iPhone 11 vs Huawei P30 Pro New Edition: Which Budget Flagship Reigns Supreme?

The iPhone 11 and Huawei P30 Pro New Edition represent compelling options in the used and refurbished market. While separated by operating systems and brand ecosystems, both phones offer flagship-level features at significantly reduced prices. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device delivers the best experience for today's user.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the iPhone 11 emerges as the stronger choice. Its consistently powerful A13 Bionic chip, coupled with Apple’s long-term software support, provides a smoother and more reliable experience. While the P30 Pro boasts faster charging, the iPhone 11’s overall package offers better longevity and usability.

PHONES
Phone Names Apple iPhone 11 Huawei P30 Pro New Edition
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2221LTE
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat16 1024/150 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat21 1400/200 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2111, A2223-
Launch
Announced2019, September 102020, May 12. Released 2020, June 01
StatusAvailable. Released 2019, September 20Discontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame (7000 series)Glass front (Aluminosilicate glass), glass back (Aluminosilicate glass), aluminum frame
Dimensions150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm (5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 in)158 x 73.4 x 8.4 mm (6.22 x 2.89 x 0.33 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight194 g (6.84 oz)192 g (6.77 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 mins)
Display
ProtectionScratch-resistant glass-
Resolution828 x 1792 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 90.3 cm2 (~79.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLiquid Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ)OLED, HDR10
Platform
CPUHexa-core (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder)Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetApple A13 Bionic (7 nm+)Kirin 980 (7 nm)
GPUApple GPU (4-core graphics)Mali-G76 MP10
OSiOS 13, upgradable to iOS 26.1Android 10, EMUI 10.1, Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 NVMeUFS 3.0
Main Camera
Dual12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.6"-
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)Leica optics, color spectrum sensor, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Triple-40 MP, f/1.6, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom 20 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.7", PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec.4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
 -32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBLightning, USB 2.0USB Type-C 3.1
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 Ultra Wideband (UWB) support-
Battery
ChargingWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min Wireless (Qi)40W wired, 70% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Ion 3110 mAh, non-removable (11.91 Wh)Li-Po 4200 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Green, Yellow, Purple, Red, WhiteAurora, Black, Silver Frost
ModelsA2221, A2111, A2223, iPhone12,1-
Price$ 167.50 / C$ 228.68 / £ 175.00 / € 193.32About 820 EUR
SAR1.09 W/kg (head)     1.18 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU0.95 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)-
Pricing
128GB 4GB RAM$ 359.95-
256GB 4GB RAM$ 469.99-
64GB 4GB RAM$ 292.79-
RENEWED£ 214.00-
Tests
Audio quality Noise -94.2dB / Crosstalk -80.8dB-
Battery life Endurance rating 94h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: 1505:1 (nominal)-
Loudspeaker Voice 70dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 76dB -
Performance AnTuTu: 419453 (v7) GeekBench: 13882 (v4.4) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Apple iPhone 11

  • Superior processor performance with the A13 Bionic
  • Long-term software support and updates from Apple
  • Excellent video recording quality

  • Slower charging speed compared to the P30 Pro
  • LCD display lacks the vibrancy of OLED panels

Huawei P30 Pro New Edition

  • Faster 40W wired charging
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities
  • Potentially superior low-light camera performance

  • Kirin 980 chipset is less powerful than the A13 Bionic
  • Limited software update support from Huawei

Display Comparison

The iPhone 11 features a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina LCD with a measured peak brightness of 644 nits and a 1505:1 contrast ratio. While not OLED, it delivers accurate colors and sufficient brightness for outdoor visibility. The P30 Pro New Edition’s display specifications aren’t provided, but Huawei typically prioritizes vibrant colors and high contrast in its displays. The iPhone 11’s contrast ratio is a key advantage, offering deeper blacks and a more dynamic image, though the P30 Pro may offer a slightly larger screen size. The lack of high refresh rate on either device is expected for this generation.

Camera Comparison

Both phones excel in photography, but approach it differently. The iPhone 11’s camera system is known for its natural color reproduction and excellent video recording capabilities. The P30 Pro New Edition, however, gained notoriety for its exceptional low-light performance, largely due to its large sensor and advanced image processing. While specific sensor sizes aren’t provided, the P30 Pro’s reputation suggests a larger main sensor. Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but the iPhone 11’s consistent image quality and superior video stabilization make it a more versatile option for content creators. We are ignoring the 2MP macro sensors on both devices as they offer minimal practical benefit.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: Apple’s 7nm+ A13 Bionic versus Huawei’s 7nm Kirin 980. The A13 Bionic, with its hexa-core CPU (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder), consistently outperforms the Kirin 980’s octa-core configuration (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) in both single-core and multi-core benchmarks. This translates to snappier app launches, smoother multitasking, and better sustained performance during demanding tasks. Both phones have 4GB of RAM, but the A13’s superior architecture and memory management give it a clear edge.

Battery Life

The iPhone 11 boasts an endurance rating of 94 hours, indicating excellent battery life. While the P30 Pro New Edition’s battery capacity isn’t specified, it compensates with significantly faster charging: 40W wired (70% in 30 minutes) versus the iPhone 11’s 50% in 30 minutes with PD2.0. The P30 Pro also supports 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the iPhone 11. However, the iPhone 11’s efficient A13 Bionic chip and optimized software contribute to its impressive endurance, potentially offsetting the P30 Pro’s faster charging for many users.

Buying Guide

Buy the Apple iPhone 11 if you prioritize a seamless software experience, long-term updates, and a strong resale value. It’s ideal for users deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem or those seeking a reliable and easy-to-use smartphone. Buy the Huawei P30 Pro New Edition if you value exceptionally fast charging and prefer a more customizable Android experience, understanding that software updates will be limited and the Google ecosystem may be less integrated.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 980 chipset in the P30 Pro New Edition struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
While the Kirin 980 is a capable chipset, it will likely exhibit more frame drops and require lower graphics settings in demanding games like Genshin Impact compared to the iPhone 11’s A13 Bionic. The A13’s superior GPU and thermal management allow for more sustained performance.
❓ How does the lack of 5G on both phones impact their usability in 2024?
The absence of 5G is a minor drawback, but not a dealbreaker for most users. Wi-Fi 6 is readily available, and 4G LTE remains widely supported. The benefits of 5G are not yet universally accessible, making this a less critical factor for budget-conscious buyers.
❓ Is the iPhone 11 still receiving software updates from Apple?
While the iPhone 11 no longer receives major iOS version updates, it continues to receive critical security patches from Apple, ensuring a reasonably secure user experience. This is a significant advantage over the P30 Pro New Edition, which has limited software support.
❓ How reliable is the Huawei P30 Pro New Edition's reverse wireless charging feature?
The P30 Pro New Edition's reverse wireless charging is functional, but relatively slow. It's best suited for topping up accessories like wireless earbuds rather than fully charging another phone. Expect significantly longer charging times compared to wired charging.