Honor 30i vs Honor 30 Pro+: A Detailed Comparison

The Honor 30 series offered a range of devices catering to different budgets and needs. Today, we're pitting two of them against each other: the budget-friendly Honor 30i and the flagship Honor 30 Pro+. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to see which phone emerges as the winner.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Honor 30 Pro+ is the clear winner, boasting a significantly more powerful Kirin 990 5G chipset, superior camera capabilities, faster charging (wired and wireless), and a brighter display. While the 30i offers affordability, the Pro+ delivers a premium experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor 30i Honor 30 Pro+
Network
2G bandsGSM 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands-1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA-
Launch
Announced2020, September 11. Released 2020, September 122020, April 15. Released 2020, April 21
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)160.3 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm (6.31 x 2.90 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight171.5 g (6.07 oz)190 g (6.70 oz)
 -Water-repellent coating
Display
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~418 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~392 ppi density)
Size6.3 inches, 95.8 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 600 nits (typ)OLED, 90Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53)Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 710F (12 nm)Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+)
GPUMali-G51 MP4Mali-G76 MP16
OSAndroid 10, Magic UI 2.1Android 10, Magic UI 3, no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 4GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad-50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (Periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 18mm (ultrawide), AF Auxiliary lens
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens-
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@1920fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Dual-32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm-
Video1080p@30fps4K, 1080p; gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavIC
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.0, 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
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging10W wired40W wired 27W wireless 5W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Po 4000 mAh
Misc
ColorsUltraviolet Sunset, Turquoise, Midnight BlackTitanium silver, Emerald Green, Midnight Black
ModelsLRA-LX1EBG-AN10
PriceAbout 200 EURAbout 650 EUR
Tests
Battery life-Endurance rating 99h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -23.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 510031 (v8) GeekBench: 3191 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor 30i

  • Affordable
  • Decent battery life
  • Good for basic tasks

  • Underpowered chipset
  • Slow charging
  • Basic camera

Honor 30 Pro+

  • Powerful Kirin 990 5G
  • Excellent camera
  • Fast charging (wired & wireless)
  • Bright display
  • Reverse wireless charging

  • Higher price
  • Older model (potential software support concerns)

Display Comparison

The Honor 30 Pro+ features a significantly brighter display with a measured peak brightness of 586 nits, offering better visibility in sunlight. Its 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests excellent image quality. The 30i's display is likely adequate but lacks the Pro+'s vibrancy and brightness. Resolution and panel type are likely similar, but the Pro+’s brightness is a key differentiator.

Camera Comparison

The Honor 30 Pro+’s camera system is a major upgrade. While specific megapixels aren't listed, the Kirin 990 5G’s image signal processor (ISP) and likely more advanced sensors contribute to significantly better image quality, dynamic range, and low-light performance. The 30i’s camera is adequate for casual snapshots but lacks the Pro+'s capabilities.

Performance

The Kirin 990 5G in the Honor 30 Pro+ is a powerhouse compared to the Kirin 710F in the 30i. The Pro+’s CPU architecture (Cortex-A76 cores) and 7nm+ manufacturing process provide vastly superior processing power for demanding tasks, gaming, and multitasking. The 30i will handle basic tasks fine, but struggles with heavier workloads.

Battery Life

Both phones boast an impressive endurance rating of 99h, suggesting excellent battery life. However, the Honor 30 Pro+’s 40W wired charging and 27W wireless charging offer significantly faster charging speeds compared to the 30i’s 10W wired charging. The 30 Pro+ also includes 5W reverse wired charging.

Buying Guide

The Honor 30i is ideal for budget-conscious users who prioritize basic smartphone functionality and don't need high-end performance or camera features. The Honor 30 Pro+ is for users who demand flagship-level performance, a top-tier camera system, fast charging, and a premium display experience, and are willing to pay a higher price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Honor 30 Pro+ still worth buying in 2024?
Yes, if you can find it at a good price. It still offers excellent performance and a great camera, though software support might be limited compared to newer models.
❓ What is the main difference between the Honor 30i and 30 Pro+?
The primary difference is the chipset. The 30 Pro+ has the significantly more powerful Kirin 990 5G, resulting in better performance, camera capabilities, and faster charging.