Honor 30 vs Huawei P40 Pro+: A Deep Dive into Huawei's 2020 Flagships

The Honor 30 and Huawei P40 Pro+ represent a fascinating point in Huawei's smartphone history, released before significant geopolitical shifts impacted the brand. Both leverage Huawei’s Kirin silicon, but target slightly different user priorities. The Honor 30 aimed for a balance of performance and affordability, while the P40 Pro+ was a no-compromise, premium offering. This comparison dissects the key differences to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing value and a solid all-around experience, the Honor 30 emerges as the stronger choice. While the P40 Pro+ boasts superior charging capabilities and a marginally faster processor, the price premium doesn't justify the incremental gains for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor 30 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, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands1, 3, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China-
Launch
Announced2020, April 15. Released 2020, April 212020, March 26
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, June 06
Body
Build-Glass front, ceramic back, ceramic frame
Dimensions160.3 x 74.2 x 8.1 mm (6.31 x 2.92 x 0.32 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
Weight185 g (6.53 oz)226 g (7.97 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Display
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)1200 x 2640 pixels (~441 ppi density)
Size6.53 inches, 102.9 cm2 (~86.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.58 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLEDOLED, 90Hz, HDR10
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.58 GHz Cortex-A76 & 3x2.40 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.84 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 985 5G (7 nm)Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+)
GPUMali-G77Mali-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 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 UFSUFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad40 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 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, 720p@960fps; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720@7680fps, 1080p@960fps, HDR; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm32 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 YesYes
 -32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 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
ModelsBMH-AN10, BMH-AN20ELS-N39, ELS-AN10
PriceAbout 1170 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

  • More affordable price point
  • Competent Kirin 985 5G processor
  • Fast 40W wired charging

  • Lacks wireless charging
  • Inferior camera system compared to P40 Pro+
  • Limited display specifications

Huawei P40 Pro+

  • Superior camera performance
  • 40W wired and wireless charging
  • More powerful Kirin 990 5G processor

  • Significantly higher price
  • May exhibit thermal throttling under sustained load
  • Premium price may not justify incremental gains for all users

Display Comparison

The Huawei P40 Pro+ edges out the Honor 30 in display quality, achieving a measured peak brightness of 760 nits. While both likely utilize OLED panels, the P40 Pro+’s higher brightness translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. Details regarding the Honor 30’s display are limited, but it’s reasonable to assume it doesn’t reach the same peak luminance. Both displays feature an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of OLED technology, providing deep blacks and vibrant colors. The absence of refresh rate data for the Honor 30 means it likely sticks to a standard 60Hz panel, while the P40 Pro+’s display technology isn’t specified, but is likely also 60Hz given the release timeframe.

Camera Comparison

The P40 Pro+ is the clear winner in the camera department, though specific details beyond 'Photo / Video' capabilities are needed for a full assessment. The P40 Pro+’s camera system is renowned for its image quality and versatility. While the Honor 30 likely offers a competent camera experience, it cannot match the P40 Pro+'s advanced features and image processing. The P40 Pro+’s sensor size and lens apertures are likely larger, allowing for better low-light performance and shallower depth of field. The absence of detailed camera specs for the Honor 30 makes a precise comparison impossible, but it’s safe to assume it lacks the P40 Pro+'s flagship-level camera hardware.

Performance

Both devices are powered by Kirin chipsets, but the P40 Pro+ utilizes the Kirin 990 5G (7nm+), a step up from the Honor 30’s Kirin 985 5G (7nm). The Kirin 990 5G features a more powerful CPU configuration with 2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 cores and 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 cores, compared to the Honor 30’s 1x2.58 GHz Cortex-A76 and 3x2.40 GHz Cortex-A76 setup. This translates to a noticeable, though not massive, performance advantage for the P40 Pro+ in CPU-intensive tasks. Both chips share the same 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55 efficiency cores. The '7nm+' process of the Kirin 990 5G suggests a slight refinement over the 7nm Kirin 985, potentially offering improved power efficiency. However, real-world thermal performance would depend on the cooling solutions implemented in each device.

Battery Life

Both the Honor 30 and Huawei P40 Pro+ achieve an endurance rating of 95 hours, suggesting comparable battery life despite potentially different battery capacities (not specified for the Honor 30). However, the P40 Pro+ offers significantly faster and more versatile charging options. Both support 40W wired charging, but the P40 Pro+ adds 40W wireless charging and 27W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Honor 30 which only offers 5W reverse wired charging. This makes the P40 Pro+ far more convenient for users who frequently utilize wireless charging or need to top up other devices.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor 30 if you need a capable 5G smartphone with a strong processor for everyday tasks and gaming, without breaking the bank. It’s ideal for users who want a reliable device with fast charging and don’t require the absolute best camera system. Buy the Huawei P40 Pro+ if you prioritize wireless charging, demand the highest possible camera performance, and are willing to pay a significant premium for a top-tier flagship experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 985 in the Honor 30 struggle with demanding games like PUBG or Genshin Impact?
The Kirin 985 is a capable chipset, but it's not on par with the Kirin 990 5G in the P40 Pro+. While it can handle PUBG and Genshin Impact, you may need to lower graphics settings for a consistently smooth experience, especially during prolonged gaming sessions. Thermal throttling could also become a factor.
❓ Is the lack of wireless charging on the Honor 30 a dealbreaker for most users?
Wireless charging is a convenience feature, not a necessity. If you primarily charge your phone overnight with a wired connection, the absence of wireless charging on the Honor 30 won't be a significant drawback. However, if you frequently use wireless chargers or prefer the convenience of simply placing your phone on a charging pad, the P40 Pro+ is the better choice.
❓ How does the image processing differ between the Honor 30 and the Huawei P40 Pro+?
Huawei's P40 Pro+ is known for its vibrant and sometimes oversaturated image processing, aiming for visually appealing photos. The Honor 30 likely employs a more natural image processing style, prioritizing accuracy over punchy colors. This difference caters to different user preferences – some prefer the P40 Pro+'s bolder look, while others appreciate the Honor 30's more realistic representation.