Honor 30i vs Huawei Nova 5T: A Detailed Showdown

Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming. The Honor 30i and Huawei Nova 5T both offer compelling features, but cater to different priorities. This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which device best suits your budget and needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Huawei Nova 5T is the clear winner. Its significantly faster Kirin 980 chipset, superior charging speed, and generally better camera performance outweigh the Honor 30i's potential cost savings. If performance is key, the Nova 5T is the better choice.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor 30i Huawei nova 5T
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, August 27. Released 2019, September 05
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)154.3 x 74 x 7.8 mm (6.07 x 2.91 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight171.5 g (6.07 oz)174 g (6.14 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 (~84.2% 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), upgradable to Android 10, EMUI 10
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 4GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-48 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1" 2 MP (macro) 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@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
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
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 24 min
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Po 3750 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsUltraviolet Sunset, Turquoise, Midnight BlackBlack, Crush Blue, Midsummer Purple, Crush Green
ModelsLRA-LX1YAL-L21, YAL-L61, YAL-L71, YAL-L61D
PriceAbout 200 EURAbout 340 EUR
Tests
Performance- AnTuTu: 313024 (v7), 395503 (v8) GeekBench: 10013 (v4.4), 2504 (v5.1) GFXBench: 29fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor 30i

  • Larger Display
  • Decent Battery Life
  • Generally More Affordable
  • Expandable Storage (MicroSD)

  • Slower Performance
  • Basic Camera
  • Slow Charging (10W)
  • LCD Display

Huawei nova 5T

  • Faster Performance (Kirin 980)
  • Excellent Camera
  • Fast Charging (22.5W)
  • AMOLED Display
  • Sleek Design

  • Smaller Battery (compared to Honor 30i)
  • No Expandable Storage
  • Potentially Higher Price

Display Comparison

The Honor 30i boasts a larger 6.53-inch display, potentially offering a more immersive viewing experience for media consumption. The Nova 5T has a slightly smaller 6.5-inch display, but its AMOLED panel provides richer colors, deeper blacks, and better contrast compared to the Honor 30i's LCD.

Camera Comparison

The Nova 5T generally offers a superior camera experience. While both phones have multiple lenses, the Nova 5T's better processor and image processing capabilities result in sharper, more detailed photos with better dynamic range. The Nova 5T also typically performs better in low-light conditions.

Performance

Here's where the Nova 5T truly shines. The Kirin 980 chipset is significantly more powerful than the Kirin 710F. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Nova 5T. The Honor 30i will handle everyday tasks adequately, but will struggle with demanding applications.

Battery Life

The Honor 30i has a slightly larger battery capacity (5000mAh vs 4000mAh), but the Nova 5T's 22.5W fast charging significantly reduces charging times. While the Honor 30i might offer slightly longer screen-on time under light usage, the Nova 5T's faster charging makes it more convenient overall.

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 Huawei Nova 5T is ideal for users who demand faster performance, a better camera, and quicker charging, and are willing to spend a bit more.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Kirin 980 still a good chipset in 2024?
Yes, the Kirin 980 remains a capable chipset, offering excellent performance for everyday tasks and even some gaming. It's significantly faster than the Kirin 710F.
❓ Does the Huawei Nova 5T have Google Play Services?
Due to US trade restrictions, the Huawei Nova 5T does not natively have Google Play Services. Users can explore workarounds, but it's a significant consideration.