Honor 30 Pro 5G vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro: Which Flagship Reigns Supreme?

Launched in a competitive 2020 flagship landscape, the Honor 30 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro represent distinct approaches to high-end Android. The Honor 30 Pro leverages Huawei’s Kirin 990 5G chipset, while the Mi 10 Pro opts for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865. With both devices now available at significantly reduced prices, a direct comparison is more relevant than ever, focusing on real-world performance and feature sets.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing all-around performance and faster charging, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 865 offers a slight edge in raw processing power, coupled with 50W wired and 30W wireless charging capabilities that the Honor 30 Pro simply can't match. However, the Honor 30 Pro remains a compelling option for those within the Huawei ecosystem.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor 30 Pro Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 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, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40 - Global
5G bands1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 7, 28, 77, 78 Sub6 - Global
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2020, April 15. Released 2020, April 212020, February 13. Released 2020, February 18
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions160.3 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm (6.31 x 2.90 x 0.33 in)162.5 x 74.8 x 9 mm (6.40 x 2.94 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight186 g (6.56 oz)208 g (7.34 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 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~386 ppi density)
Size6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLEDSuper AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ)
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, MIUI 14
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFSUFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, Triple-LED dual-tone 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 lens108 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.0, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.0, (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.7x optical zoom, 5x hybrid zoom 20 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/2.8", 1.0µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@1920fps; gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Dual32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)-
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single-20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm
Video4K, 1080p; gyro-EIS1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared portYesYes
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 2.0, 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, compass, barometer
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging40W wired 5W reverse wired50W wired, PD3.0 30W wireless 5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsTitanium silver, Emerald Green, Midnight Black, Icelandic Frost, Neon purpleAlpine White, Solstice Grey
ModelsEBG-AN00M2001J1G
PriceAbout 670 EURAbout 930 EUR
SAR-1.09 W/kg (head)     1.02 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.69 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 101h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.2 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 595246 (v8) GeekBench: 3331 (v5.1) GFXBench: 42fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor 30 Pro

  • Potentially more streamlined software experience (Huawei ecosystem)
  • Slightly more compact design (likely)
  • Competitive 5G connectivity

  • Inferior chipset performance compared to Snapdragon 865
  • Slower charging speeds (wired and wireless)
  • Limited camera details available

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G

  • Superior chipset performance (Snapdragon 865)
  • Faster charging (50W wired, 30W wireless)
  • Likely better camera system

  • Larger and heavier design
  • MIUI software can be polarizing
  • Potential for software bloat

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 858 nits, compared to an unspecified peak brightness for the Honor 30 Pro. While both utilize 7nm+ fabrication, the Mi 10 Pro’s infinite (nominal) contrast ratio suggests a superior OLED panel. The lack of detailed display specs for the Honor 30 Pro, such as refresh rate or PWM dimming frequency, puts it at a disadvantage against the Mi 10 Pro’s likely higher-quality panel, potentially impacting viewing experience in bright sunlight and eye strain during prolonged use.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are marketed as camera-centric, but details are sparse. The Mi 10 Pro likely benefits from Qualcomm’s image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 865, offering advanced computational photography capabilities. While both offer 'Photo/Video' functionality, the Mi 10 Pro’s larger sensor (likely, given its flagship status) and potentially wider aperture lenses would provide better low-light performance and dynamic range. The absence of specific camera specs for the Honor 30 Pro makes a detailed comparison difficult, but the Mi 10 Pro’s reputation for camera quality gives it a clear advantage.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Honor 30 Pro’s Kirin 990 5G versus the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro’s Snapdragon 865 5G. Both are 7nm+ chips, but the Snapdragon 865 features a newer Cortex-A77 core in its prime cluster (1x2.84 GHz) compared to the Kirin 990’s Cortex-A76 (2x2.86 GHz). This architectural advantage, combined with Qualcomm’s optimized GPU, translates to a slight performance edge for the Mi 10 Pro in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. Both devices utilize similar RAM configurations, but the Snapdragon 865’s superior thermal management is likely to result in less throttling under sustained load.

Battery Life

Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 101 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite differing charging capabilities. However, the Mi 10 Pro’s charging prowess is significantly superior: 50W wired charging with PD3.0, 30W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging versus the Honor 30 Pro’s 40W wired and 5W reverse wired. This means the Mi 10 Pro can be fully charged much faster, minimizing downtime. While battery capacity isn't specified, the Mi 10 Pro’s faster charging offsets any potential capacity difference.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor 30 Pro if you prioritize a streamlined user experience within the Huawei ecosystem and value a slightly more compact form factor. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G if you demand maximum performance, faster charging speeds (both wired and wireless), and a more versatile camera system, even if it means a larger device.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990 5G in the Honor 30 Pro struggle with sustained gaming performance compared to the Snapdragon 865?
Yes, the Snapdragon 865 in the Mi 10 Pro generally exhibits better thermal management and sustained performance during extended gaming sessions. While the Kirin 990 5G is a capable chip, the Snapdragon 865’s architecture and Qualcomm’s optimizations provide a noticeable advantage, reducing the likelihood of throttling and maintaining higher frame rates over longer periods.
❓ How significant is the difference in charging speed between the 40W charging on the Honor 30 Pro and the 50W charging on the Mi 10 Pro?
The difference is substantial. The Mi 10 Pro’s 50W charging can significantly reduce charging times, potentially taking the battery from 0% to 100% in under an hour, while the Honor 30 Pro’s 40W charging will take considerably longer. This is a key advantage for users who prioritize minimizing downtime.
❓ Is the lack of detailed camera specifications for the Honor 30 Pro a major concern?
Yes, it is. The absence of information regarding sensor size, aperture, and OIS makes it difficult to assess the Honor 30 Pro’s camera capabilities accurately. Given the Mi 10 Pro’s strong camera reputation and Qualcomm’s ISP, the Mi 10 Pro is likely to offer a more versatile and higher-quality camera experience.