An interesting question. It is one I had been asked several times and, until then, my answer had always been: ‘Why would you want to?’
Back in 2018 I decided to look for an alternative to the iPhone 7 Plus I relied on every day for business. I wanted to see whether an Apple user could move to another manufacturer without losing the everyday connections between phone, tablet and computer.
Why consider moving?
At the time, iOS updates and Apple’s tighter control over replacement components were causing frustration for some owners and independent repairers. That made it a useful moment to look at what the competition could offer.
The Huawei P20 Pro was a strong contender. Huawei had been behind a great deal of mobile and network technology for years, even if the name was less familiar to many UK consumers.
Huawei P20 Pro hardware
On paper the P20 Pro was impressive. In practice, it was even better: a strong screen, excellent battery performance, quick face recognition and a particularly capable low-light camera. USB-C was becoming the standard connection, although wireless charging was missing.
Software and the Apple ecosystem
The phone ran Huawei’s Android interface, EMUI. Setup was straightforward and Google’s cloud services were readily available, but the real test was whether it could fit alongside an existing Mac, iPad, iCloud contacts, calendars, notes and iMessage.
Third-party tools could synchronise iCloud contacts and calendars, but moving between stores also meant that some paid apps would need to be purchased again. Messaging was harder: contacts expected iMessage, while workarounds depended on a Mac remaining online and were not always reliable.
Continuity was the biggest loss. AirDrop and the small, seamless hand-offs between iPhone, iPad and Mac were difficult to replace. The individual Huawei device was excellent, but the surrounding Apple ecosystem remained more convenient for this particular mix of work.
The verdict
After three months I returned to an iPhone. The P20 Pro was a fantastic phone; it simply did not integrate deeply enough with the Apple devices and services already in daily use.
So, can you move away from the iPhone? Yes—but the phone itself is only part of the decision. Before switching, take stock of the apps, messages, cloud storage and other devices that make up your wider setup.
