Honor 30 Pro vs OnePlus 8 Pro: A Detailed Flagship Face-Off

Released within months of each other in 2020, the Honor 30 Pro and OnePlus 8 Pro represented distinct approaches to the flagship Android experience. The Honor 30 Pro, leveraging Huawei’s Kirin 990 5G chipset, aimed for a balance of power and features, while the OnePlus 8 Pro, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, prioritized raw performance and a fluid software experience. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device offers the best value today.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and a refined software experience, the OnePlus 8 Pro emerges as the stronger choice. While the Honor 30 Pro offers competitive specs and faster wired charging, the Snapdragon 865’s superior GPU and broader software support give the OnePlus 8 Pro a lasting edge.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor 30 Pro OnePlus 8 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) / 1800 / 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, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66 - EU
5G bands1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 7, 28, 78 SA/NSA - EU
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -78 SA/NSA - IN
Launch
Announced2020, April 15. Released 2020, April 212020, April 14
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, April 21
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions160.3 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm (6.31 x 2.90 x 0.33 in)165.3 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm (6.51 x 2.93 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight186 g (6.56 oz)199 g (7.02 oz)
 IP54, dust and water resistantIP68 dust/water resistant
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~392 ppi density)1440 x 3168 pixels (~513 ppi density)
Size6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLEDFluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 990 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUMali-G76 MP16Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10, Magic UI 3, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFSUFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
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 lens48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 5 MP, f/2.4, (Color filter camera)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@1920fps; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto 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-16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video4K, 1080p; gyro-EIS1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
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, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging40W wired 5W reverse wired30W wired, 50% in 23 min 30W wireless, 50% in 30 min 3W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Po 4510 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsTitanium silver, Emerald Green, Midnight Black, Icelandic Frost, Neon purpleGlacial Green, Ultramarine Blue, Onyx Black
ModelsEBG-AN00IN2023, IN2020, IN2021, IN2025
PriceAbout 670 EURAbout 310 EUR
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM-$ 428.39
256GB 12GB RAM-$ 853.51
RENEWED-$ 486.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 103h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -23.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 573276 (v8) GeekBench: 3374 (v5.1) GFXBench: 24fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor 30 Pro

  • Faster 40W wired charging
  • Potentially lower price (depending on market)
  • EMUI offers unique features

  • Kirin 990 GPU is less powerful than Snapdragon 865
  • Software support may be limited
  • Less established camera reputation

OnePlus 8 Pro

  • Superior Snapdragon 865 performance
  • More versatile camera system
  • OxygenOS provides a clean Android experience

  • Slower wired charging (30W)
  • Higher price point
  • Wireless charging can generate heat

Display Comparison

Both the Honor 30 Pro and OnePlus 8 Pro feature displays with an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, detailed display specifications like peak brightness and color gamut coverage are missing. Given OnePlus’s history, the 8 Pro likely boasts a higher peak brightness for better outdoor visibility. Both devices likely utilize OLED panels, but the OnePlus 8 Pro’s 120Hz refresh rate (not explicitly stated in the data, but standard for the model) would provide a noticeably smoother scrolling experience compared to the Honor 30 Pro’s presumed 60Hz panel.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are described as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details. The OnePlus 8 Pro is known for its versatile camera system, including a 48MP main sensor with OIS, an ultra-wide lens, and a telephoto lens. The Honor 30 Pro’s camera setup is unknown, but Huawei historically focuses on computational photography. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison, but the OnePlus 8 Pro’s established camera reputation and wider range of shooting modes give it an advantage. The absence of detail suggests neither phone features a particularly standout macro camera.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s Snapdragon 865 (7nm+) features a Cortex-A77 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz, while the Honor 30 Pro utilizes a Kirin 990 5G (7nm+) with a slightly higher clocked Cortex-A76 (2.86 GHz). However, the Snapdragon 865’s Adreno 650 GPU significantly outperforms the Kirin 990’s Mali-G76 MP16, making the OnePlus 8 Pro the clear winner for gaming and graphically intensive tasks. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s availability in a 12GB RAM configuration (vs. the Honor 30 Pro’s unspecified RAM options) further enhances multitasking capabilities. While both use 5G, the Snapdragon 865 generally has broader carrier compatibility.

Battery Life

The OnePlus 8 Pro boasts an endurance rating of 103 hours, indicating solid battery life. While the Honor 30 Pro’s battery capacity is not specified, its 40W wired charging significantly surpasses the OnePlus 8 Pro’s 30W wired charging, allowing for faster top-ups. The OnePlus 8 Pro also offers 30W wireless charging and 3W reverse wireless charging, features not explicitly mentioned for the Honor 30 Pro, which only offers 5W reverse *wired* charging. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s faster wireless charging provides greater convenience, but the Honor 30 Pro’s wired charging speed is a key advantage for users who prefer a quick boost.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor 30 Pro if you prioritize fast 40W wired charging and are comfortable with the EMUI software ecosystem. It’s a compelling option for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly. Buy the OnePlus 8 Pro if you value a smoother, more responsive user experience, a more versatile camera system, and long-term software support. It’s ideal for power users, gamers, and those who appreciate a clean Android interface.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990 5G in the Honor 30 Pro experience significant throttling under sustained load?
While the Kirin 990 5G is a capable chipset, it's known to be more prone to thermal throttling compared to the Snapdragon 865, especially during extended gaming sessions. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s superior thermal management system helps maintain higher sustained performance.
❓ Is the OnePlus 8 Pro’s 30W wireless charging significantly faster than the Honor 30 Pro’s 5W reverse wired charging?
Yes, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s 30W wireless charging is substantially faster and more convenient than the Honor 30 Pro’s 5W reverse *wired* charging. The OnePlus 8 Pro can reach 50% charge in approximately 30 minutes wirelessly, while the Honor 30 Pro’s reverse wired charging is primarily intended for accessories, not full phone charges.
❓ How does the software experience differ between EMUI on the Honor 30 Pro and OxygenOS on the OnePlus 8 Pro?
EMUI is a heavily customized Android skin with a distinct look and feel, offering numerous features but sometimes criticized for bloatware. OxygenOS, on the other hand, is known for its clean, near-stock Android experience with subtle enhancements, prioritizing speed and responsiveness.