The problems between the United States and China are well known, and so are the problems between Google and Huawei. So the Chinese firm has opted for an alternative to the Google Play Store, and it's called AppGalleryIt's simply an alternative app store to the Play Store, but with the important difference that it's the official alternative from Huawei for its mobile phones, tablets and even some computers.
Starting with certain models, the Chinese firm abandons Google services and applications and switches to using Android AOSPAndroid, the open-source version. And one of the changes is this: we're going to have it on your phones Huawei AppGallery instead of the Play Store as their primary source of apps. But the truth is, this store launched in China long before the current political problems. And this is interesting because in China they do indeed forgo Google services and applications, as well as its APIs, so Huawei already had a proprietary app infrastructure Mature. AppGallery was presented outside of China for the first time during the international launch of the Huawei P20.
AppGallery is not new: this is how the alternative to Google Play Store has worked for many years
The Huawei P20 and P20 Pro came with the app pre-installed, and later the same was done with other smartphones from both Huawei and Honor, its "second brand". However, the apps in this store had always been focused on the Asian usersAnd now, however, the approach will change for all its users globally with a coverage in over 170 countriesAnd like the Google Play Store, it has payment options. and monetization for developers, and also with the modalities of subscription for apps and services that rely on this option.
Although the Google Play Store is no longer available on future Huawei models, AppGallery will become the official source of appsAnd obviously, you will still be able to install apps on APK format from other sources, as many advanced users currently do. Regarding app availability, this shouldn't pose any problems in the medium term, provided developers adopt the ecosystem. The only key point is that developers support Huawei's AppGallery. And so far, since its initial launch in China, support has been... growing and sustained.
The screenshot accompanying this article shows what AppGallery looks like. Featured appsThe editors' picks, new games, and a ranking of the most downloaded apps and games. And of course, with the corresponding sections or categories to easily find apps of a specific type. The differences compared to the Google Play Store are minimal in the basics, although Huawei insists on strengthening aspects such as... security, privacy, and smart recommendations.
In addition, Huawei presents AppGallery as its official application distribution platform For smartphones and tablets: according to the company itself, it is the third largest app marketplace in the world by number of active users. This means that millions of people use this store daily to discover, download, and update apps, with an experience designed to be as close as possible to what users already know on other platforms.
AppGallery interface and main sections
Starting with the aesthetic aspect, the first thing that catches the eye when we open AppGallery is that It has a very similar interface. to other established app stores, with a tabbed organization at the bottom and large visual blocks to highlight content.
The first section we access is "Featured", a section where we can see Huawei's selected apps and games (similar to Apple's App Store), top-rated apps, highest-rated games, themed game collections, and other recommendations of all kinds. This section is designed to help users discover content without having to search manually.
In the "Category" section we have a similar layout to Google Play or the App Store. Here we can filter by games, car apps, food and drink apps, communication apps, sports apps, lifestyle apps, etc. The "Games" section stands out, which is further divided into several subcategories: action, sports, board games, role-playing games, simulation games, puzzle games, and other popular genres.
The "Top" section is the equivalent of the most downloaded apps and games, which have little or nothing to do with the apps and games that top the Google Play charts in many countries. It's curious that at various times the most popular app in the Huawei store has been AliExpress (a Chinese e-commerce site) and the most popular game has been... Fortnite installereven on devices where the game wasn't compatible. This shows how AppGallery has its own catalog difference and trends regarding the Google store.
In the "Management" section we can check for updates, analyze the device's internal memory for APK files to easily locate and install them whenever we want, and free up space using the manager installed on all Huawei phones. Finally, in "Me" we can see our Huawei ID, access exclusive gifts for games, see our reviews, wish list and purchase history.
How AppGallery works and what makes it different from other stores
As soon as we open AppGallery, the store presents us with a series of recommendations of apps that may interest usThese typically include popular games, shopping apps, social media, and basic utilities. The recommendation system is based on app popularity, download and search history, and Huawei's editorial criteria.
Beyond that, it works very similarly to Google Play: we can search by app name, browse by category, or be guided by rankings and recommendations. However, the experience can be... somewhat more disorganized in some categories. For example, in the "Categories" section, when we click on one of them, many times All apps are shown in battery usage.One after another, without much order or the possibility of advanced filtering by criteria such as price, rating, or release date. The company indicates that it uses a pattern based on app popularity, installs, search history, and other factors, but the user may perceive a certain lack of order.
Another point to consider, which we also see in some other stores, is that The search depends on you typing the exact wordFor example, on Google Play, if you type "wasap," WhatsApp Messenger appears because the store understands what you mean thanks to spell check and synonym systems. On AppGallery, this isn't always the case: if you type "wasap," the store might not understand what you mean and won't return relevant results, forcing you to type the correct app name.
Regarding the process of downloading applications, one positive point is that You don't need a Huawei ID to do this In many cases, you simply click download and that's it; it installs automatically. Within each app, you can access its information, reviews, ratings, screenshots, and the approximate number of installations when the developer provides it.
Huawei also highlights several differentiating features of AppGallery compared to other stores: a professional four-layer security system Designed to detect malicious behavior, review app privacy, and ensure safe downloads. This is complemented by discovery tools such as wish lists, personalized recommendations, and exclusive benefits like vouchers, app credits, promo codes, discount coupons, and VIP privileges for certain games and services.
What apps are available on AppGallery and what's still missing?
If AppGallery intends to replace Google Play, the least it can do is... It includes all the popular apps. that we use in our daily lives. The reality is that the catalog has grown significantly and today includes thousands of international and local apps, with a presence of well-known social networks, messaging services, banking, shopping, and productivity tools. However, compared to Google Play or the App Store, some still stand out. occasional absences of some very specific applications and games, which depend on the agreements and priorities of each developer.
To illustrate this situation, comparisons were made using the most popular apps and games on Google Play at specific times and attempting to locate those same titles on AppGallery. The results show that, while many communication, social networking, and e-commerce apps are present, some specific entertainment services, music streaming, and best-selling games are not. They don't always have a version available. at the Huawei store.
As can be seen in various lists of popular apps, some well-known applications, such as certain secondhand services, music platforms, or video-on-demand services, may not appear in AppGallery, or may only appear in certain countries. In the case of games, the situation can be even more striking, since Not all titles that top the global Google Play rankingBoth free and paid games are available in the Huawei store, although we also found other hits such as Vainglory, Clash of Kings, Nitro Nation and Cut the Rope, among many more.
Given this, it's clear that some apps, and therefore developers, are still missing. The Google Play Store reaches billions of devices, and although Huawei's market share is high, the reach of their store is not that massiveFor reference, while some apps on Google Play exceed one billion downloads, on AppGallery the figures can be considerably lower, especially in regions where the Huawei ecosystem is expanding.
Looking at the PC gaming sector, Epic Games' strategy for attracting developers to its store was to offer better revenue percentages per sale. This is a viable way to incentivize the publication of apps and games in your store, but AppGallery has very similar percentages to Google Play: 30% for the company and 70% for the developerexcept for some in-game microtransactions in specific regions, where agreements may vary. Their website emphasizes that these are standard rates and that can be adjusted if the developer and the company reach a particular agreement.
Huawei Security, Privacy and ID
Huawei aims to make AppGallery an application platform open and innovative that strictly protects user privacy and security, while providing a unique and intelligent experience. To achieve this, the company has built an entire layer of services known as HUAWEI Mobile Services (HMS), where Huawei ID, cloud, health, mobile payments, search and other services are integrated.
El Huawei ID It's your personal account for Huawei devices, giving you access to exclusive services like AppGallery, Cloud, Health, Wallet, and more. Creating a Huawei ID is a quick and free process, usually offered during the initial phone setup via a guided assistant. While logging in isn't strictly required to download many apps, it is necessary to take advantage of advanced features, cloud synchronization, and personalized offers.
Regarding data processing, Huawei assures that HMS has established data centers distributed by region and that all data is processed in accordance with applicable legislation and Huawei's ID privacy statement. Furthermore, they have created a trusted execution environment (TEE) isolated outside the open Android environment to protect sensitive data such as biometric information and security keys.
Sensitive user data, such as fingerprints or facial recognition, is stored within the TEE operating system, while identity verification is performed solely within this secure environment. This ensures that sensitive personal data is not processed outside the device, maintaining user privacy. complete control over your personal informationAppGallery, for its part, has a complete security and protection system, which includes developer identity verification, a multi-stage review process, download and installation protection, and a prevention mechanism for the safe operation of applications.
As an added benefit, users who use AppGallery can periodically access exclusive promotionsVouchers, promotional credit for apps, discount coupons, gift codes, and VIP privileges in games and partner services. All of this reinforces the idea of ​​a store integrated into the Huawei ecosystem, where the Huawei ID acts as a key to access additional benefits.
AppGallery for Windows and extended ecosystem
Huawei doesn't just offer AppGallery on mobile phones and tablets: the company has also boosted AppGallery for Windows In some of its laptops, the goal is to integrate mobile applications directly into the computer. Thanks to a technology called Mobile App Engine, certain MateBook models are compatible with running Android apps through AppGallery, allowing users to have the same applications on both their mobile device and PC.
This integration is available on a select range of Huawei MateBook laptops, and the actual experience may vary depending on the model, software version, and region. The underlying idea is to build a multiplatform ecosystem where the user can work, play and communicate using the same applications on different devices, all connected via Huawei ID and HMS services.
Along with AppGallery, another key component of the ecosystem is HUAWEI Petal SearchPetal Search is a widget and search app that helps you find apps, news, images, and other content directly from your device. Petal Search acts as a complementary search engineIf an app is not directly available on AppGallery, the system can suggest secure alternative sources, web versions, or official links, expanding access to popular services.
In parallel, Huawei offers integrated services such as Cloud for backups and synchronization, Health for monitoring physical activity, Wallet for payments and cards, and its own Browser for web browsing. All of these connect with AppGallery. central download and update point of applications in the Huawei ecosystem.
Beyond the specific situation with Google, the blocking, and the political decisions, the company's goal with AppGallery is reduce your dependence on third parties and build a store capable of compete on safety, experience and catalogThe main challenge remains attracting all the major developers who have not yet brought their apps to the platform, something Huawei is trying to promote with technical support, incentive programs, and prominent visibility within the store itself.
It's good that Huawei has its own app store, but the truth is that if it wants to compete head-to-head with the dominant platforms and intends for AppGallery to be a fully viable alternative to the Google Play Store, There's still a way to go.Especially in the realm of games and certain very specific niche apps. Even so, for most users, the current ecosystem with AppGallery, Petal Search, and the ability to install external APKs is already complete enough for everyday mobile use without missing too many essential features.
