As an Android enthusiast, I can hardly ignore Huawei, despite the Chinese tech giant’s absence from the Android community due to US sanctions.
Reflecting on my experience, I used to be a Huawei user for several years. My favorite Huawei device was the Mate 10 Pro, one of the best devices from 2017. If I recall correctly, it was even chosen as the smartphone of the year by Android Authority.
The golden age of Huawei as an Android player has passed, and today the Android market is heavily dominated by Samsung. However, when Huawei was shipping Android devices, it was nearly unstoppable. Its innovative approaches, such as reverse charging, impressed not only the Android community but also Apple users, even cutting into the iPhone market share—a feat that seems difficult nowadays.
However, Huawei has made a comeback to the smartphone stage despite heavy sanctions, and the latest Pura series has captured my attention as a gadget lover. As you can see in the image, the triangular camera bump demonstrates the company’s willingness to challenge itself with unconventional designs, while Apple and Samsung seem to be copying each other in terms of design.
What if…?
Due to US sanctions, Huawei is deprived of access to GMS (Google Mobile Services), and its latest phones are now powered by its homegrown HarmonyOS. The European models ship with EMUI. But what if… what if the devices were powered by Android?
There was a time in Android history when Google and OEMs released Google Play editions. Do you remember that? One legendary device, the HTC One [M8], had its Google Play Edition alongside HTC’s homegrown skin, known as HTC Sense.
While it’s impossible to see it happen, if a Google Play Edition of the Pura 70 existed in an alternative universe, I would love to own one. It would be a dream come true.
Technology and Politics:
Huawei’s drama with the Trump administration’s sanctions was one of the tragedies of the Android community. While I have mixed feelings about China and the CCP, I can’t help but wonder why technology and politics couldn’t be separated.
With its sleek and modern design, the Pura 70 has what it takes to be the device of every gadget enthusiast’s dreams. I love Huawei’s unconventional approach to design and the undeniable innovations they’ve brought to mobile OS with HarmonyOS.
Despite my reservations about the CCP, I often imagine how fascinating the mobile world could be if the US and China worked together.
ArkUI and DevEco Studio:
As I embark on my journey as a mobile app developer for Android, I find myself increasingly interested in app development for Huawei’s ecosystem. To build apps for Huawei’s AppGallery, you need to install DevEco Studio, which supports multiple languages such as Java and Kotlin.
Huawei’s homegrown ArkUI supports a declarative approach, much like Android’s JetPack Compose. With its capability to create visually appealing UIs in both 2D and 3D, developers can experiment with various UI elements.
Since HarmonyOS has become the second most widely used OS on the continent, surpassing iOS, it might be an excellent time to engage with the Chinese IDE and this fascinating OS, especially while many in the West remain uninterested.
