Database Users

Buying a Mate 8 from China. What to look for?

Hello, guys!
I am interested in buying the Mate 8 from a Chinease retailer. My main motivation is that they offer lower prices on the device. However I am aware that there are some "risks" involved so I wanted to make this tread, hoping that some usefull advice can be gathered here.
Firstly, I understand that there are a couple of versions of the Mate 8. As far they are conserned the only ones worth considering are the AL10, L29 and L09 since the other versions, like DL00 for instance, have poor software support. Does this mean that the former enjoy regular software updates? In the case of the AL10 can one receive the uptades regulary if he is not residing in China? Does Huawei push montly security patches?
My second consern is regarding google play services. As far as I understand a buyer of an AL10 would receive the device without google play store and google services. Is it true that the device comes with a Huawei app store from where they can be downloaded? Are there any issues regarding the installation and regular usage of the play store and other apps that are downloaded on an AL10?After all it is a Chinease version so perhaps it was not meant to have play store on it.
Thirdly I would like to ask whether one should allow the retailer to install google play and multi-ling support? I ask this because it came to my knowledge that these vendors would usually install some kind of custom rom that does not have software support.
Is there something that I am missing? Would you have any further advice? Is there something else one must look after when buying a device from China?

I bought mine here
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1968447 (not sure if i can show a link to a store).
take a DHL and tell them to write on package that is worth about 80 usd to pay less taxes.
Ive got a DL00 version, 32 rom, 3 ram. Its multilanguage support with a play store and OTA updates support. Working great, smooth and fast. And it was cheaper than in polish store about 30% !
They got support on whatsapp and they help you in your problems.
I can highly recommend it to you. If you have any questions u can always prv me.

I bought the mate 8 just after it released in China (I went in person). I am now residing in Australia and still receive the updates as fast as others in China. The only issue is some apps and features (like the update change log) are in Chinese and I can't change it, not that bad for me but maybe it is for you.
It comes with Huaweis app store which upon searching google can install all the normal google apps like the appstore. I've had absolutely no issues using it normally here and every app and setting I need works.
I wouldn't get them to do anything to the phone because it's easy to do myself.
Repping the Huawei Mate 8 NXT-AL10

ItsMunday said:
I bought the mate 8 just after it released in China (I went in person). I am now residing in Australia and still receive the updates as fast as others in China. The only issue is some apps and features (like the update change log) are in Chinese and I can't change it, not that bad for me but maybe it is for you.
It comes with Huaweis app store which upon searching google can install all the normal google apps like the appstore. I've had absolutely no issues using it normally here and every app and setting I need works.
I wouldn't get them to do anything to the phone because it's easy to do myself.
Repping the Huawei Mate 8 NXT-AL10
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am glad to hear that your device works properly!
I suppose when you first set it up you have the option to choose between English and Chinease right? Do you need to have a huawei account to download apps from the Huawei app store? If yes, did you have any issues setting it up? I am asking because I have heard that some people do have. Regarding the change log it would't botter me if it is in Chinease, but is there something more "major" that is also in Chinease and one should know of?

You can convert the China Version AL 10 to C432 Euroversion or C636 Asia Version.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/mate-8/general/guide-how-to-switch-to-stock-firmware-t3374259

Ifo0 said:
I am glad to hear that your device works properly!
I suppose when you first set it up you have the option to choose between English and Chinease right? Do you need to have a huawei account to download apps from the Huawei app store? If yes, did you have any issues setting it up? I am asking because I have heard that some people do have. Regarding the change log it would't botter me if it is in Chinease, but is there something more "major" that is also in Chinease and one should know of?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah it's like any phone that has the option to change language on start up.
Had no issues setting up Huawei account. Not sure if it's needed or not though.
Repping the Huawei Mate 8 NXT-AL10
---------- Post added at 11:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:05 AM ----------
letschky said:
You can convert the China Version AL 10 to C432 Euroversion or C636 Asia Version.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/mate-8/general/guide-how-to-switch-to-stock-firmware-t3374259
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm getting a broken link.
Repping the Huawei Mate 8 NXT-AL10

I've just bought the Mate 8 in Guangzhou on last Sunday (Sept 25, 2016) in a Huawei store. Installed Google services, sync contacts.. without any problem!

EMUI 5.1 for MHA-AL00C00

As a result of the research I conduct as a part of FunkyHuawei, I've currently got my hands on what looks to be a prerelease version of EMUI 5.1 for the Mate 9, Chinese version (I also have the same build for the Mate 9 Pro). I will be installing it, testing it out, and posting my findings here.

Initial observations:
The boot logo/sound is the same as EMUI 5.
The touch response is VERY NOTICEABLY improved.
The performance is very noticeably improved. Apps open instantaneously.
Although there are strings that indicate it's EMUI 5.1 in the filesystem, 'about phone' still shows Android 7.0 EMUI 5.0
Wifi throughput has improved. I previously got 100mbps, I now get 180mbps.
There is a need to enter an employee Huawei ID login, but I was able to bypass this by not having internet connectivity when starting the phone the first time. Still, it comes up and blocks access to the phone periodically. I'm looking to find a more permanent way around this.
Update: I've gotten around it by rooting and freezing the beta app with Titanium backup. I'll use this as a daily driver and see how it goes.

Screenshot of about phone:
http://imgur.com/Rh53HUL

Is there any services for daydream included yet (pro) ?
Skickat från min LON-L29 via Tapatalk

dondavis007 said:
Is there any services for daydream included yet (pro) ?
Skickat från min LON-L29 via Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't got a pro so I can't be sure. If there's something I can check within the update.app partitions, let me know. I'm not very familiar with daydream.

duraaraa said:
I haven't got a pro so I can't be sure. If there's something I can check within the update.app partitions, let me know. I'm not very familiar with daydream.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi.
I imagine that there should be Daydream specific apks like:
com.google..android.vr.home
com.google.android.vr.inputmethod
Thanks!
Skickat från min LON-L29 via Tapatalk

I've got it installed. Working on bypassing a nag screen to enter a Huawei Employee ID login.

Bypassed and now usable as a daily driver
The difference in touch response time is incredible. Typing feels like typing on an iPhone now.

duraaraa said:
Bypassed and now usable as a daily driver
The difference in touch response time is incredible. Typing feels like typing on an iPhone now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is great to hear! Always love to see a device develop and better itself, can't wait until the time comes to try this out on my MHA-L09C432

Is there the new Portrait mode in camera?
I believe the P10 and Mate 9 share the same camera hardware and since the small P10 has the same features as P10 plus I expect the Portrait feature to come to the Mate 9 as well.
Are there any voice assistants included, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa?
Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

MaTiCeK- said:
Is there the new Portrait mode in camera?
I believe the P10 and Mate 9 share the same camera hardware and since the small P10 has the same features as P10 plus I expect the Portrait feature to come to the Mate 9 as well.
Are there any voice assistants included, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa?
Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The P10 Plus has a different camera and has more features than the regular P10 ( don't know about the new portrait mode ).

MaTiCeK- said:
Is there the new Portrait mode in camera?
I believe the P10 and Mate 9 share the same camera hardware and since the small P10 has the same features as P10 plus I expect the Portrait feature to come to the Mate 9 as well.
Are there any voice assistants included, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa?
Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's the Chinese version, so no alexa or google. I will be looking into US version betas soon.
I didn't notice any extra camera modes yet. I think this is only the second EMUI 5.1 beta for the Mate 9, though, so it might be coming.

What about notifications.... Facebook, Instagram, Viber, messenger.... Have you test if it's been fixed to this version?

tsiglas said:
What about notifications.... Facebook, Instagram, Viber, messenger.... Have you test if it's been fixed to this version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Notifications still have issues, as far as I can tell. Not very good news. Of course, this only applied to the Chinese version.

duraaraa said:
Notifications still have issues, as far as I can tell. Not very good news. Of course, this only applied to the Chinese version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's why I'm asking because I own a Chinese version... Too bad.... Once again for Huawei...I'm starting thinking to debrand...

tsiglas said:
That's why I'm asking because I own a Chinese version... Too bad.... Once again for Huawei...I'm starting thinking to debrand...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You absolutely should debrand. Chinese version, although it has the fastest updates, is awful.

duraaraa said:
You absolutely should debrand. Chinese version, although it has the fastest updates, is awful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After full debrand (with your funkyHuawei) did you notice any problems?
I'm from Greece... It's better to debrand to Europe or International version?
I have already take bootloader unlock code in any case but I have never use all this method with adb etc

tsiglas said:
After full debrand (with your funkyHuawei) did you notice any problems?
I'm from Greece... It's better to debrand to Europe or International version?
I have already take bootloader unlock code in any case but I have never use all this method with adb etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With recent version 158, I've never had notification problems. But unless it uses google services for the notifications you have to keep it open in the background. I think Greece would be European version.

Oh my goodness.... Could you clarify how touch response for emui5.0 compares to 5.1??
I'm on build b138 emui 5.0 and already I find this the fastest Android I ever got

duraaraa said:
As a result of the research I conduct as a part of FunkyHuawei, I've currently got my hands on what looks to be a prerelease version of EMUI 5.1 for the Mate 9, Chinese version (I also have the same build for the Mate 9 Pro). I will be installing it, testing it out, and posting my findings here. I am considering making it install-able via FunkyHuawei to a limited number of Mate 9 users as well.
The change log gives us no new information, but the latest build number is B202 (there is also a B201). Looking at the update.app, there are strings which indicate that it is EMUI 5.1 -- it is also maintained separately from the EMUI 5.0 closed betas, the latest of which is B173.
More information coming once I've installed it. I'd guess roughly around 7 or 8 hours after this post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you install CPU-Z and look at the build versions mentioned there?

Nokia 6 International (TA-1003) Root?

Hi all
I have the Taiwan/international version of the Nokia 6.
I see everybody who bought the mainland version is looking for a root to get access to Google Play, which makes it tough to find information on this model.
Is there a root option available for the international version of the phone?

boyntonjamie said:
Hi all
I have the Taiwan/international version of the Nokia 6.
I see everybody who bought the mainland version is looking for a root to get access to Google Play, which makes it tough to find information on this model.
Is there a root option available for the international version of the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude, what is the difficulty to access Google play with an international model(TA-1003). We all (TA-1000) Chinese Nokia 6 victims are thinking, all is good for you guys..

kanakarkku said:
Dude, what is the difficulty to access Google play with an international model(TA-1003). We all (TA-1000) Chinese Nokia 6 victims are thinking, all is good for you guys..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, Nokia poor management / publicity of model number confused, misled and victimize us - the royal Nokia users and early adopter. I'm deeply disappointed.

I'm not having any difficulty accessing Google Play, that's not the only thing you can do when you root an Android device.
It was quite plain to me that the mainland version of the phone didn't have access to Google Play - that's why I had one sent from Taiwan.

kanakarkku said:
Dude, what is the difficulty to access Google play with an international model(TA-1003). We all (TA-1000) Chinese Nokia 6 victims are thinking, all is good for you guys..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TA-1000 has a Tencent app and it names 应用宝
(bad english sorry

nokia 6
funny, 5.5 million viewers in the rom thread :angel:

GPU TURBO

Gpu turbo update for huawei p10 now released....this is the first firmware for this phone.

Which version? China?

Sombody know some applications or games for this feature....??

Good news.
Waiting for your installation

Is this still 8.0?

Jannomag said:
Is this still 8.0?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont know, but i think yes it is still 8.0

freeacer said:
I dont know, but i think yes it is still 8.0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the reason for me to throw this garbage away. Without 8.1 I'm not able to listen to BT music in my company's cars and on one of my speakers because of AVRCP 1.6. Google messed it up but fixed it with 8.1 - Huawei won't update the P10 to 8.1 and if they will do an update to 9.0 is also doubtful.
But as they said to the missing unlock code providing:
"We want to provide a better user experience"...well f*ck it Huawei.

Jannomag said:
This is the reason for me to throw this garbage away. Without 8.1 I'm not able to listen to BT music in my company's cars and on one of my speakers because of AVRCP 1.6. Google messed it up but fixed it with 8.1 - Huawei won't update the P10 to 8.1 and if they will do an update to 9.0 is also doubtful.
But as they said to the missing unlock code providing:
"We want to provide a better user experience"...well f*ck it Huawei.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For this reason i sold my P10 yestarday and buy P20
Sent from my Huawei P10 using XDA Labs

urbanboymne said:
For this reason i sold my P10 yestarday and buy P20
Sent from my Huawei P10 using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To give more money to Huawei so say can produce more **** like this?
The hardware is great but Huawei does a crappy job with their software - no third party integration, no frequent updates, no unlocking, no theming.....
I switched from Apple to get more freedom but what I got an Android system with good features on the one hand but on the other hand completely locked OEM software.

Jannomag said:
To give more money to Huawei so say can produce more **** like this?
The hardware is great but Huawei does a crappy job with their software - no third party integration, no frequent updates, no unlocking, no theming.....
I switched from Apple to get more freedom but what I got an Android system with good features on the one hand but on the other hand completely locked OEM software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have update every month and i have themes. Freedom on Huawei devices you cannot find if you dont have unlocking bootloader. On my P10 i have freedom on new P20 freedom goodbay ?
Software is stable and fast, good batery life and simillar but like you say is kinda a locked like Apple IOS. For me now MIUI (Xiaomi) have better software than EMUI (Huawei)
Sent from my Huawei P10 using XDA Labs

Xiaomi will be my next phone if OnePlus won't make a smaller device. Themes on EMUI aren't as complete as substratum themes. The only thing I like is that you can set global app themes which are showing in sharing menus, settings and co.
But you can't install a third party DSP on EMUI and Xposed is also a very huge risk.

urbanboymne said:
I have update every month and i have themes. Freedom on Huawei devices you cannot find if you dont have unlocking bootloader. On my P10 i have freedom on new P20 freedom goodbay
Software is stable and fast, good batery life and simillar but like you say is kinda a locked like Apple IOS. For me now MIUI (Xiaomi) have better software than EMUI (Huawei)
Sent from my Huawei P10 using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have locked bootloader on my P10 and i have themes and monthly updates.
My wife has a P20 pro and has locked bootloade ralso. She has monthly updates and many themes.
Where did you get the info you dont have freedom on your P20?
What do you profit with unlocked bootloader (except custom roms, which are working sometimes and sometimes not)? I had unlocked bootloader , i had root but unrooting and rooting the device every month when a OTA comes or spend time to sideload the OTA and praying that my device don ´t get bricked are over. I am happy with the camera, performance, battery life..so on my side no need to root anymore.
When i want to play i pick up my google pixel XL (and next month pixel 3 ).

Version 379 is now releaded....gpu turbo version

Which game can i play on it? For example?

Hi @freeacer how can I install it from firmware finder?

You must waiting for approve, Huawei servers are under encryption and we must waiting for OTA via system update

Is there any custom rom that contains the gpu turbo path?

XIAOMI SMARTPHONES CAN NO LONGER INSTALL GOOGLE SERVICES IN CHINA

Xiaomi has confirmed that smartphones that do not initially come with Google’s service platform can no longer install the company’s services and applications. Most devices in China do not support GMS because Google services are banned in the country. Xiaomi did not disclose the list of models affected by this policy change, however, Redmi K30 Ultra and Redmi 10X 5G users have confirmed that they are no longer able to install Google apps.
https://www.gizchina.com/2021/02/02...n-no-longer-install-google-services-in-china/

it only applies to chinese firmwares

bilalrajput said:
it only applies to chinese firmwares
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to say that buying a Chinese version (cheaper) and changing the rom maybe problematic

NOSS8 said:
Just to say that buying a Chinese version (cheaper) and changing the rom maybe problematic
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that is why we uses xiaomi.eu rom

Obviously this can't be good for Xiaomi's future android development.
Then again, supposedly over half of their revenue already comes from outside China. So I don't think they'll go down without a fight.
In other news, Huawei's Android alternative is apparently just a rebranded copy: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/02/harmonyos-hands-on-huaweis-android-killer-is-just-android/
What would be really good is if developments like this make Google develop Android as less of a walled garden. Not make everything dependent on google services framework, but develop the open source forks more.

NOSS8 said:
Xiaomi has confirmed that smartphones that do not initially come with Google’s service platform can no longer install the company’s services and applications. Most devices in China do not support GMS because Google services are banned in the country. Xiaomi did not disclose the list of models affected by this policy change, however, Redmi K30 Ultra and Redmi 10X 5G users have confirmed that they are no longer able to install Google apps.
https://www.gizchina.com/2021/02/02...n-no-longer-install-google-services-in-china/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i just got my k30 ultra 4 days ago , no problems installing gms here , im fine without it tho

If only Google services could be optional in all countries

Merantau226 said:
i just got my k30 ultra 4 days ago , no problems installing gms here , im fine without it tho
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe one that was in stock.

NOSS8 said:
Maybe one that was in stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i mean they are all over , giztop , ebay , just look around , if thats what you want to get

Merantau226 said:
i mean they are all over , giztop , ebay , just look around , if thats what you want to get
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I meant the merchants bought them in 2020 and are reselling them to you in 2021.
And this concerns phones in Android 11 not 10.

NOSS8 said:
I meant the merchants bought them in 2020 and are reselling them to you in 2021.
And this concerns phones in Android 11 not 10.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh yea 4 months ago and yes in the beta roms but root solves all of that the official android 11 for k30 ultra hasnt been released its not a big deal for me tho , phones actually run better without gms , i was just saying for ppl that want it

I guess it's only for chinese ROM, should upgrade to a custom ROM

ablackswan said:
I guess it's only for chinese ROM, should upgrade to a custom ROM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It concerns phones that do not have their equivalent in other countries (with Google Mobile Services), those that exist only in China. Before it was possible to install google services on these phones now it will no longer be possible ( modification by Xiaomi).
“In IT, anything is possible… but… it's not always easy! "