Honor V30 vs. Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-around capability and a more refined software experience, the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G is the better choice. However, the Honor V30 offers compelling value, particularly for those who prioritize fast charging and aren't heavily invested in the Samsung ecosystem.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Honor V30 | Samsung Galaxy S20+ 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - SM-G986B |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G986B |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, November. Released 2019, December | 2020, February 11 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, March 06 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 162.7 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm (6.41 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) | 161.9 x 73.7 x 7.8 mm (6.37 x 2.90 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 213 g (7.51 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Yes | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.57 inches, 104.7 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.09 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.86 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M5 & 2x2.50 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) - GlobalOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - USA |
| Chipset | Kirin 990 (7 nm) | Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) - USA |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP16 | Mali-G77 MP11 - GlobalAdreno 650 - USA |
| OS | Android 10, Magic UI 3 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 40 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) | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/2.0, 29mm (telephoto), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 1.1x optical zoom, 3x hybrid zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, f/1.0, (depth) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@960fps, (gyro-EIS) | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS |
| 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 | - | 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, 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, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 40W wired, 70% in 30 min | 25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4200 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Ocean Blue, Galaxy Black, Icelandic frost, Sunrise Orange | Cosmic Black, Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud White, Aura Red, Aura Blue |
| Models | OXF-AN00 | SM-G986, SM-G986F, SM-G986F/DS, SM-G986U, SM-G986U1, SM-G9860, SM-G986B/DS, SM-G986N, SM-G986B, SM-G986W, SCG02 |
| Price | About 430 EUR | $ 174.17 / C$ 684.99 / € 299.97 |
| SAR | - | 1.08 W/kg (head) 1.02 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.57 W/kg (body) |
Honor V30
- Significantly faster 40W wired charging
- Potentially lower price point
- Customizable software experience
- Lacks wireless charging
- Potentially less refined camera system
- Kirin 990 may not match Snapdragon 865 performance
Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G
- Premium build quality and design
- More versatile camera system
- Snapdragon 865 (US) offers superior performance
- Slower 25W wired charging
- Exynos 990 (Global) may experience thermal throttling
- Higher price point
Display Comparison
While both phones feature excellent displays, specifics are limited in the provided data. The Galaxy S20+ 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s display expertise, potentially offering higher peak brightness and more accurate color calibration. The S20+ also likely features a higher PWM dimming rate, reducing eye strain for sensitive users. The Honor V30, while still a quality panel, may not reach the same level of color accuracy or peak brightness as the Samsung offering.
Camera Comparison
The provided data lacks detailed camera specifications. However, given Samsung’s camera prowess, the Galaxy S20+ 5G likely features a more sophisticated camera system with larger sensors and more advanced image processing. The S20+ likely excels in low-light photography and offers more versatile zoom capabilities. While the Honor V30 likely delivers respectable image quality, it probably doesn't match the S20+'s overall versatility and image processing refinement. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on the V30 is likely a marketing feature with limited real-world benefit.
Performance
The chipset is the core battleground. The Honor V30’s Kirin 990 (7nm) and the Galaxy S20+ 5G’s Exynos 990 (7nm+) or Snapdragon 865 (7nm+) represent different approaches to performance. The Snapdragon 865 (US variant) boasts Cortex-A77 cores, a generation ahead of the Cortex-A76 found in both the Kirin 990 and the global Exynos 990. This translates to a potential performance advantage in CPU-intensive tasks. The Exynos 990, however, has historically faced thermal throttling concerns, potentially limiting sustained performance compared to the Snapdragon 865. The Kirin 990, while competitive, generally falls slightly behind the Snapdragon 865 in GPU performance. Both devices utilize octa-core configurations, but the architectural differences give the edge to the Snapdragon 865.
Battery Life
The Honor V30’s 40W wired charging is a significant advantage, allowing for a 70% charge in just 30 minutes. The Galaxy S20+ 5G’s 25W charging is considerably slower. While the S20+ 5G offers 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, the Honor V30 lacks wireless charging altogether. The actual battery life will depend on usage patterns, but the Honor V30’s faster charging mitigates concerns about battery capacity.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor V30 if you need blazing-fast 40W wired charging and are comfortable with a less polished software experience. It’s ideal for power users who frequently top up their phones and appreciate a more customizable interface. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G if you prefer a premium build quality, a more versatile camera system, and the broader ecosystem benefits of Samsung’s One UI, even if it means sacrificing some charging speed.