Honor 30 vs OnePlus 8 Pro: Which 5G Flagship Reigns Supreme?

The Honor 30 and OnePlus 8 Pro represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone market. The Honor 30, leveraging Huawei’s Kirin 985 5G chipset, aims for a balance of features and affordability. The OnePlus 8 Pro, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, targets a premium experience with a focus on performance and a refined software experience. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device delivers the best value.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and a more polished software experience, the OnePlus 8 Pro is the superior choice. While the Honor 30 offers competitive specs at a potentially lower price point, the Snapdragon 865’s processing power and the OnePlus 8 Pro’s faster charging and wireless charging capabilities provide a more compelling overall package.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor 30 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, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - International1, 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, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International1, 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
 1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China78 SA/NSA - IN
Launch
Announced2020, April 15. Released 2020, April 212020, April 14
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, April 21
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions160.3 x 74.2 x 8.1 mm (6.31 x 2.92 x 0.32 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
Weight185 g (6.53 oz)199 g (7.02 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)1440 x 3168 pixels (~513 ppi density)
Size6.53 inches, 102.9 cm2 (~86.6% 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 (1x2.58 GHz Cortex-A76 & 3x2.40 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.84 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 985 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUMali-G77Adreno 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 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFSUFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
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 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, 720p@960fps; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm16 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 YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
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, 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
ModelsBMH-AN10, BMH-AN20IN2023, IN2020, IN2021, IN2025
PriceAbout 1170 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

  • Potentially lower price point
  • Fast 40W wired charging
  • 5G connectivity

  • Less powerful chipset than Snapdragon 865
  • Limited information on display quality
  • Slower wireless charging

OnePlus 8 Pro

  • Superior performance with Snapdragon 865
  • Fast 30W wired and wireless charging
  • High-quality display with 120Hz refresh rate

  • Higher price tag
  • OxygenOS may not appeal to all users
  • Can run warm under sustained load

Display Comparison

Both the Honor 30 and OnePlus 8 Pro boast displays with an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, detailed display specifications like peak brightness and panel type are missing for the Honor 30. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s display is known for its high refresh rate (120Hz, not specified for Honor 30) and color accuracy, contributing to a smoother and more immersive viewing experience. Without further data on the Honor 30’s panel, the OnePlus 8 Pro likely holds an advantage in overall display quality.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are advertised as having capable photo/video systems, but specifics are limited. Without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, the market positioning of the OnePlus 8 Pro suggests a more sophisticated camera system with potentially larger sensors and more advanced image processing algorithms. The Honor 30’s camera is likely competent, but may not reach the same level of detail and dynamic range as the OnePlus 8 Pro, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The absence of details on OIS or lens apertures hinders a more precise comparison.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s Snapdragon 865 (7nm+) benefits from a slightly newer architecture and a higher peak clock speed (2.84 GHz Cortex-A77) compared to the Honor 30’s Kirin 985 5G (7nm). While both utilize a 7nm process, the Snapdragon 865 generally exhibits superior GPU performance, crucial for gaming. The Kirin 985’s octa-core configuration, with a mix of Cortex-A76 and A55 cores, is capable, but likely won’t match the sustained performance of the Snapdragon 865, especially under heavy load. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s LPDDR5 RAM further enhances its multitasking capabilities.

Battery Life

The OnePlus 8 Pro has an endurance rating of 103 hours, indicating solid battery life. While the Honor 30’s battery capacity is not specified, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s 30W wired and 30W wireless charging capabilities are significantly faster than the Honor 30’s 40W wired and 5W reverse wired charging. The OnePlus 8 Pro can reach 50% charge in 23 minutes with wired charging and 30 minutes wirelessly, offering a substantial convenience advantage. The Honor 30’s slower wireless charging and lower wattage reverse charging make it less versatile in this regard.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor 30 if you need a capable 5G phone with fast 40W wired charging and are comfortable with Huawei’s EMUI software. It’s a strong contender for users seeking a feature-rich device without the top-tier price tag. Buy the OnePlus 8 Pro if you prioritize peak performance for gaming and demanding applications, value fast wireless charging, and prefer a clean, responsive Android experience with OxygenOS. It’s the better option for power users and those willing to invest in a premium device.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 985 in the Honor 30 struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
While the Kirin 985 is a capable chipset, it's unlikely to deliver the same sustained performance as the Snapdragon 865 in graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact. You may need to lower graphics settings to maintain a smooth frame rate, and the phone may experience some thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions.
❓ How does the OnePlus 8 Pro's charging compare to other flagship phones?
The OnePlus 8 Pro's 30W wireless charging is notably faster than many competitors, often charging from 0-50% in around 30 minutes. While not the absolute fastest wired charging available, its 30W wired charging is still very competitive and provides a quick top-up when needed.
❓ Is the lack of a microSD card slot a significant drawback on either device?
Both the Honor 30 and OnePlus 8 Pro lack microSD card slots. This means you're limited to the internal storage you choose at the time of purchase. Consider your storage needs carefully, especially if you plan to record a lot of high-resolution photos and videos.
❓ What are the software update commitments for each phone?
OnePlus is known for providing relatively quick and consistent software updates, including security patches and Android version upgrades. Huawei's software update schedule for the Honor 30 may be less frequent and predictable due to ongoing geopolitical factors.