Honor 30i vs Honor 20 Pro: A Detailed Comparison

Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming, especially with so many options available. Today, we're pitting two popular Honor devices against each other: the Honor 30i and the Honor 20 Pro. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone offers the best value and performance.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Honor 20 Pro is the clear winner. Its superior Kirin 980 chipset, faster charging, and generally better camera system outweigh the Honor 30i's potential cost savings. If performance and features are a priority, the 20 Pro is the better choice.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor 30i Honor 20 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
 CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA-
Launch
Announced2020, September 11. Released 2020, September 122019, May. Released 2019, July
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions157.2 x 73.2 x 7.7 mm (6.19 x 2.88 x 0.30 in)154.6 x 74 x 8.4 mm (6.09 x 2.91 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight171.5 g (6.07 oz)182 g (6.42 oz)
Display
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~418 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~412 ppi density)
Size6.3 inches, 95.8 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.26 inches, 96.2 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 600 nits (typ)IPS LCD
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53)Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 710F (12 nm)Kirin 980 (7 nm)
GPUMali-G51 MP4Mali-G76 MP10
OSAndroid 10, Magic UI 2.1Android 9.0 (Pie), Magic 2.1
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 4GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-48 MP, f/1.4, 28mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), 1/4.4", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1" 2 MP (macro)
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens-
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes
 -32-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioFM radioNo
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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging10W wired22.5W wired, 50% in 30 min
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsUltraviolet Sunset, Turquoise, Midnight BlackPhantom Blue, Phantom Black, Icelandic Illusion
ModelsLRA-LX1YAL-AL10, YAL-L41
PriceAbout 200 EURAbout 470 EUR
Tests
Audio quality- Noise -92.9dB / Crosstalk -46.8dB
Battery life-Endurance rating 104h
Camera- Photo / Video
Loudspeaker- Voice 68dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 87dB

Honor 30i

  • Larger Display
  • Good Battery Life
  • More Affordable

  • Slower Processor
  • Slow Charging
  • Lower Camera Quality

Honor 20 Pro

  • Faster Processor
  • Better Camera
  • Fast Charging
  • Superior Display

  • Higher Price
  • Older Model

Display Comparison

The Honor 20 Pro boasts a significantly better display with a 1222:1 contrast ratio and 507 nits of brightness, offering richer colors and better visibility in sunlight. The Honor 30i's display is adequate but lacks the vibrancy and clarity of the 20 Pro's screen. While both offer similar resolutions, the 20 Pro's panel quality is noticeably superior.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer capable cameras, the Honor 20 Pro generally produces better image quality, especially in low-light conditions. The 20 Pro's chipset allows for more advanced image processing algorithms. Both phones likely have similar camera setups (multiple lenses including main, ultrawide, and potentially depth sensors), but the 20 Pro's processing gives it an edge.

Performance

The Honor 20 Pro's Kirin 980 chipset is a substantial upgrade over the Honor 30i's Kirin 710F. The 20 Pro delivers significantly faster processing speeds, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. The 7nm process of the 980 also contributes to improved power efficiency compared to the 30i's 12nm chip.

Battery Life

Both phones are reported to have excellent battery life, with an endurance rating of 104 hours. However, the Honor 20 Pro's 22.5W fast charging significantly reduces charging times compared to the 30i's 10W charging. This means you'll spend less time plugged in with the 20 Pro.

Buying Guide

The Honor 30i is a good option for budget-conscious users who prioritize a large display and decent battery life for basic tasks. The Honor 20 Pro is ideal for users who want a faster processor, better camera capabilities, and quicker charging, even if it means spending a bit more.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Honor 30i worth buying if I'm on a tight budget?
The Honor 30i can be a decent option for budget users who primarily need a phone for basic tasks like calling, texting, and browsing. However, consider the performance limitations.
❓ How much faster is the Honor 20 Pro compared to the Honor 30i?
The Honor 20 Pro's Kirin 980 is significantly faster, offering a noticeable improvement in app loading times, multitasking, and gaming performance. Expect a 30-50% performance increase in benchmarks.