Huawei’s Google-less Mate 30 Pro finally hits Germany

Huawei hopes its latest flagship can still win over consumers in Europe without any Google apps

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Without Google apps, Huawei phones might only attract advanced tech users, according to German media. (Picture: Ben Sin/SCMP)

Published: 3:42pm, 12 Dec 2019

This article originally appeared on ABACUS

Huawei’s flagship Mate 30 Pro is gradually hitting shelves in Europe following a months-long delay.

The Mate 30 Pro will go on sale in Germany on December 12 with limited quantities available exclusively at the chain store MediaMarkt for 1,100 euros (US$1,225). The model first went on sale on the continent in Spain last month, also in limited quantities. It’s also selling in Switzerland and Italy.

Since the Mate 30 and 30 Pro were unveiled in September in Munich, Huawei has been slow in releasing the handsets in Europe. In Spain, it has even sweetened the deal by adding a 299 euro voucher for other Huawei products.

Android has more than 70 percent of the smartphone market in Europe, and Germany is one of the world’s largest markets for smartphones. But it remains to be seen if Europe will embrace a phone with no access to Google apps like YouTube, Google Maps and the Google Play store -- a result of US sanctions on Huawei that bar American companies from selling products and services to the Chinese tech giant.

Other Chinese brands have been trying to take Huawei’s place on the continent. Xiaomi saw year-on-year sales in Europe rise 73 percent last quarter.

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