Huawei's next flagship Android smartphone,Horror the Mate 30, will ship with a major disadvantage when it launches on Sept. 18.
Due to the ongoing ban on U.S. companies working with Huawei, the company's upcoming Mate 30 will not ship with Google Play, which means users will not be able to access services like the Google Play app store, Gmail, or Google Maps, according to Reuters.
In the U.S. and Europe, Google Play services are deemed essential to Android devices. Without Google services, smartphones are basically "useless" insists my colleague Stan Schroeder, who's reviewed Huawei phones without them.
SEE ALSO: Huawei's foldable Mate X reportedly faces another delayIn China, though, the Mate 30 won't be as crippled since Google and its services are banned, and Chinese alternatives such as Baidu and Youku exist to replace them.
According to Reuters, the Mate 30 will still ship with Android — the operating system is open source and free for any company to use and modify — but the lack of the Play Store and Google's services could seriously impact Huawei's phone sales in the west.
The Mate 30 could take a serious beating particularly in Europe, where Huawei previously saw a 60% increase in phone sales from 2017-2018, but watched as sales plummeted 40% a month after the U.S. blacklisted the company and banned American companies from working with it.
For Huawei, the Mate 30 will be a test of not just its technology, but its brand. Can the Chinese company's phones still be successful without Google? Sure, it can in China, where it's the No. 1 smartphone maker. But in the west, where Google's services are core to the Android platform, Huawei doesn't stand much of a chance.
There's no doubt the the Mate 30 (and its Mate 30 Pro variant) will be an impressive smartphone — rumors already suggest it'll be packed from top to bottom with seemingly every feature imaginable — but great hardware alone isn't enough anymore. Without essential services, a new phone is just a pretty metal-and-glass slab.
Huawei's best bet for the future is to reduce its reliance on Google services and American companies so that it can't be used as a bargaining chip in any trade wars.
The company's developing its own "Harmony OS," but it's a long way off from being ready for smartphones. The biggest challenge will be getting third-party developers to port their apps to another platform.
We'll see if Huawei's Mate 30 will sink or swim, but it's not looking good so far.
Topics Android Google Huawei
Ted Cruz gets called out on the Senate floor over shutdown voteIn defense of sharing music to your Instagram StoryRandy Credico's dog Bianca is in the spotlight thanks to Roger Stone's indictmentBoo, the precious internet famous Pomeranian, is dead at age 12Apple announces iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro MaxG2 Esports launches its first allTwitter will let users edit a tweet up to 5 timesThe Apple Watch Series 8 might literally save your life'1000 People of Dance' video captures humanity at its best'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' is basically 'Cats: The Musical'Pornhub reports bump in traffic amid government shutdownEverything Apple announced at the iPhone 14 eventFind a fantasy football draft and play in a league: Where to go as NFL season nearsGiant couture meme dresses are the most relatable fashion on the runwayG2 Esports launches its first all'Wordle' today: Here's the answer, hints for September 5Cardi B posts angry Twitter video tearing into the government shutdownHow to prepare yourself for anal sexTed Cruz gets called out on the Senate floor over shutdown votePainting restoration YouTube is the niche relaxation you need Browser games were a digital awakening for an entire generation Google Fi now sells Samsung's 5G smartphones Designer babies are still a long way away, study suggests 8 new fall books to read this weekend Even this chicken sandwich is getting in on the Anthony Scaramucci fall out Apple reveals the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max Apple unveils iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini with 5G support 'Game of Thrones' star Sophie Turner said her social media followers help her land gigs 6 feminist activists to follow on social media 11 inspiring children’s books to teach kids about gender equality Gwyneth Paltrow and Goop don't really care about your health Why Netflix's 'The Haunting of Bly Manor' didn't work Militia used Facebook to plan kidnapping of Michigan governor, FBI claims How new smart speakers from Apple, Amazon, Google stack up The internet’s view of Canada, summed up in one majestic t Yelp unveils a tool to help users avoid businesses accused of racism Apple will reveal HomePod mini for $99, reliable leaker says How a Facebook prank exposed anti Facebook bans scores of fake pro Little girl rides her pony through a corner store to pick up treats