Honor V30 vs Huawei P40 Pro+: A Deep Dive into Huawei's 2020 Flagships

The Honor V30 and Huawei P40 Pro+ represent a fascinating period for Huawei, showcasing the peak of their Kirin 990 chipset capabilities before significant geopolitical shifts. While both devices share a common silicon lineage, they diverge significantly in features, camera systems, and target audiences. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which flagship delivers the best experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a well-rounded experience with cutting-edge camera technology, the Huawei P40 Pro+ is the superior choice. Its advanced camera system, wireless charging, and slightly refined chipset offer a more premium experience. However, the Honor V30 remains a compelling option for budget-conscious users seeking strong performance.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor V30 Huawei P40 Pro+
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 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 bands1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)HSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2019, November. Released 2019, December2020, March 26
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, June 06
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front, ceramic back, ceramic frame
Dimensions162.7 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm (6.41 x 2.98 x 0.35 in)158.2 x 72.6 x 9 mm (6.23 x 2.86 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight213 g (7.51 oz)226 g (7.97 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Display
ProtectionYes-
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)1200 x 2640 pixels (~441 ppi density)
Size6.57 inches, 104.7 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.58 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDOLED, 90Hz, HDR10
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.09 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.86 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 990 (7 nm)Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+)
GPUMali-G76 MP16Mali-G76 MP16
OSAndroid 10, Magic UI 3Android 10, EMUI 10.1, no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad-50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/4.4, 240mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 40 MP, f/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), 1/1.54", PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)
Triple40 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7", PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.4, 16mm (ultrawide)-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@960fps, (gyro-EIS)4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720@7680fps, 1080p@960fps, HDR; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Dual32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide)-
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single-32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, AF IR TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes
 -32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassInfrared Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging40W wired, 70% in 30 min40W wired 40W wireless 27W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4200 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4200 mAh
Misc
ColorsOcean Blue, Galaxy Black, Icelandic frost, Sunrise OrangeWhite Ceramic, Black Ceramic
ModelsOXF-AN00ELS-N39, ELS-AN10
PriceAbout 430 EURAbout 1000 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 95h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.4 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 529687 (v8) GeekBench: 3203 (v5.1) GFXBench: 31fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor V30

  • More affordable price point
  • Fast 40W wired charging
  • Strong Kirin 990 performance

  • Lacks wireless charging
  • Inferior camera system compared to P40 Pro+
  • Potentially lower peak display brightness

Huawei P40 Pro+

  • Superior camera system with advanced features
  • 40W wired and wireless charging
  • 27W reverse wireless charging
  • Slightly refined Kirin 990 5G chipset

  • Higher price tag
  • Potentially more complex camera software

Display Comparison

The Huawei P40 Pro+ boasts a display capable of reaching 760 nits of peak brightness, providing excellent visibility in direct sunlight. While the Honor V30’s brightness isn’t specified, the P40 Pro+’s higher figure suggests a more vibrant and readable outdoor experience. Both displays feature an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels, ensuring deep blacks and vivid colors. The P40 Pro+’s display is likely to benefit from Huawei’s display calibration expertise, potentially offering more accurate color reproduction.

Camera Comparison

The Huawei P40 Pro+ is the clear winner in the camera department. While both phones offer photo and video capabilities, the P40 Pro+’s camera system is significantly more advanced. Details on the P40 Pro+'s sensor array are missing, but it's known for its innovative penta-camera setup. The Honor V30’s camera specs are not provided, making a direct sensor comparison impossible, but it’s reasonable to assume it lacks the P40 Pro+'s advanced features like periscope zoom and sophisticated image processing algorithms. The P40 Pro+’s image processing pipeline is optimized for detail and dynamic range, resulting in superior image quality in various lighting conditions.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Kirin 990, but the P40 Pro+ utilizes the Kirin 990 5G variant, featuring a slightly tweaked CPU configuration with 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 cores compared to the V30’s 2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 cores. This subtle difference, combined with the '7nm+' fabrication process, suggests a marginal performance and efficiency improvement in the P40 Pro+. The V30’s higher clocked cores *could* offer a slight edge in single-core tasks, but the P40 Pro+’s 5G modem integration and optimized thermal management likely contribute to more sustained performance under load. Both utilize octa-core configurations with the same Cortex-A55 efficiency cores.

Battery Life

Both the Honor V30 and Huawei P40 Pro+ achieve an endurance rating of 95 hours, indicating comparable battery life despite unspecified mAh capacities. However, the P40 Pro+ offers a significant advantage with its 40W wired charging, 40W wireless charging, and 27W reverse wireless charging capabilities. The Honor V30 is limited to 40W wired charging. The P40 Pro+'s wireless charging options provide added convenience, while reverse wireless charging allows it to top up other devices. Both phones can achieve a 70% charge in 30 minutes with wired charging.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor V30 if you need a powerful phone with fast 40W wired charging at a significantly lower price point, and aren't overly concerned with wireless charging or the absolute best camera performance. Buy the Huawei P40 Pro+ if you prioritize a top-tier camera system, the convenience of 40W wireless charging and 27W reverse wireless charging, and are willing to pay a premium for the most complete flagship experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990 in the Honor V30 throttle under sustained gaming loads?
While the Kirin 990 is a capable chipset, the Honor V30’s cooling solution is likely less sophisticated than the P40 Pro+. This could lead to thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions, potentially reducing frame rates over time. However, for typical gaming use, the V30 should provide a smooth experience.
❓ Is the lack of a dedicated telephoto lens on the Honor V30 a significant drawback for photography?
Without specific camera specs for the V30, it's difficult to say definitively. However, the P40 Pro+’s advanced camera system, including its periscope zoom lens, offers significantly greater zoom capabilities and image quality at longer distances. If you frequently take zoomed-in photos, the P40 Pro+ is the better choice.
❓ How does the 5G modem in the P40 Pro+ affect real-world performance compared to the V30?
The Kirin 990 5G in the P40 Pro+ integrates the 5G modem directly into the chipset, potentially offering improved efficiency and performance compared to a separate modem. This can translate to faster download speeds and more reliable 5G connectivity, but the actual benefit depends on 5G network availability in your area.
❓ Is the reverse wireless charging on the P40 Pro+ useful for everyday use?
The 27W reverse wireless charging on the P40 Pro+ is surprisingly practical. It can comfortably top up earbuds, smartwatches, and even other smartphones, making it a convenient feature for users who frequently travel or rely on multiple wireless devices.