Huawei P40 Pro with AppGallery - any experiences ?

[Benni]

I am thinking of getting a new contract (in Germany) and there is a notable difference between P30 Pro and P40 Pro on offer,
the 30 for 59€ and the 40 for 35€ with flats on everything.

The question is : How good or bad is the lack of google apps ?
I use my phone mainly for calling, and take lots of photos, no social media, gaming, banking, streaming.

Some internet use but mainly mobile e-mail and some searches. I have 4 apps which I downloaded from the AppStore.

Does anyone here have this P40 pro and use the Huawei App Gallery ?

[The_Jackal]

Well the review on the Gadget Show put me of getting one for sure.
But if you only use the phone and take photos, you should have any issues.
What 4 apps do you use? The lack of apps is a real big minus. Even Google Maps is a bodge through a webpage and didnt seem to work. That alone would put me off.
There are plenty of bloody good phones these days, you dont need this make.
The A71 will do all you want and probably cheaper. Its the best mid range phone. For what you use it for you dont need a flagship phone.

[stevoknevo]

You can get Google services on to the P40 Pro - you need to rollback the firmware to do it, then update to the latest firmware again, but it doesn't seem to work for everybody? Have a swatch on here - https://forum.xda-developers.com/huawei-p40-pro/ho...

And there's a few people happily running without Google services - you can install Vanced Manager and their MicroG package (install this before Vanced) that gives you ad free YouTube/YT music, Gmail can be directed to the stock email app, Aurora store is essentially a mirror of the Play store, Netflix only works in standard def as its not a supported device etc.

And given what's going on in the States, it might very well receive official Google services in a few months time?

@TheJackal - OP stated he takes a lot of photos, P40 Pro is one of the best phone cameras available, A71 won't come close in that aspect.

[Benni]

Thanks for the replies so far.
The camera is indeed THE argument for my planned purchase, since Vodafone (D) offers that my choices are a bit limited.

I have read that there are workarounds to get playstore apps, but am not techie enough to faff around with operating systems,
too afraid ending up with a brick, so will have to do with whatever this appgallery offers.

Not too worried if my data end up on a US server or a chinese one.

I currently have 2 mail apps, which work with Android and I have to do the setup manually anyway,
plus a level app and a QR code reader, that´s all.

I can view youtube through the browser if I understood that correctly.
I have read that google maps might be downloaded to the 40 but does not work properly,
but TomTom or other nav apps are available, for car I have a seperate TomTom anyway, old git that I am.

[Andeh1]

Lack of banking, NFC, and 'non typical apps' for me, ie; my car, smart heating, smart TV control etc etc, lots of many small irritants that put me off.

[The_Jackal]

Wellif you arent techy and the camera is important, just go with any of the Samsung S phones?
Anything from the S9 upwards is going to have an amazing camera and superfast processor. Im still amazed how fast my S9 processes HD video editing.

[Kitchski]

My Honor View 20 met an untimely demise (under the bootlid of a Citroen Saxo - I was surprised, I though the bootlid would have come off worse!)

Anyway, looking at replacements (my contract is up in Feb anyway), and the P40 Pro does look an absolute weapon. I've had this Honor, and had a P9 prior to it. Both were great (the Honor in particular was fantastic, with no real drop in battery life, speed...anything. Only issue was the USB C port wore out and the charge wire wouldn't stay in. P9 did the same thing). The fact Huawei's phones are so good is why I've managed to go back to the P9 to use temporarily (still had 57% battery left...after being untouched for 12 months!)

Anyway, I'm a Huawei fanboi (clearly) but the Google thing is causing me to hesitate too. I've heard those using PhoneClone manage to get a lot of the Google apps working, and the AppGallery seems to be being updated very quickly - have to give them credit for how fast they've reacted.

Thing is, the P40's party piece is the camera. With everything else, I'm seeing the OnePlus and Oppo alternatives as likely being nearly as good, and cheaper.

Has anyone here actually got a P40 Pro? Or any sans-Google Huawei from the Mate 30 onwards?

[aquarianone]

Probably worth sticking with P30 Pro (new Edition) as it'll just work with no issues, and still has an awesome camera.
(my Mate 20 Pro is still going strong, and getting regular updates)

Or looking at Samsungs flagship -


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT6HFpOPE-k

[gtidriver]

I had the P40Pro for 2 days, it soon went back in the box to Vodafone. I could do with out google but I couldn't do without the contactless payment side of the phone, I chopped it in for the P30pro new edition. Huawei have that phone for sale @£499 on their website at the moment.

[7n8n]

Benni said:

I can view youtube through the browser if I understood that correctly.

I would download Newpipe and/or YouTube Vanced. They are better than the standard app as they are ad-free.

[Benni]

Thenks for the replies.

In the end, I bottled it, and went for a P30 Pro "New Edition" whatever, I am not sooo techie and will see how I get along with the new phone/camera.

[Kitchski]

I bottled it too. Ended up leaving the warm but intrusive embrace of Huawei, and went over to Oppo. Impressed so far, in fairness.