We take Huawei AppGallery for a spin to see how well it can replace the Google Play Store on the latest Huawei/Honor phones. OneNote is available to help you organize. Huawei's notes app doesn't have many features to try, it only allows to 'share' each note individually, Yes that will take time but once you switch into Google keep, Evernote, OneNote.etc you can sync your notes across all your devices.
One of the biggest question marks surrounding Huawei’s Mate 30 Pro is app support.
Since it lacks official support for Google apps, Google services and the Google Play Store, you’ll have to rely on the Huawei app store when setting up the device and beyond.
According to Huawei, their AppGallery boasts over 45,000 apps and has over 390 million monthly active users worldwide. But what does that experience actually look like for a normal user?
We tried setting up the new Mate 30 Pro to find out. You can read our full review of the Huawei Mate 30 Pro here.
We’re going to grade each category of apps into one of three categories. Those that technically meet our requirements get a pass. Those that go above that minimum and provide great options get a distinction. Those that don’t get a fail.
Grade: Pass
While the Huawei AppGallery obviously doesn’t feature support for the official Gmail app, you can still use Google’s email client via the web browser. It’s also fairly easy to login to Gmail or Outlook via the official EMUI10 email app, which lacks all the little bells and whistles and sharp-looking material design of Gmail but is otherwise functional enough.
What alternatives are there?
In addition to the official Huawei option, we found a few other email apps on the Huawei App gallery. The best of these was probably Aquamail. You can find out more info on it here.
Calendar
Grade: Fail
Aside from the super-basic EMUI10 Calendar app, the Mate 30 Pro is sorely lacking when it comes to good calendar apps.
What alternatives are there?
There’s one popular Calendar app on the Huawei AppGallery - but it’s very clearly pitched at a Chinese audience and doesn’t seem to support English. If you have a particular affinity for your Calendar app of choice and aren’t willing to go to the trouble of sideloading it, this might be a deal-breaker.
Ridesharing & Transport
Grade: Fail
The Huawei App Store is completely devoid of any Australian ridesharing or transport apps you might want to rely on.
There’s no Uber. There’s no TripView. There are no apps for airlines like Qantas or Virgin. There’s not even a 13Cabs app. For more on the alternatives to Uber in Australia, check out our guide here.
Social Media
Grade: Fail
Out of the box, the Huawei AppGallery might be a great antidote to Instagram addicts. You can’t spend too much time on social media if you can’t install social media, I guess?
Does the Huawei AppGallery have Facebook? No. Does the Huawei Mate 30 Pro have Twitter? No. Does the Huawei Mate 30 Pro have WhatsApp? No. Does the Huawei Mate 30 Pro have Instagram? Nope.
It’s got Tik Tok and that’s about it.
What alternatives are there?
Sideload or bust.
Streaming
Grade: Fail
Somewhat predictably, the Huawei App Gallery features none of the media streaming services you might be familiar with. It does not have Netflix. It does not have Youtube. It does not have Amazon, Spotify or Apple Music. It certainly not have Stan or Disney+.
What alternatives are there?
Although I found no video streaming apps on the Huawei AppGallery, I did find one music streaming service in the form of Xiami. It looked OK. Unfortunately, the app seemed to only offer Chinese language options - so I have no real idea how usable it might be in practice.
Huawei Matepad Onenote
Time to break out that old MP3 collection, I guess?
Finance
Grade: Fail
In terms of finance apps, the Huawei AppGallery features ample options in terms of stock trackers and a few budget manager apps. However, if you’re looking to make use of the NFC connectivity inside the Mate 30 Pro, you’re going to be out of luck. Neither Google or Samsung Pay can be found on the AppGallery and no Australian banks have as of yet put their apps on the platform
What alternatives are there?
Very few. You could conceivably use another Android device to set up contactless payments via a platform independent wearable but as far as things on the Huawei AppGallery go, there’s really not a lot here.
Productivity
Grade: Pass
The Huawei Mate 30 Pro comes with WPS Office pre-installed. This is nowhere near as good as stuff like Google Docs or Microsoft Office but it’s better than nothing I guess. There’s also a dedicated Huawei Notepad app that can be used in a pinch but lacks any of Cloud-based features of stuff like Keep or OneNote.
What alternatives are there?
OfficeSuite is available on the Huawei AppGallery, which is another OK alternative to the word processing and productivity apps you’d otherwise be familiar with.
Photography
Grade: Pass
The Huawei Mate 30 Pro might have some of the sharpest photography hardware ever seen in a smartphone but the software side of the equation is a little more iffy. As mentioned above, there’s no Instagram. There’s also no VSCO or Google Photos. The Huawei Gallery app does offer some basic post-production and editing functions but, for anything more complicated, you’re going to have to hit up the AppGallery.
What alternatives are there?
While stuff like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop is well out of reach here, I was pleasantly surprised to find Canva and LightX were available on the Huawei App Gallery. MIX is another decent alternative I found for basic photo editing.
Gaming
Grade: Fail
Look, I don’t want to mince words here. The Huawei AppGallery’s game library is abysmal. It’s like you took to the absolute dregs of the iOS and Google Play System and put them center-stage. Sure, there are a few official titles here like Crossy Road, Cut the Rope 2 and The Walking Dead. However, for the most part, this section of the app store is chock full of unpolished knock-offs that look more ready to steal your data than spare time.
You don’t even get the fun stuff like that mobile Overwatch-clone. It’s honestly a little depressing.
What alternatives are there?
The one thing I could find was an Epic games launcher app, which at this time is essentially just an installer for Fortnite. If you like Fortnite, that’s great. Otherwise, this dire situation leaves it very difficult to recommend the Mate 30 Pro if you’re keen on a great mobile gaming experience.
What can you do about it?
Look, thus far, the easiest workaround here has come from a surprising source: Amazon.
Amazon run their own app store for the Fire tablets. It takes about five seconds to download and install. It features a lot of what the Huawei App Gallery is currently missing: Twitter, Facebook, popular games like Hearthstone. You can download the Amazon App Store here.
Any smartphone is only as useful as the apps you can install on it and while the Huawei AppGallery might have 45,000 apps on it, it only takes one thing that it doesn’t have for your experience to hit a wall.
Credit to Ausdroid for making us aware of this workaround.
You can read our full review of the Huawei Mate 30 Pro here.
Huawei Onenote Pro
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If you use OneNote a lot, probably tablets are your top picks. Read on to find more about the Best Tablets for OneNote that are recommended by experts.
The present scenario rests on technologies for numerous projects, and one of the main aspects is note-taking. Be it entertainment or work; technology is in demand. Hence, we keep purchasing the latest gadgets to keep our lifestyle updated and quick.
So without wasting any time, here comes the list.
Contents
- 1 Best OneNote Tablet in 2021
Best OneNote Tablet in 2021
Samsung Galaxy Tab A – Most Affordable Pick for OneNote
(Key features : 1.23 lbs / 10.1 inch / TFT / 1920×1080 / 3GB /16GB / 14 hours / Android 6.0 )
The inbuilt storage is 16GB. However, if one finds it insufficient, one can definitely use a micro SD card. It allows absolite multitasking feature i.e. you can chat and watch a movie side by side on the same screen.
The Octa Core processor allows you to switch between multiple programming smoothly. However, the amazing battery life grabs all our attention! You can work upto 14 hours after charging the device at once. Another brilliant feature is the S-pen that comes handy with the One Note Tablet.
It can be used for drawing, writing or editing. The full HD screen(1920×1080) is of 10.1 inches which is a decent size for usage. It is the most affordable and decent Tablet for taking notes.
Salient features :
- Big screen size
- S-pen
- Durable
- Reasonable price
Regrets :
- Not the latest version of Android
Related to OneNote Tablets:
Huawei MediaPad M5 Pro
(Key Features :1.1 lbs / 10.8 inches / IPS / 2560×1600 / 4GB / 64GB / 10.5 hours / Android 8.0 / USB type C / Quick Charge)
It provides the latest android version at a reasonable price again. USB type C offers really fast speed data transfer. You can charge this device quickly in about 3 hours and would last up to 11 hours approximately. So the Fast Charging feature is just amazing. The stylus M-pen has good pressure sensitivity and thus, it allows accurate drawings and note-taking.
The device has a combination of 2.1 GHz HiSilicon Kirin 960 processor with 4GB RAM which allows super-fast browsing. The 64GB inbuilt space is a pretty good space and you would definitely not run out of space ever! The premium tablet is offering a 2.5 D Glass Edge Display. The screen size is sufficient for a vivid display of contents. The features are more compared to the price it offers.
Salient features :
- USB type C
- Latest Android version
- Sound with Quad-Speakers
- M-Pen
- Quick-charging
- Rich display
- 2560×1600 WQHD display
- Fast browsing speed
- Sufficient storage
- 2.5D Glass Curve providing a premium look
Regrest:
- A little heavy
Lenovo Flex 14 2-in-1 Laptop and Tablet
(Key features : AMD Ryzen 5 3500U / 14 Inches / IPS / 1920×1200 / 12GB RAM / 256GB SSD / Full Day Battery / Windows)
Lenovo Flex 14 2-in-1 provides a whopping 12GB of RAM with 256GB of SSD storage, which is good for a seamless performance! With one time charge, you can use the tablet for up to 12 hours. If you are looking for a tablet that can give you more options than just note taking – this should be your call.
It’s slim and modest at its looks. The screen is 14 inches with an IPS panel for a clear and bright display. It is a touch screen 2 in 1 laptop cum Tablet so you can get the advantage of both worlds for the price of just one.
The Ryzen 5 mobile processor is super fast and is good enough for light tasks like taking up notes on OneNote or any other apps like Evernote and more.
The Dolby Atmos Sound Speaker ensures immersing sound while you play your favourite music or movie. The Halo keyboard (software keyboard) helps you type and you can draw even with a normal pen. Last but not the least, it allows 4 types of modes :
- Type Mode – Enables Halo Keyboard for typing
- Create – Enables drawing and note taking
- Browse Mode – Enables Compact browsing
- Watch Mode – Enables you watching movies
Salient features :
- Affordable price
- Long lasting battery
- Dolby Atmos sound
- 10.1 inches screen
- Halo keyboard
- 4 modes
Regrets :
- Old version
- Heavy
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
(Key Features : 1.06 lbs / 10.5 inches / Super AMOLED / 2560× 1600 / 8 GB / 256 GB / 16 hrs / Android 10 )
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Processor chip and 8 GB memory with 256 GB of internal storage is all the reason for its seamless browsing feature!
You won’t face any issue in multitasking with this One Note Tablet. The battery life is excellent which is up to 16 hrs post one-time charge. AMOLED display enables vivid and sharp images with the highest contrast ratio. S-Pen is popular enough for drawing and taking notes, and it comes in handy with this tablet.
The device can be used as a PC set up with the Dex and keyboard cover.
It allows free multitasking and the Tablet can last for full-day use of productive apps. Charging the Styles that you use is also easy. To charge the S-pen, you have to attach it to the back of the tablet via the magnets, and it will charge wirelessly.
Well, not to forget about it’s immersing sound with the Dolby Atmos sound system. It is good for watching movies besides note taking.
Salient features :
- AMOLED display with 2560×1600 resolution
- Dolby Atmos sound system
- S-pen
- Convertible into PC
- Long-lasting battery life
- Speeded browsing
Regrets :
- Costly
Apple iPad Air – Premium Tablet for OneNote
(Key features : 1.03 lbs / 11 inches / IPS / 2388×1668 / 4GB / 64GB-1TB / 10 hours / iOS12 / USB-C)
The A14 Bionic chip with Neural Engine is the all-attractive feature of this One Note Tablet! This kind of processor can run 5 trillion operations per second which is a miraculous deal for such a small device!
For drawing or taking notes the Apple’s Pencil can be paired up with it. The pencil can be attached to it magnetically and can be charged the same way. However, you can change from one tool to another by simply tapping.
The Retina-display offers 11 inches IPS Panel, 2388×1668 resolution. It provides a super sharp and contrasting display! The slim designed tablet comes with type C USB. You can do here much more than notes, watching movies, music, gaming etc!
Salient features:
- Quad-Speakers Sound system
- USB-C
- A12X Bionic Chip
- Premium look
- Sensitive Apple’s Pencil
- Long lasting battery life
- Excellent contrast ratio on screen
- Exclusive browsing speed
Regrets :
- Extremely costly
- Not as durable as the previous model.
- You will have to purchase the Apple Pencil separately
Microsoft Surface Pro 6
( Key features : 1.73 lbs / 12.3 inches / IPS / 2736×1824 / 8/16 GB / 128GB-1TB / 13.5 hours / Win 10 Pro )
The amazing 12.3 inches IPS panel display with 2736×1824 Resolution gives a lively and wonderful image quality.
You can buy the MS pen for a precision in drawing or writing. The Tablet wins our heart at a very crucial factor which is the battery – 13.5 hours after one charge!
You can work the entire day with no objection as such.
It will be a complete fun to watch movies or listen to music with this tablet. You can work on it as you work on a PC with the Keyboard cover.
If you are looking for a perfect note taking and drawing tablet, this should be your choice! If you look for precision in drawing and notes, this one is the ideal tablet choice for you. It is probably the most optimized device for OneNote as it is an app by Microsoft.
Salient features :
- Eye-catching display with great resolution
- Durable
- Premium look
- Long-lasting battery
- Convertible into PC with Keyboard cover.
Regrets :
- Heavy
- Expensive
Tablets basically, allow us to take digitized notes instead of the traditional notebook and pen notes. It does not just save your labor and time; rather it helps you create handy and digitized notes for yourself.
Huawei Onekey Partition
However, it is important to have a clear picture of the product pre-designed in our mind, before practically visiting a shop. In case you are still confused, this guide will help you out.
Factors you need to consider before Purchasing a Tablet for OneNote:
- Durability – A tablet that provides you a few chances of long and damage-free usage of the same should be preferred. Because dropping phones or tablets is a common mistake we repeat often.
- Screen Size – The size of the screen definitely needs to be considered before taking a tablet. On average a minimum of 8 inches screen is recommended; the maximum size depends on your usage completely. However, the larger the screen, the greater is the chance of extra weight in the product.
- Fast Charging – It is very crucial for the tablet to be able to get charged quickly to save your time during emergencies.
- Pressure-sensitive stylus – The better the sensitivity of the stylus, the more detailed the notes will be.
- Port type – It should be Type – C for faster data transfer.
- Buttons – Programmable buttons always ensure fast and handy work.
- Nibs – Hard nibs come for detailed works. Soft nibs are ideal for note taking on apps like OneNote, Evernote, and Google Keep.
Conclusion
Huawei Onenote Software
These were our picks to help you decide your purchase! Using the best tablet for OneNote, you will be able to gather any type of notes, drawings, screen clippings, and audio commentaries. If you have any doubts or queries, feel free to comment them down below.