Huawei has some stunning flagship smartphones in its line-up, which usually would be recommended without reservation. But as we explained in our review of the P40 Pro earlier this year, there is one colossal problem holding back the latest offerings from the Chinese giant. And that’s the lack of support for Google apps.
For over a year, the United States government has been clamping down on Huawei, putting pressure on the Shenzhen-based firm amid Donald Trump’s ongoing trade war with China. Since May 2019, Huawei has been on the trade blacklist known as the Entity Lis, which blocks US companies from doing business with companies on the list. As a result, Google apps – like YouTube, Google Maps – not being available on new Huawei devices straight out of the box. Not only that, but Google services – like the Google Play Store, which houses a huge number of Android apps, like Facebook and Instagram, eBooks, movie rentals and more.
The P30 Pro was one of the last Huawei devices to have access to popular Google services, including the Google Play Store. But newer devices such as the P40 Pro and the Mate 40 Pro have to do without. As a result, Huawei has re-released the P30 Pro following the launch of the P40 Pro – despite the latter boasting a better camera and faster processor.
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There are workarounds to get the Play Store back on recently released Huawei devices, while the Petal Search also helps Huawei fans find Western apps not on the App Gallery.
And now there is another solution Huawei fans can turn to if they want to get Google and other popular Western apps on their shiny new smartphone. As revealed in a post by 9to5Google, Googlefier is a new app which makes it easier to install the Google apps the P40 Pro is missing out on.
The app provides step-by-step instructions for installing Google apps on Huawei or Honor devices without the need to connect to your PC.
It’s important to point out the Googlefier runs on EMUI 10, but not on EMU 11 at the moment. Which means – as it stands – it isn’t compatible with the upcoming Mate 40 Pro right now. And it’s also important to bear in mind that Googlefier, which is the brainchild of XDA forums member bender_007, is not an officially licensed app.
So it doesn’t offer the same level of support and protection as the official Google Play Store. As 9to5Google explained: “It’s worth noting early on that this method is not entirely legitimate and is not the same as proper Google support, nor do we recommend any but the most tech-savvy person out there rely on Googlefier to get the Play Store and GMS on an uncertified Huawei or Honor device.
“You are still better off relying on Huawei’s HMS core, and the AppGallery for a safer experience that is free from issues — although with a more substantial lack of ‘true’ access to many of your favourite apps. This is effectively an unofficial way of installing MGS on devices that do not ship with Google apps pre-installed.”
In other news, rumours have emerged that Samsung has recently received approval from the US to supply displays panels parts to one of their biggest customers – Huawei.
Over the summer the US announced they were extending their trade ban on Huawei, meaning any firm that produces a component with any form of American tech in it needed approval before supplying these parts to the P40 Pro and P30 Pro makers.
The strong arm move has impacted the Kirin chipsets that Huawei uses on its phone, and the firm has reportedly been stock piling parts while they try and find a solution to this problem.
But the reports of Huawei at least being able to still continue to get some of their crucial parts, which Reuters reported on, from Samsung will at least give the Shenzhen-based firm a bit of a reprieve.