Huawei will not return to Google play services.

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Echoe

155 posts

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#265604 31-Jan-2020 08:04

Huawei has now stated they will not return to using Google's play services at any point. Hopefully this means people with devices like the p30 pro still get it security updates.

https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/01/30/huawei-says-it-wont-return-to-google-services-even-if-trade-ban-lifts/

Jase2985

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#2410568 31-Jan-2020 10:39

Such a shame love my Huawei phone

tehgerbil

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#2410621 31-Jan-2020 11:34

Out of interest does anyone own a non-google Huawei and would mind sharing their experiencing as how it's impacted them? (If at all.)

kobiak

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#2410625 31-Jan-2020 11:39

tehgerbil:

Out of interest does anyone own a non-google Huawei and would mind sharing their experiencing as how it's impacted them? (If at all.)

I'd assume it's as any chinese market android OS (MIUI/Flame without google services). You can side load google services, done.

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robjg63

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#2410634 31-Jan-2020 11:49

Huawei are apparently putting a lot of money into getting developers to create ported apps for their 'store'. You would be pretty silly not to make your apps available.

They are possibly big enough to get this up and running.

Maybe you may find other chinese phone makers might start using this as well - if they are smart they will be working out how others can use the new Huawei ecosytem.

Google was very unhappy about Huawei being locked out. The last thing they wanted was a third OS to break up the Apple/Google duopoly.

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NikT

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#2410710 31-Jan-2020 13:14

tehgerbil:

Out of interest does anyone own a non-google Huawei and would mind sharing their experiencing as how it's impacted them? (If at all.)

Yes, I use an NZ Mate 30 Pro with sideloaded Google Mobile Services as my daily driver. It is an exceptionally good phone and I would gladly recommend it to folks who know what they're getting into.

Google Pay is a no-go, Google Voice Match (always-on OK/Hey Google detection) is a no-go, Netflix is SD + streaming only with no downloads or HD, Disney+ is browse + cast controls only, can't stream to device. Otherwise everything I have encountered works as it would on a P30 Pro - Play Store minus SafetyNet apps, Google services, installing/updating apps etc. Works fine with my collection of Google Assistant-enabled smart home devices too.

The only other element of note is accessory compatibility. The AptX Bluetooth codecs are Qualcomm-owned and therefore not present on Mate 30 Pro. SBC, AAC, LDAC work as expected (presumably LDHC/HWA as well, but I don't currently have a compatible Bluetooth device to test this with). Wear OS smartwatches will not allow the Google account to be copied to the watch.

These particular drawbacks don't impact my use of the device at all. I can imagine a fair few folks who're used to Google Pay passing on this, but otherwise it's a use-case weigh-up.

kobiak:

I'd assume it's as any chinese market android OS (MIUI/Flame without google services). You can side load google services, done.

It is not. Domestic Chinese-market devices generally have a "stub" APK for the core of GMS embedded in the system image, which can be updated manually to full GMS, accordingly with system app privileges, and will then allow Play Store functionality etc. Huawei's new devices do not have this GMS stub. The current workaround uses a Huawei MDM API (via restoring a backup of the short-lived LZPlay app) to grant system app privileges to the GMS core. Takes ~5mins once you have the files and LZPlay can be uninstalled afterwards, but it is notably not the same as historically installing GMS on, say, a Chinese-market Xiaomi/Oppo/Vivo/Meizu/etc device.

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Quinny

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#2410711 31-Jan-2020 13:17

Sad news as I have followed the Mate line upgrading each year. Might end up back Samsung by the looks. I had held out hope it would sort. I'm too invested in Google and Chromecast sadly. Edit - Huawei have backtracked on the announcement

tehgerbil

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#2410752 31-Jan-2020 14:31

Really awesome answer thanks NikT.

I do use OK-Google a lot to activate and call and text my wife from the car hands free so that would have to be a no from me sadly.

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phoebonacci

19 posts

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#2421866 16-Feb-2020 17:07

Loving my Mate 30 Pro experience - but yes, I did side-load GMS.

I'm not sold on needing Google Pay or other features at the present time; not a Netflix on-device consumer; am a developer and for some reason the Huawei is brilliantly responsive and quick with apk installs which has halved my test cycle from my old Samsung S9. That was an unexpected win!

In short: the phone itself is spectacular, and Samsung won't win me back easily. If the Note 20 5G has mmWave, that could get me. Meanwhile the S20s are polished and sumptuous but will blow over faster than I'd blow through their feeble 128GB.