Huawei Mate 30 Phones Can Still Access Google Apps And Services

Huawei has recently launched the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro, boasting lots of upgraded hardware, which includes bezel-less, edge-to-edge screens, extra cameras. However, there is a huge trade-off: they don’t have Google services and apps preinstalled as Huawei had to switch to Android open source after the US Commerce Department blacklisted the company due to national security threats. That means, those who buy the new Huawei Mate 30 lineup won’t have the Play Store and will have to use Huawei Mobile Services for apps.

But the Chinese giant has found a workaround for users, they can unlock the bootlocker in the Mate 30 phones, allowing them to reverse the company’s decision from May last year to get rid of that functionality from its handsets. Huawei confirmed this change with Android Authority and AnandTech.

Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei consumer business group said:

While the situation seems bad for both the company and its customers, being able to unlock the phone would help users install Google Play services more easily as well as restore something resembling the full experience. Android Authority said that it remains unclear how the process will work and how much support Huawei will provide for unlocking.

It was also noted by Android Authority that the average users may not have adequate technical abilities to unlock a bootloader and sideload apps, so we don't know if this feature would matter to many of Huawei users or have any influence on the sales of the Mate 30 phones. On the other hand, Anandtech said that Huawei is investing in HMS, Google may hurt more than the Chinese firm in the long run.

The company aims to sell 20 million units of the Mate 30 series, according to Android Authority. The previously successful Mate 20 and P30 phones could access Google's ecosystem and there's no telling if the Mate 30 phones will come without it. The Commerce Department has given the Chinese firm and US companies an easier transition before putting the blacklisting into full effect; however, that reprieve will apparently run out soon.

Yu said to Anandtech that the company would restore access to Google updates and services immediately if the US lifts sanctions. Ben Wood, research chief at CCS Insight said: