on mobile allowed them to control not just operating systems, but app stores and web browsers. The CMA says that both companies controlled 97% of all mobile browsing experiences in the U.K. in 2021 and notes that they could effectively control cloud gaming through browser restrictions. The consultation revealed support from browser vendors and cloud gaming service providers who claim to be limited by the duopoly, with about 86% requesting for an in-depth investigation.

Read more
Google wants you to know Android apps aren’t just for phones anymore
Person holding Samsung Galaxy smartphone showing Google Play Store.

When most people think of the Google Play Store, the first thing that comes to mind is smartphones. However, the spread of the Android ecosystem is far broader than that, and Google is taking steps to increase awareness of this and make it easier for folks to find apps on the Play Store for their smart TVs, watches, and even cars.

In a blog post today, the Google Play team announced three significant changes that should make it easier for Android fans to discover apps for all their devices, right from their phone. This includes recommendations of apps for non-phone devices, a search filter to focus on only games optimized for non-phone devices, and even a remote install feature that will let you deliver those apps to your Android TV, Wear OS watch, or Android Automotive-equipped car.

Read more
Huawei’s Mate 50 Pro is here with an insane 200x zoom
Huawei's Mate 50 Pro set over a sunset.

Huawei today announced the international release of its Mate 50 flagship. The phone, formerly released in China exclusively, will now be making its way to Europe. It'll bring features like satellite-aided texting, a powerful set of cameras, and an elegant design for just a little over 1,000 euros ($961).

Starting with the design, Huawei's front brings back the notch that was once banished from Android phones. It's wider than what you'd see on an iPhone 13 or iPhone 14, and the company says that's where its facial unlock system lives. The rear of the device looks distinct, though, with the company's "Space Ring" housing its impressive cameras. Texture-wise, it comes in both glass and vegan leather finishes. The glass model comes in silver and black, while the vegan leather can be purchased in orange. The "Kunlun Glass" on the orange device is apparently 10x more drop resistant than what you'd find on the black or silver models, and there's IP68 protection.

Read more