With the notable exception of the United States, Huawei’s range of smartphones has become an increasingly popular choice for tech enthusiasts in every Huawei store around the world – in fact, the business sells more smartphones than anybody other than Samsung.
As a result
When Google revealed that it was barring access to several of its apps as a result of an executive order prohibiting US companies from providing services to the Chinese manufacturer, millions of customers were taken aback.
Huawei phones, like Samsung phones, utilize Google’s Android operating system, which means that many users have grown to rely on Google apps like Maps, YouTube, Gmail, and the Chrome browser. While these apps will remain on users’ phones, Huawei owners may no longer, or for a long time, be able to receive updates through Google’s Play services.
The US administration, particularly President Donald Trump, has become increasingly antagonistic to the Chinese company in recent months, citing security concerns as a result of its strong ties to the Chinese government and military.
Further confusion was created when Trump appeared to indicate that, despite the fact that the limitations on working with Huawei Stores were put in place because of a security danger, they may be lifted as an inducement during trade talks with the Chinese government.
Availability
Because Huawei phones aren’t officially available in the United States, this article is aimed primarily at readers in Europe, where the company has had tremendous success in recent years, and other parts of the world where the company’s phones are widely available and packaged with monthly tariffs by major mobile operators. In China, where Google’s services are mainly restricted anyway, Huawei users will be largely unaffected.
In the United Kingdom
Both EE and Vodaphone have eliminated the Huawei Mate X 5G from their lineup of devices that will connect to their planned 5G mobile networks. EE’s parent firm, BT, stated that it is unsure what degree of assistance it will be able to provide to customers who purchase Huawei handsets in the future.
Owners are expected to experience a decline in the quality of service available from Google applications in these regions, as well as others such as Japan, where carriers have indicated a scaling back of support for the devices. Updates can no longer be deployed.
The US government’s battle against Huawei is frequently regarded as part of a larger trade war between the two nations, which has resulted in hefty 25% trade tariffs being imposed on some Chinese items imported into the US.
Initially,
It was focused on Huawei’s commercial and industrial equipment. Supposedly “friendly” nations like Germany and the United Kingdom were warned that intelligence-sharing agreements with the United States may be compromised unless efforts were made to block Huawei equipment from being used in carrier networks.
Moving on to consumer devices is a new and unprecedented move that, in principle, could leave millions of people out of pocket by eliminating vital services from their $1,000 handsets.
In the near term
This means Huawei phones should continue to receive application and security upgrades, but the situation is less clear in the long run. This makes it difficult to suggest Huawei smartphones, from Huawei watches especially the higher-priced premium versions at this time.
Huawei could build and release its own open-source operating system and apps
Similar to how Apple does, avoiding the requirement for customers to run Google’s apps in the first place. Given the tumultuous and shifting relationship with the US government, it’s a fair assumption that these actions are being taken right now, even if only as a precaution.
Of course, one of Huawei’s high-end smartphones’ primary selling points is the quality of its cameras, and if you’re one of the many people contemplating purchasing one only for this reason, these recent advancements may not sway your opinion.
Everyone else should wait until the end of August before making a large purchase or committing to a long-term contract obligation to see where the pieces fall when the 90-day temporary license ends.
