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EMUI 10 is already coming to some devices. Huawei has launched the beta of this version and users can now register to be accepted. At Tuexperto we have had the opportunity to be one of the first to receive EMUI 10 with Android 10 on a Huawei P30 Pro. After a few hours with this new version installed and browsing the interface, these are my first impressions.
Dark mode
One of the main novelties of Android 10 is the implementation of a dark mode throughout the interface. The truth is that Huawei already had this option with EMUI 9, but they have given it a facelift in MIUI 10. First of all, the option to activate this dark mode is much easier to find. It's in the display settings (previously in the battery settings). Of course, there is no option to activate or deactivate this mode in the direct settings of the system, as it does in the Android Stock version.
Dark mode is fully applied throughout the interface. In the main apps, such as Phone, Gallery, Calendar, Settings etc. The tones are pure black, so it is friendly with the OLED panel and allows us to save more battery. Third-party apps don't get a dark mode from Huawei, instead you have to apply your own. The direct access and news panel -which has also been completely redesigned- also shows a grayish tone, but it is not that black OLED that we see in applications.
An interesting detail is that this new dark mode is applied in a very functional way in the Huawei Browser app, making even web page applications look dark. As you would expect in a first beta version, it crashes on some occasions.
Interface redesign
The interface undergoes a major design change. Personally, the most beautiful and striking thing is the new notification panel and shortcuts. Although it is not very similar to pure Android, it does have rounded lines and a transparent finish that makes it very elegant and minimalist. In the upper area we have the shortcuts. The interface shows 5 accesses that can be customized, as well as the time, date, settings button and brightness control. This panel of shortcuts is displayed occupying the entire screen and allows us to see more information and controls.
Notifications are now further apart. Also with this transparent and unfocused background that is a bit reminiscent of the Apple interface. We can smell the content and respond through the buttons.
Huawei continues to bet on a main interface, with all the applications on the desktop, but there is also the possibility of switching to an app drawer. This now opens by sliding up. The app drawer does not change design.
We see another noticeable change in Huawei's own applications. Navigation and categories remain at the bottom, but some design elements change considerably. For example, in settings the icons are shown as rounded. In the phone app we no longer see that landscape background in the contacts and the interface is much cleaner, the same in the Gallery or Calendar app. While this interface is somewhat removed from Android Stock, the facelift is quite acceptable.
The camera app
Huawei's camera application also changes with EMUI 10. The previous version already had an acceptable physical appearance, but now it is modified with a much more minimalist and fast interface. The camera modes are at the bottom and we can go through them by sliding our finger.
There is no new way at the moment
New animations
Huawei has given great importance to the animations of EMUI 10, and the truth is that we see a great difference compared to the previous version. Now animations and transitions are much more fluid and accurate. It seems that we are browsing on a 90 Hz screen. The interesting thing is that these animations are also displayed in third-party applications, such as WhatsApp, Twitter, etc.
EMUI 10 Conclusions
The EMUI 10 beta is quite stable. Everything moves with total fluidity, although it has some flaws. The dark mode is still not very well implemented in the settings, making some texts unreadable because the color of the letters remains black and not white. On the other hand, I have also noticed some other problem when opening applications or taking pictures, but it is normal considering that we are in the first versions.
Regarding redesign if I have noticed a big change compared to EMUI 9.1. The apps have a much more minimalist look, the notification panel is much more modern and the animations are very fluid. However, some things still need to be improved. Especially in the appearance of the icons and in extra settings that are somewhat unnecessary.
One of the features that I have most missed in this first beta of EMUI 10, is the ability to customize the 'Always-on' screen. The company showed different customization options for this screen during the developer event, but in the first beta there is no trace of the new spheres or colors, so we will have to wait for the next version.
