Honor 30 Pro vs Huawei P40 Pro+: Which Kirin 990 Flagship Reigns Supreme?

The Honor 30 Pro and Huawei P40 Pro+ represent a fascinating intersection of brand strategy and hardware capability. Both leverage the Kirin 990 5G chipset, yet cater to slightly different user priorities. The P40 Pro+ aimed for the absolute pinnacle of mobile photography, while the Honor 30 Pro focused on delivering a high-value 5G experience. This comparison dissects their differences to determine which phone offers the best overall package.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user, the Huawei P40 Pro+ emerges as the superior choice, primarily due to its significantly enhanced charging versatility with 40W wireless and 27W reverse wireless. While both share the same processor, the P40 Pro+'s battery endurance rating and display brightness provide a more refined flagship experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor 30 Pro Huawei P40 Pro+
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2020, April 15. Released 2020, April 212020, March 26
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, June 06
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front, ceramic back, ceramic frame
Dimensions160.3 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm (6.31 x 2.90 x 0.33 in)158.2 x 72.6 x 9 mm (6.23 x 2.86 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight186 g (6.56 oz)226 g (7.97 oz)
 IP54, dust and water resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Display
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~392 ppi density)1200 x 2640 pixels (~441 ppi density)
Size6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.58 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLEDOLED, 90Hz, HDR10
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 990 5G (7 nm+)Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+)
GPUMali-G76 MP16Mali-G76 MP16
OSAndroid 10, Magic UI 3, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 10, EMUI 10.1, no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 UFSUFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, LED flash, panorama, HDRLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad40 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (Periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 18mm (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/4.4, 240mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 40 MP, f/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), 1/1.54", PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@1920fps; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720@7680fps, 1080p@960fps, HDR; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Dual32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)-
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single-32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, AF IR TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K, 1080p; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
 -32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassInfrared Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging40W wired 5W reverse wired40W wired 40W wireless 27W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Po 4200 mAh
Misc
ColorsTitanium silver, Emerald Green, Midnight Black, Icelandic Frost, Neon purpleWhite Ceramic, Black Ceramic
ModelsEBG-AN00ELS-N39, ELS-AN10
PriceAbout 670 EURAbout 1000 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 95h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.4 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 529687 (v8) GeekBench: 3203 (v5.1) GFXBench: 31fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor 30 Pro

  • Value-focused pricing
  • Fast 40W wired charging
  • 5G connectivity via Kirin 990

  • Lacks wireless charging
  • Less detailed display specifications
  • Potentially less advanced camera system

Huawei P40 Pro+

  • 40W wired, wireless, and reverse wireless charging
  • Brighter display (760 nits)
  • Superior battery endurance rating

  • Higher price point
  • Shared chipset with Honor 30 Pro
  • Potential for software bloat (Huawei)

Display Comparison

Both devices utilize OLED panels, but the Huawei P40 Pro+ boasts a measured peak brightness of 760 nits, suggesting a more visible display in direct sunlight. While both lack specified refresh rates in the provided data, the P40 Pro+'s 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) indicates a superior viewing experience with deeper blacks. The Honor 30 Pro’s display specifications are less detailed, implying a potentially less vibrant or bright visual experience.

Camera Comparison

The provided data only states 'Photo / Video' capabilities for both. However, the P40 Pro+ was marketed as a photography powerhouse, implying a more sophisticated camera system with potentially larger sensors and advanced image processing algorithms. The Honor 30 Pro, while capable, likely prioritizes a balanced camera experience rather than pushing the boundaries of mobile photography. Without sensor size or aperture details, a definitive camera comparison is impossible, but the P40 Pro+'s positioning suggests a clear advantage.

Performance

The core performance is identical: both the Honor 30 Pro and Huawei P40 Pro+ are powered by the Kirin 990 5G (7nm+). This octa-core CPU configuration – 2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76, 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76, and 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55 – delivers comparable processing power. However, the absence of RAM specifications prevents a full assessment. Thermal management will likely be similar, given the shared chipset, but the P40 Pro+'s larger chassis *could* offer slightly better heat dissipation.

Battery Life

Both phones feature 40W wired charging, offering rapid replenishment. However, the Huawei P40 Pro+ significantly expands charging options with 40W wireless charging and 27W reverse wireless charging – features absent on the Honor 30 Pro. Both achieve an endurance rating of 95 hours, indicating similar overall battery life despite potential differences in battery capacity (not specified). The P40 Pro+'s wireless charging capabilities provide greater convenience and flexibility for users who frequently utilize these features.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor 30 Pro if you prioritize value and a streamlined 5G experience without the premium price tag of the P40 Pro+. It’s ideal for users who want a capable flagship without needing the absolute best camera system or wireless charging. Buy the Huawei P40 Pro+ if you demand the most comprehensive feature set, including faster wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, and a demonstrably brighter display, and are willing to pay a premium for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990 5G in either phone struggle with sustained performance under heavy load?
The Kirin 990 5G is a capable chipset, but like most flagship SoCs, it can experience thermal throttling during prolonged intensive tasks like gaming. The larger chassis of the P40 Pro+ *may* offer slightly better thermal headroom, but both phones will likely exhibit some performance reduction after extended use.
❓ Is the lack of wireless charging on the Honor 30 Pro a significant drawback?
For users who frequently utilize wireless charging, the absence of this feature on the Honor 30 Pro is a notable omission. The P40 Pro+'s 40W wireless charging provides a convenient alternative to wired charging, especially for topping up the battery throughout the day. If wireless charging is a priority, the P40 Pro+ is the clear choice.
❓ How does the 27W reverse wireless charging on the P40 Pro+ benefit users?
The 27W reverse wireless charging allows the P40 Pro+ to wirelessly charge other devices, such as earbuds, smartwatches, or even another smartphone. This is particularly useful when traveling or in situations where access to a power outlet is limited.