The smartphone market is brimming with options, making it tough to choose. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the budget-friendly Honor Play 30 Plus and the slightly older, but still capable, LG Velvet 5G. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone reigns supreme.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The LG Velvet 5G edges out the Honor Play 30 Plus thanks to its superior chipset, faster charging (including wireless), and impressive battery life. While the Honor offers a more modern design and potentially a lower price, the Velvet's overall performance and features make it the better choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 28, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat16 1000/75 Mbps, 5G 2Gbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1x | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, December 16 | 2020, May 07. Released 2020, May 15 |
| 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) | 167.2 x 74.1 x 7.9 mm (6.58 x 2.92 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 180 g (6.35 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
MIL-STD-810G compliant*
*does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~260 ppi density) | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.74 inches, 109.7 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | P-OLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 11, Magic UI 5.0 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, LG UX |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | - |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 15mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 16 MP, f/1.9, 29mm (standard), 1/3.06, 1.0µm |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | FM radio (market/region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C, 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 22.5W wired | 25W wired, PD3.0, QC4
9W wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4300 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Silver, Gold | Aurora White, Aurora Green, Aurora Gray, Illusion Sunset, Red, Pink |
| Models | CMA-AN00 | LM-G900N, LM-G900EM, LM-G900, LM-G900TM |
| Price | About 150 EUR | About 470 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.23 W/kg (head) 1.02 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 79h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-23.5 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 297372 (v8)
GeekBench: 1905 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor Play 30 Plus
- Modern Design
- Potentially Lower Price
- 5G Connectivity
- Less Powerful Chipset
- Unknown Display Brightness
- Slower Charging
- Uncertain Camera Quality
LG Velvet 5G
- Powerful Snapdragon 765G
- Excellent Battery Life
- Fast Charging (Wired & Wireless)
- Good Display Brightness
- Older Model
- Potentially Higher Price (depending on availability)
- Design may feel dated
Display Comparison
The LG Velvet 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 617 nits, offering better visibility in sunlight compared to the Honor Play 30 Plus (brightness data unavailable, assumed to be lower). While the Velvet advertises an 'infinite' contrast ratio (likely a marketing term), its overall display quality is generally considered superior due to the higher brightness and potentially better color accuracy. The Honor likely has a standard FHD+ display, adequate but not exceptional.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are missing. However, given the Snapdragon 765G's reputation, the LG Velvet 5G likely has a more capable camera system, offering better image processing and potentially improved low-light performance. The Honor's camera is likely adequate for casual photography.
Performance
The LG Velvet 5G's Snapdragon 765G 5G chipset is significantly more powerful than the Honor Play 30 Plus's Dimensity 700. The Snapdragon offers better CPU and GPU performance, resulting in smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and improved gaming capabilities. The Honor's Dimensity 700 is sufficient for everyday tasks but will struggle with demanding applications.
Battery Life
The LG Velvet 5G shines in this category with an impressive endurance rating of 79 hours. This significantly surpasses what we'd expect from the Honor Play 30 Plus, even considering its potentially smaller battery capacity. The Velvet's 25W wired charging and 19W wireless charging further enhance its battery advantage.
Buying Guide
The Honor Play 30 Plus is ideal for budget-conscious users who prioritize a modern design and don't need top-tier performance. The LG Velvet 5G is a great pick for those seeking a reliable, well-rounded phone with excellent battery life and a smoother user experience, even if it's a slightly older model.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Honor Play 30 Plus good for gaming?
The Honor Play 30 Plus is adequate for casual gaming, but its Dimensity 700 chipset may struggle with demanding titles. The LG Velvet 5G's Snapdragon 765G offers a significantly better gaming experience.
❓ Where can I buy the LG Velvet 5G?
The LG Velvet 5G is an older model and may be difficult to find new. Check online retailers or used marketplaces. Availability varies by region.
