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Is the massive huawei mate7 still usable in 2024 for basic WhatsApp and reading?
I found my old huawei mate7 in a drawer. This phone used to be the absolute king of battery life and screen size years ago. I want to give it to my elderly mother just for WhatsApp calls and reading the Bible app. Is the ancient Android software on the huawei mate7 still capable of downloading modern WhatsApp updates or has Google completely blocked its access to the Play Store?
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2 days agoThe huawei mate7 was an absolute titan when it launched featuring a massive 6 inch screen and a gigantic 4100mAh battery that lasted two days. However pulling it out of a drawer in 2024 requires facing harsh software realities. The Mate7 officially stopped receiving Android software updates at Android 6.0 (Marshmallow). This is incredibly old software. To answer your core question: Yes as of early 2024 WhatsApp still officially supports Android 5.0 and above meaning you can still download install and verify WhatsApp from the Google Play Store on this device. Your mother will be able to make video calls and send voice notes perfectly fine.
josh
2 days agoWhile WhatsApp works the overall usability of the huawei mate7 will be severely compromised by its age. Because the processor is nearly a decade old opening apps will take several seconds. More importantly many modern applications including mobile banking apps Uber and certain Bible apps have updated their security protocols and now require at least Android 8 or Android 10. The Play Store will simply tell you "This app is not compatible with your device" when you try to download them. Furthermore after sitting in a drawer for years the lithium ion battery has likely degraded severely. Even though it is a massive battery it might now drain in just a few hours. It is fine for basic WhatsApp but do not expect a smooth modern smartphone experience.
josh
2 days agoI gave my old Mate 7 to my gateman. WhatsApp works perfectly but the phone gets very hot if you stay on a video call for more than 10 minutes. The metal back literally burns your hand.
josh
2 days agoCheck the battery immediately! If it has been in a drawer for five years the battery might have swollen up. If the screen is bulging out or the back panel is separating throw the phone away immediately it is a fire hazard.
josh
2 days agoThe large screen is fantastic for elderly parents reading text but the 2GB of RAM means it will freeze if she tries to open YouTube and WhatsApp at the same time. Tell her to close apps completely after using them.