Asus ROG Phone 3 vs. Honor 30: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Everyday Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers, the Asus ROG Phone 3 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 865 5G+ chipset and superior thermal management deliver sustained performance that the Honor 30’s Kirin 985 simply can’t match. However, for users prioritizing camera quality, a more refined design, and all-around usability, the Honor 30 presents a compelling alternative.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Honor 30 | Asus ROG Phone 3 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - A version |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - International | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - A version |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International | 1, 2, 3, 5, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - A version |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G 4.4 Gbps DL |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, April 15. Released 2020, April 21 | 2020, July 22. Released 2020, July 23 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 160.3 x 74.2 x 8.1 mm (6.31 x 2.92 x 0.32 in) | 171 x 78 x 9.9 mm (6.73 x 3.07 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 185 g (6.53 oz) | 240 g (8.47 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.53 inches, 102.9 cm2 (~86.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~79.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 650 nits (typ) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.58 GHz Cortex-A76 & 3x2.40 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.84 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.10 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Kirin 985 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Mali-G77 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 10, Magic UI 3, no Google Play Services | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, ROG UI |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| UFS | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 40 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7", PDAF 8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (Periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.4, 17mm (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Triple | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@960fps; gyro-EIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | Panorama, HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 24 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm |
| Video | 4K, 1080p; gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with DTS:X stereo speakers (2 dedicated amplifiers) |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 40W wired 5W reverse wired | 30W wired, PD3.0, QC4 10W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Titanium silver, Emerald Green, Midnight Black, Icelandic Frost, Neon purple | Black Glare |
| Models | BMH-AN10, BMH-AN20 | ASUS_I003D, ZS661KS, I003DD, I003D |
| Price | About 1170 EUR | About 650 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.74 W/kg (head) 1.50 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 120h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -23.1 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 621932 (v8) GeekBench: 13306 (v4.4), 3386 (v5.1) GFXBench: 48fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor 30
- Strong all-around performance with the Kirin 985 5G.
- 40W fast charging for quicker top-ups.
- Sleek and more conventional design.
- Performance lags behind the Snapdragon 865 5G+ in demanding tasks.
- Camera likely not as advanced as dedicated camera-focused flagships.
Asus ROG Phone 3
- Exceptional gaming performance with the Snapdragon 865 5G+.
- Superior thermal management prevents throttling.
- Larger battery capacity for extended gaming sessions.
- Bulky and gamer-centric design may not appeal to everyone.
- 30W charging is slower than the Honor 30’s 40W.
Display Comparison
The Asus ROG Phone 3 boasts a significantly brighter display at 719 nits, crucial for visibility in outdoor conditions, while the Honor 30’s brightness isn’t specified. Both offer infinite (nominal) contrast ratios, typical of OLED panels. The ROG Phone 3’s larger screen size caters to immersive gaming, but the Honor 30 likely offers a more manageable form factor. While neither specification details refresh rates, the ROG Phone 3 is known for its 120Hz display, a significant advantage for smooth gaming, a feature absent in the Honor 30.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking for both. However, given the Honor 30’s brand positioning, it likely prioritizes camera performance more heavily. The ROG Phone 3’s camera is often considered a secondary feature, focusing on delivering acceptable results rather than competing with flagship camera phones. Without specific sensor sizes or aperture details, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment, but the Honor 30 is likely to offer a more refined and versatile camera experience.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Asus ROG Phone 3’s Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7nm+) utilizes a more advanced architecture with a prime Cortex-A77 core clocked at 3.10 GHz, compared to the Honor 30’s Kirin 985 5G (7nm) featuring a Cortex-A76 core at 2.58 GHz. This translates to a noticeable performance advantage for the ROG Phone 3 in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. The ROG Phone 3’s superior thermal design, a hallmark of the ROG series, mitigates throttling under sustained load, maintaining higher clock speeds for longer periods. While both utilize LPDDR4X RAM, the ROG Phone 3’s optimized software and cooling system allow it to fully leverage the memory bandwidth.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 120 hours, suggesting comparable overall battery life under typical usage. However, the ROG Phone 3’s larger battery capacity (not specified, but typically around 6000mAh in ROG Phones) combined with the Snapdragon 865 5G+'s efficiency gains during gaming, provides a significant advantage for extended gaming sessions. The Honor 30 offers 40W wired charging, potentially faster than the ROG Phone 3’s 30W wired charging, but the ROG Phone 3 supports PD3.0 and QC4 standards for broader compatibility. The ROG Phone 3 also offers 10W reverse wired charging, while the Honor 30 provides 5W reverse wired charging.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor 30 if you need a versatile smartphone with a capable camera system, 5G connectivity, and a more conventional design. It’s ideal for users who enjoy photography, social media, and everyday tasks. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 3 if you prioritize uncompromising gaming performance, extended battery life during intense sessions, and are willing to accept a larger, more gamer-centric aesthetic. It’s the choice for competitive mobile gamers and power users.