The Huawei Mate 20 Pro is cheaper than ever on eBay with stellar hardware and Google apps
The conditions of the deal/s may have changed since the initial publishing of this post.
While the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro are undoubtedly stylish and powerful phones with incredibly advanced camera kits, it's hard to get excited about Huawei's latest high-enders when it seems they will be prohibited from accessing crucial Google apps and services like the Play Store, Maps, and Chrome.
But you know what you can buy at a significantly lower price than €799 or €1099 with a fully licensed version of Android onboard? Last year's Mate 20 Pro, that's exactly right. Obviously, the 6.4-inch powerhouse is not actually officially available in the US from any authorized retailers, but a top-rated eBay seller can currently hook you up with a brand-new, unused, unopened, and undamaged unit in its original packaging at only $498.99.
These are GSM unlocked variants on sale here with dual SIM support for the likes of AT&T and T-Mobile, although you should probably keep in mind that the Huawei Mate 20 Pro is not specifically designed or optimized for use on these shores, missing a few important LTE bands. Still, the handset does come with LTE band 2, 4, 5, 12, and 17 compatibility, which means you should be able to get relatively decent coverage nationwide on either of the two aforementioned GSM networks.
Naturally, the Mate 20 Pro doesn't come with CDMA functionality for Verizon and Sprint or a valid US warranty, but according to Google a while ago, its Play Store access will not be revoked and security updates will continue to be regularly provided. An Android 10 promotion is also most definitely around the corner, so if you absolutely need to own a high-end Huawei phone in the US, this is arguably the one to get.
In case you're wondering, the quality/price ratio is pretty much unrivaled at a little under 500 bucks, with a beautiful OLED display sporting a resolution of 3120 x 1440 pixels in tow, as well as a blazing fast Kirin 980 SoC, 6GB RAM, 128GB internal storage, a 4,200mAh battery with 40W charging capabilities, 3D facial recognition technology, and most of all, a phenomenal 40 + 20 + 8MP triple camera system.
Things that are NOT allowed: