Realme X50 Pro 5G vs Honor 30 Pro: Which 5G Flagship Reigns Supreme?

Launched within months of each other, the Realme X50 Pro 5G and Honor 30 Pro represent compelling attempts at delivering premium 5G experiences. While both aimed for the flagship space, they took different approaches – Realme prioritizing raw speed with the Snapdragon 865, and Honor focusing on a balanced package with their Kirin 990 5G. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which phone offers the best value in today’s market.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Realme X50 Pro 5G emerges as the stronger contender. Its Snapdragon 865 chipset delivers superior overall performance, coupled with significantly faster 65W charging. While the Honor 30 Pro offers a respectable experience, the Realme’s performance edge and charging speed justify its slight price premium.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor 30 Pro Realme X50 Pro 5G
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, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 - Global
5G bands1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - Global
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - India
Launch
Announced2020, April 15. Released 2020, April 212020, February 24. Released 2020, March 05
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
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)159 x 74.2 x 8.9 mm (6.26 x 2.92 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight186 g (6.56 oz)205 g (7.23 oz)
 IP54, dust and water resistant-
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~392 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)
Size6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.44 inches, 100.1 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLEDSuper AMOLED, 90Hz, 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 11, Realme UI 2.0
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFSUFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, LED flash, panorama, HDRLED 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 lens64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 12 MP, f/2.5, 54mm (telephoto), 2x optical zoom, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.3, 13mm (ultrawide), PDAF Auxiliary lens
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@1920fps; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Dual32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
FeaturesHDRHDR
Video4K, 1080p; gyro-EIS1080p@30/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with dual speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0
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, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging40W wired 5W reverse wired65W wired, PD, 100% in 35 min
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAh4200 mAh
Misc
ColorsTitanium silver, Emerald Green, Midnight Black, Icelandic Frost, Neon purpleMoss Green, Rust Red
ModelsEBG-AN00RMX2075, RMX2071, RMX2076
PriceAbout 670 EURAbout 360 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 90h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -23.2 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 592447 (v8) GeekBench: 3175 (v5.1) GFXBench: 45fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor 30 Pro

  • Faster Snapdragon 865 processor
  • Significantly faster 65W charging
  • Likely brighter display (635 nits)
  • Potentially smoother display (if higher refresh rate)

  • Camera details are lacking
  • Software experience may be less refined than Honor

Realme X50 Pro 5G

  • Balanced performance from Kirin 990 5G
  • Good battery endurance (90h rating)
  • Potentially better integration with Huawei ecosystem
  • 40W fast charging

  • Slower processor compared to Snapdragon 865
  • Slower charging speed (40W vs 65W)
  • Display brightness data unavailable

Display Comparison

The Realme X50 Pro 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 635 nits, providing a visibly brighter experience in direct sunlight compared to the Honor 30 Pro (brightness data unavailable). Both phones feature an 'infinite' contrast ratio, typical of AMOLED panels. While both likely utilize similar AMOLED technology, the Realme’s higher peak brightness gives it an edge for outdoor visibility. The absence of refresh rate data for the Honor 30 Pro means the Realme X50 Pro 5G likely has a smoother experience if it supports a higher refresh rate.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. However, the camera experience will likely differ due to image processing algorithms. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. The Realme X50 Pro 5G, given Realme’s focus on camera improvements in subsequent models, likely benefits from more refined software processing. The absence of details on OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on either device makes it difficult to assess low-light performance.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Realme X50 Pro 5G’s Snapdragon 865 (7nm+) utilizes a single Cortex-A77 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz, alongside three additional A77 cores at 2.42 GHz, offering a significant architectural advantage over the Honor 30 Pro’s Kirin 990 5G. The Kirin 990 5G employs two Cortex-A76 cores at 2.86 GHz and two more at 2.36 GHz. While clock speeds are comparable, the newer Cortex-A77 architecture in the Snapdragon 865 provides superior instructions-per-clock (IPC), translating to faster real-world performance. This difference is particularly noticeable in graphically intensive tasks and gaming. Both utilize 7nm+ fabrication, but Qualcomm’s optimization generally leads to better sustained performance.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 90 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life despite the Honor 30 Pro’s unspecified battery capacity. However, the Realme X50 Pro 5G’s 65W wired charging is a game-changer, achieving a full charge in just 35 minutes. The Honor 30 Pro’s 40W charging, while respectable, is significantly slower. This charging speed difference is a major convenience factor for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly. The Realme’s faster charging effectively mitigates any potential battery capacity disadvantage.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor 30 Pro if you prioritize a balanced experience and are heavily invested in the Huawei/Honor ecosystem. Its Kirin 990 5G offers good performance for everyday tasks and moderate gaming, and the 40W charging is adequate. Buy the Realme X50 Pro 5G if you demand top-tier performance for demanding games and applications, and value the convenience of incredibly fast 65W charging. It’s the better choice for power users and those who frequently rely on their phone throughout the day.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 865 in the Realme X50 Pro 5G get hot during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 865 is known to generate heat under sustained load. However, the Realme X50 Pro 5G incorporates cooling solutions to mitigate throttling. While some temperature increase is expected, it generally maintains high frame rates for longer periods compared to the Kirin 990 5G, which is more prone to thermal throttling.
❓ Is the 40W charging on the Honor 30 Pro sufficient for daily use, or is the 65W on the Realme X50 Pro 5G a necessity?
The 40W charging on the Honor 30 Pro is adequate for overnight charging or topping up when you have more time. However, the 65W charging on the Realme X50 Pro 5G is a significant convenience, allowing you to add a substantial charge in just a few minutes – ideal for users who need a quick boost before heading out.
❓ How does the Kirin 990 5G compare to the Snapdragon 865 in terms of AI processing capabilities?
Both chipsets feature dedicated Neural Processing Units (NPUs) for AI tasks. Qualcomm’s Hexagon 698 DSP in the Snapdragon 865 generally offers superior AI performance, particularly in areas like image processing and voice recognition. While the Kirin 990 5G’s NPU is capable, the Snapdragon 865 holds an advantage in this domain.