Honor V30 Pro vs. Google Pixel 5a 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Mid-Range 5G Powerhouses
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw performance and faster charging, the Honor V30 Pro is the clear winner. However, the Google Pixel 5a 5G’s superior display brightness and Google’s software experience make it a compelling choice for those valuing camera quality and guaranteed updates.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Honor V30 Pro | Google Pixel 5a 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 5, 12, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, November. Released 2019, December | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 162.7 x 75.8 x 8.8 mm (6.41 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) | 156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8 mm (6.15 x 2.88 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 206 g (7.27 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Yes | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.57 inches, 104.7 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP16 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 10, Magic UI 3, no Google Play Services | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm |
| Features | Laser AF, LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Triple | 40 MP, f/1.6, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), 1.4µm, AF | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@960fps, (gyro-EIS) | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide) | - |
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| 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 |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 40W wired, 70% in 30 min 27W wireless Reverse wireless | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 4100 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4680 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Ocean Blue, Galaxy Black, Icelandic frost | Mostly Black |
| Models | OXF-AN10 | G1F8F, G4S1M |
| Price | About 500 EUR | $ 189.00 / C$ 249.99 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 122h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 381241 (v7), 500571 (v8) GeekBench: 12824 (v4.4), 3204 (v5.1) GFXBench: 35fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 291303 (v8) GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor V30 Pro
- Faster 40W wired and 27W wireless charging
- Potentially higher CPU performance with Kirin 990 5G
- Reverse wireless charging capability
- Lower display brightness
- Older chipset with potential software support concerns
- Less refined software experience compared to Pixel
Google Pixel 5a 5G
- Brighter display for better outdoor visibility
- Google’s excellent camera software and image processing
- Guaranteed software updates and long-term support
- Slower 18W charging
- Less powerful chipset compared to Kirin 990 5G
- Potentially less RAM for multitasking
Display Comparison
The Pixel 5a 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 861 nits compared to the Honor V30 Pro’s 534 nits. This translates to much better visibility under direct sunlight. While the Honor V30 Pro’s 1230:1 contrast ratio is respectable, the Pixel 5a 5G claims an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels, suggesting deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. The lack of refresh rate information for the V30 Pro suggests it's likely a standard 60Hz panel, while the Pixel 5a 5G is also 60Hz. The brighter display of the Pixel 5a 5G is a major advantage for everyday use.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but details are sparse. The Pixel 5a 5G’s strength lies in Google’s computational photography, renowned for its excellent dynamic range and accurate color reproduction. While sensor size and aperture details are missing for both, the Pixel’s image processing algorithms consistently deliver impressive results, even with a potentially smaller sensor. The Honor V30 Pro likely relies more on hardware capabilities, but without specific details, it’s difficult to assess its image quality relative to the Pixel. The Pixel's software-driven approach is likely to provide a more consistent and user-friendly experience.
Performance
The Honor V30 Pro’s Kirin 990 5G (7nm+) chipset features a more complex CPU configuration – octa-core with a mix of Cortex-A76 and A55 cores clocked at higher speeds (up to 2.86 GHz) – compared to the Pixel 5a 5G’s Snapdragon 765G (7nm) with its Kryo 475 cores (max 2.4 GHz). This gives the V30 Pro a theoretical edge in multi-core performance. However, the Snapdragon 765G benefits from Qualcomm’s optimized software and efficient architecture. While the V30 Pro may win in benchmarks, real-world performance differences may be less pronounced, especially considering the age of the Kirin chip and potential software optimization issues. The V30 Pro's 5G modem is integrated into the SoC, while the 765G uses an external modem, potentially impacting efficiency.
Battery Life
Both devices share an endurance rating of 122 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life despite the Honor V30 Pro lacking specific mAh information. However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The Honor V30 Pro supports 40W wired charging, capable of reaching 70% charge in just 30 minutes, and even 27W wireless charging with reverse wireless capabilities. The Pixel 5a 5G is limited to 18W wired charging with PD2.0, a significantly slower charging speed. This makes the V30 Pro a much more convenient option for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor V30 Pro if you need a phone capable of handling demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, and if fast 40W charging is a priority. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you prefer a simpler, more polished software experience, a brighter display for outdoor visibility, and a consistently excellent camera, even if it means sacrificing some processing power.