Huawei to launch Mate 30 on Sept. 19 without Android OS

This weekend, Huawei’s official mobile Twitter account announced that the flagship Mate 30 Series will launch in Munich on Sept. 19.

Did you get it right? The countdown to #HuaweiMate30 starts now!
We're going full circle in Munich on 19.09.2019.
Join us live: https://t.co/9ugi5gG9ci#RethinkPossibilities pic.twitter.com/etRYjrBVEC

— Huawei Mobile (@HuaweiMobile) September 1, 2019

The brief video published on the platform features the tagline “rethink possibilities.” Though that phrase could be referring to the new tech that the handset is sure to come equipped with, it is more likely that it’s referring to the new operating system that will be powering it.

Huawei has been blacklisted by the United States and will not be able to use Android OS or other Google services like YouTube, Google Maps and the Play Store.

The company announced its own in-house operating system HarmonyOS last month, stating that it will be able to adapt to any device; it is likely that it will be lacking some smartphone specific operations that Google has had the time to perfect in its Android operating system. In fact, the first device that Huawei confirmed will be powered by HarmonyOS will be the Honor Smart Screen; the Mate 30 Series is expected to be based on an open-source version of Android.

If the rumors prove true, the Mate 30 Series will come in two flavors like the previous generation, standard and pro, and will be powered by the last Kirin processors. The specs will be unveiled in full in just a few weeks. JB

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