Free Android app store
Huawei AppGallery is a free app store originally developed for Huawei mobile devices. It features thousands of apps in various categories, providing everything from communication platforms to video games and lifestyle tools—all from an alternative source. In this way, the program seeks to replace mainstream alternatives.
This tool serves as the official app gallery for Huawei devices to counter the Chinese ban restricting users from the Google Play Store.
Android alternative
However, like Amazon Appstore, it’s not for one smartphone brand only. It runs across phones with the Android operating system, as long as they have the Huawei mobile services app installed.
The layout and functionalities are quite similar to more mainstream choices. There’s a lot of content in each category, general information, and features surrounding each app. You can even use this program in combination with other stores to download a wider variety of content.
Content variety
The content in-app isn’t that comprehensive yet but more big-name developers are joining each day. According to Huawei, there are over 45,000 available apps across 18 different categories.
Still, you won’t find any Google-based apps, and there’s also a lack of some popular options, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Disney+. AppGallery offers some alternatives to these tools, but they’re generally subpar in comparison.
You’ll see some names with a “Hero Status” tag, and they’re usually well-known apps that just arrived on the platform.
Familiar user interface
Smartphone users familiar with any app store will find the interface layout intuitive and easy to navigate—albeit a bit more cluttered with ads than its main alternatives.
When you open the app, it sends you to the “Featured” tab with the editor and algorithm-based recommendations. The navigation buttons at the bottom of your screen send you to different store tabs to explore top choices, new titles, and various categories.
The “Manager” window lets you take care of updates, while the “Me” tab features store settings and gifts. The “Gift Centre” is where you receive discounts, in-game currencies, and other rewards for using this library.
Needs improvement
Overall, Huawei AppGallery is a promising tool for smartphone users, but it’s yet to reach its full potential. The developers chose an interesting way to incentivize people to use it, though. However, unless you have a Chinese phone that doesn’t support more traditional options, there isn’t much value in using this program.
