Honor 30 vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G: Which Flagship Delivers More?

The Honor 30 and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. The Honor 30, powered by the Kirin 985, aims for a balance of features and affordability, while the Mi 10 Pro, with its Snapdragon 865, targets uncompromising performance and a premium camera experience. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and versatile camera capabilities, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G emerges as the stronger contender. Its Snapdragon 865 chipset and faster charging significantly outweigh the Honor 30’s more modest specifications, despite the Honor’s competitive price point.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor 30 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, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40 - Global
5G bands1, 3, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International1, 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, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China1, 3, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2020, April 15. Released 2020, April 212020, February 13. Released 2020, February 18
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions160.3 x 74.2 x 8.1 mm (6.31 x 2.92 x 0.32 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
Weight185 g (6.53 oz)208 g (7.34 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~386 ppi density)
Size6.53 inches, 102.9 cm2 (~86.6% 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 (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, MIUI 14
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFSUFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, Triple-LED dual-tone 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 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, 720p@960fps; gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm
Video4K, 1080p; gyro-EIS1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared port-Yes
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 2.0, 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, 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
ModelsBMH-AN10, BMH-AN20M2001J1G
PriceAbout 1170 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

  • Competitive price point
  • Reliable 5G connectivity
  • Streamlined user experience (likely)

  • Less powerful chipset compared to Snapdragon 865
  • Slower charging speeds
  • Limited camera details

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G

  • Superior performance with Snapdragon 865
  • Faster charging (wired and wireless)
  • Likely better camera system

  • Potentially higher price
  • May run hotter under sustained load
  • Larger size and weight (likely)

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 858 nits, compared to the Honor 30’s unspecified peak brightness. While both offer excellent viewing experiences, the Mi 10 Pro’s higher brightness translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. The Mi 10 Pro’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a superior OLED panel, likely offering deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. Details regarding the Honor 30’s panel technology are missing, but it likely utilizes a standard OLED panel.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are marketed as having strong camera systems, but specifics are limited. The Mi 10 Pro likely benefits from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon ISP, offering advanced image processing capabilities. Without detailed sensor information for the Honor 30, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. However, the Mi 10 Pro’s reputation for excellent image quality, particularly in low-light conditions, suggests a more sophisticated camera system. The absence of details regarding OIS on either device makes it difficult to assess stabilization performance.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Honor 30 utilizes the Kirin 985 5G (7nm) while the Mi 10 Pro features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+). The Snapdragon 865, with its Cortex-A77 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz, offers a noticeable performance advantage over the Kirin 985’s 2.58 GHz Cortex-A76. While both CPUs employ a similar core configuration (1+3+4), the architectural improvements in the A77 cores and the 7nm+ process give the Snapdragon 865 an edge in sustained performance and thermal efficiency. The Mi 10 Pro’s access to faster LPDDR5 RAM further enhances its multitasking capabilities.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 101 hours, indicating similar real-world battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified for the Honor 30). However, the Mi 10 Pro significantly outpaces the Honor 30 in charging speed, offering 50W wired charging (with PD3.0 support), 30W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging. The Honor 30 is limited to 40W wired and 5W reverse wired charging. This means the Mi 10 Pro can achieve a full charge much faster, a crucial advantage for users who prioritize convenience.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor 30 if you need a capable 5G phone with reliable performance for everyday tasks and appreciate a more streamlined user experience. It’s ideal for users who don’t demand the absolute best in gaming or photography. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G if you prioritize top-tier performance for demanding games and applications, require a versatile camera system with excellent low-light capabilities, and value faster wired and wireless charging.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 865 in the Mi 10 Pro experience significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 865 is a powerful chipset, it can generate considerable heat under sustained load. The Mi 10 Pro incorporates cooling solutions, but some throttling is possible during prolonged gaming. However, the 7nm+ process and optimized software generally mitigate this issue, providing a consistently smooth gaming experience.
❓ How does the 40W charging on the Honor 30 compare to the 50W charging on the Mi 10 Pro in terms of real-world charging time?
The Mi 10 Pro’s 50W charging is significantly faster. While exact times depend on battery level and conditions, the Mi 10 Pro can typically charge from 0-100% in around 45-50 minutes, while the Honor 30 will likely take closer to 60-75 minutes with its 40W charger.
❓ Is the reverse wireless charging feature on either phone useful for topping up accessories like earbuds?
Both phones offer 5W reverse wireless charging, which is primarily useful for emergency top-ups of accessories like wireless earbuds or smartwatches. It's not a fast charging solution, but it can provide a small boost when a power outlet isn't available.