Honor V30 vs OnePlus 8 Pro: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Performance and Value

The Honor V30 and OnePlus 8 Pro represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. The V30, powered by Huawei’s Kirin 990, aimed to deliver premium features at a competitive price, while the OnePlus 8 Pro, with the Snapdragon 865, focused on raw performance and a refined software experience. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device offers the best value in today’s market.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the OnePlus 8 Pro emerges as the superior choice. While the Honor V30 offers rapid 40W charging, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s Snapdragon 865 provides a noticeable performance edge, coupled with a more polished software experience and longer-term software support. The OnePlus 8 Pro justifies its higher price with a more complete package.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor V30 OnePlus 8 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) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66 - EU
5G bands1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 7, 28, 78 SA/NSA - EU
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -78 SA/NSA - IN
Launch
Announced2019, November. Released 2019, December2020, April 14
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, April 21
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions162.7 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm (6.41 x 2.98 x 0.35 in)165.3 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm (6.51 x 2.93 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight213 g (7.51 oz)199 g (7.02 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant
Display
ProtectionYesCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)1440 x 3168 pixels (~513 ppi density)
Size6.57 inches, 104.7 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDFluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.09 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.86 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 990 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUMali-G76 MP16Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10, Magic UI 3Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 5 MP, f/2.4, (Color filter camera)
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@30/60/240fps, Auto 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-16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
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, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging40W wired, 70% in 30 min30W wired, 50% in 23 min 30W wireless, 50% in 30 min 3W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4200 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4510 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsOcean Blue, Galaxy Black, Icelandic frost, Sunrise OrangeGlacial Green, Ultramarine Blue, Onyx Black
ModelsOXF-AN00IN2023, IN2020, IN2021, IN2025
PriceAbout 430 EURAbout 310 EUR
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM-$ 428.39
256GB 12GB RAM-$ 853.51
RENEWED-$ 486.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 103h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -23.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 573276 (v8) GeekBench: 3374 (v5.1) GFXBench: 24fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor V30

  • 40W SuperCharge is exceptionally fast.
  • Potentially lower price point.
  • 5G connectivity.

  • Kirin 990 performance lags behind Snapdragon 865.
  • Software support and ecosystem concerns.
  • Limited detailed specifications available.

OnePlus 8 Pro

  • Superior performance with Snapdragon 865.
  • Excellent display with 120Hz refresh rate.
  • Versatile camera system with strong image quality.

  • Charging speed is slower than Honor V30 (wired).
  • Higher price tag.
  • No reverse wireless charging.

Display Comparison

Both the Honor V30 and OnePlus 8 Pro boast displays with an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, detailed display specifications like peak brightness and color gamut coverage are missing for the V30. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s display is known for its high refresh rate (120Hz, not specified for V30) and excellent color accuracy, making it ideal for media consumption and gaming. The absence of detailed V30 display specs makes a direct comparison difficult, but the OnePlus 8 Pro likely offers a more visually refined experience.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but details are limited. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s camera system is known for its versatility, including a high-resolution main sensor and ultrawide lens. The Honor V30’s camera capabilities are less well-documented, but it likely focuses on Huawei’s image processing strengths. Without specific sensor sizes, apertures, and OIS details for the V30, it’s difficult to make a definitive comparison. However, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s reputation for consistent image quality and video recording capabilities gives it an edge.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s Snapdragon 865 (7nm+) benefits from a slightly newer architecture and a more refined manufacturing process compared to the Honor V30’s Kirin 990 (7nm). The Snapdragon 865 features a Cortex-A77 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz, while the V30 uses a Cortex-A76 at 2.86 GHz. While clock speed isn’t everything, the A77 generally offers better IPC (instructions per clock). The OnePlus 8 Pro’s LPDDR5 RAM further enhances performance, especially in multitasking scenarios. The Snapdragon 865 also has a more powerful Adreno GPU, providing a significant advantage in graphically intensive games. While the Kirin 990 is capable, the Snapdragon 865 delivers a demonstrably smoother and more responsive experience.

Battery Life

The OnePlus 8 Pro boasts an endurance rating of 103 hours, indicating solid battery life. The Honor V30’s battery capacity is not specified, but its 40W wired charging is significantly faster than the OnePlus 8 Pro’s 30W wired charging – achieving 70% charge in 30 minutes versus 50% in 23 minutes. The OnePlus 8 Pro compensates with 30W wireless charging (50% in 30 minutes) and 3W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the V30. The faster charging on the V30 is a key advantage for users who prioritize quick top-ups, but the OnePlus 8 Pro’s overall endurance and wireless charging options offer greater flexibility.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor V30 if you prioritize extremely fast wired charging and are comfortable with the potential limitations of Huawei’s ecosystem and software support. It’s a strong contender for users seeking a 5G-enabled device on a tighter budget. Buy the OnePlus 8 Pro if you demand top-tier performance for gaming and demanding applications, value a clean and frequently updated Android experience, and appreciate the convenience of both fast wired and wireless charging.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990 in the Honor V30 experience significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Kirin 990 is a capable chip, it's known to be more prone to thermal throttling under sustained load compared to the Snapdragon 865 in the OnePlus 8 Pro. This means performance may decrease over time during long gaming sessions as the phone heats up. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s superior thermal management system helps maintain higher sustained performance.
❓ How does the software experience differ between the Honor V30 and the OnePlus 8 Pro?
The OnePlus 8 Pro runs OxygenOS, a near-stock Android experience known for its clean interface, fast updates, and minimal bloatware. The Honor V30 runs EMUI, Huawei’s custom Android skin, which is more heavily customized and includes a wider range of pre-installed apps. EMUI’s update schedule is also less consistent than OxygenOS, and the ongoing trade restrictions may impact access to Google services.
❓ Is the 40W charging on the Honor V30 significantly faster in real-world use than the 30W charging on the OnePlus 8 Pro?
Yes, the Honor V30’s 40W charging is noticeably faster, reaching 70% charge in 30 minutes compared to the OnePlus 8 Pro’s 50% in 23 minutes. This makes the V30 ideal for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery. However, the OnePlus 8 Pro offers the convenience of wireless charging, which the V30 lacks.