VMOS (sort of) brings Google Play to the Huawei Mate 30

Update: We have clarified the name of the product as VMOS.

In our coverage of the Huawei Mate 30, we have consistently mentioned the phone’s inability to run Google Play services. The workaround that showed up in late September was removed a few days later, bringing us back to square one. Users can sideload apps (apk files) that don't rely on Google's services from other sources, but not having access to the app store is a big deal for mainstream uptake.

This is the niche that VMOS wants to fill. VMOS is an android app that runs another Android instance inside a virtual machine. Once loaded, it runs at full screen and can be interacted with as if it was running directly on the hardware. We expect it to have some penalty since you are running two operating systems that need to share resources. There is also the virtualization overhead to consider too.

Once running, VMOS can be shrunk down into a quasi 'windowed mode' that can be moved around the screen and sit on top of other apps. This means that a Google app could be used in a way that makes it almost look like it is running on EMUI 10.

Pre-made virtual machines do have their problems though, with the biggest one being security. When you are using someone else’s virtual machine, you are trusting it to be a faithful representation of the source and that nothing has been added to allow remote access, or keylogging, etc.

VMOS is a way to get Google Services on the Huawei Mate 30 now. However, if you are reliant on Google’s services and aren’t willing to switch to alternatives, then avoid the Mate 30 until the situation changes.

Note: NotebookCheck was contacted by a representative from VMOS who claims the performance is “smooth”, but NotebookCheck hasn’t tried or tested VMOS on any devices.