Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming. The Honor Play 30 Plus and Honor 30 Pro+ offer distinct experiences, catering to different needs and budgets. This comprehensive comparison will break down their key features to help you make an informed decision.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Honor 30 Pro+ is the clear winner, boasting a superior Kirin 990 5G chipset, faster charging (wired and wireless), and likely a better camera system. However, it's an older device. The Play 30 Plus is a budget-friendly option for those prioritizing affordability over top-tier performance.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1x | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, December 16 | 2020, April 15. Released 2020, April 21 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, January 02 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 167.6 x 77.2 x 8.6 mm (6.60 x 3.04 x 0.34 in) | 160.3 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm (6.31 x 2.90 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| | - | Water-repellent coating |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~260 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~392 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.74 inches, 109.7 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | OLED, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) | Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Mali-G76 MP16 |
| OS | Android 11, Magic UI 5.0 | Android 10, Magic UI 3, no Google Play Services |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser 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 |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@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) |
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | - |
| Video | - | 4K, 1080p; gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 22.5W wired | 40W wired
27W wireless
5W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Silver, Gold | Titanium silver, Emerald Green, Midnight Black |
| Models | CMA-AN00 | EBG-AN10 |
| Price | About 150 EUR | About 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 Play 30 Plus
- Affordable
- Decent battery life
- Reliable for basic tasks
- 5G Connectivity
- Lower performance
- Basic camera
- Slower charging
- Limited display quality
Honor 30 Pro+
- High performance (Kirin 990 5G)
- Fast charging (wired & wireless)
- Likely superior camera
- Excellent battery life
- Premium display
- Older model
- Potentially higher price on the used market
- No longer receiving the latest software updates
Display Comparison
The Honor 30 Pro+ features a likely superior display, with a measured 586 nits brightness and an infinite contrast ratio (nominal). While the Play 30 Plus display details are scarce, it's expected to be adequate but not as vibrant or bright. The Pro+ likely has a higher resolution and potentially a more advanced panel technology like OLED.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer 'Photo/Video' capabilities, the Honor 30 Pro+ is expected to have a much more advanced camera system. The Kirin 990 5G typically supports more sophisticated image processing and potentially includes features like optical image stabilization (OIS). The Play 30 Plus camera is likely adequate for casual snapshots.
Performance
The Honor 30 Pro+’s Kirin 990 5G chipset significantly outperforms the Dimensity 700 in the Play 30 Plus. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Pro+. The Pro+'s CPU configuration is also more complex and powerful.
Battery Life
Both phones boast an impressive endurance rating of 99h. However, the Honor 30 Pro+ offers faster charging speeds (40W wired, 27W wireless, and 5W reverse wired) compared to the Play 30 Plus's 22.5W wired charging. This means the Pro+ will charge significantly faster.
Buying Guide
The Honor Play 30 Plus is ideal for budget-conscious users who need a reliable smartphone for everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and basic photography. The Honor 30 Pro+ is suited for users who demand high performance, excellent camera capabilities, and faster charging, and are comfortable with an older flagship.
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 camera capabilities, but be aware it's an older device and may not receive the latest software updates.
❓ What is the main difference between the Honor Play 30 Plus and the Honor 30 Pro+?
The primary difference is performance. The Honor 30 Pro+ has a significantly more powerful Kirin 990 5G chipset, resulting in faster speeds and better overall performance compared to the Dimensity 700 in the Play 30 Plus.
