Honor View30 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Power

Released in late 2019 and early 2020 respectively, the Honor View30 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. The View30 Pro aimed to deliver high-end features at a more competitive price point, while the S20+ 5G focused on a premium, all-around experience. This comparison dissects their core components to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing fast charging and a strong value proposition, the Honor View30 Pro emerges as the winner. Its 40W wired and 27W wireless charging significantly outperform the S20+'s 25W and 15W capabilities. However, the S20+ 5G offers a more refined software experience and broader carrier compatibility, particularly in the US.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor View30 Pro Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 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, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - SM-G986B
5G bands1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G986B
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2020, February 24. Released 2020, April 272020, February 11
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, March 06
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions162.7 x 75.8 x 8.8 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)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight206 g (7.27 oz)188 g (6.63 oz)
Display
ProtectionYesCorning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density)
Size6.57 inches, 104.7 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDDynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 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
ChipsetKirin 990 5G (7 nm+)Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) - USA
GPUMali-G76 MP16Mali-G77 MP11 - GlobalAdreno 650 - USA
OSAndroid 10, Magic UI 3, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.0-
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Triple40 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, AF12 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)
Video4K@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
Dual32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide)-
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single-10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoFM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent)
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, 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, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging40W wired, 70% in 30 min 27W wireless, 52% in 30 min Reverse wireless25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4100 mAhLi-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsOcean Blue, Midnight Black, Icelandic frost, Sunrise OrangeCosmic Black, Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud White, Aura Red, Aura Blue
Models-SM-G986, SM-G986F, SM-G986F/DS, SM-G986U, SM-G986U1, SM-G9860, SM-G986B/DS, SM-G986N, SM-G986B, SM-G986W, SCG02
Price-$ 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 View30 Pro

  • Significantly faster wired and wireless charging
  • Competitive chipset performance (Kirin 990 5G)
  • Potentially better value for money

  • Software experience may be less refined than Samsung
  • Potentially limited carrier compatibility in some regions

Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G

  • Superior software experience and long-term support
  • Wider carrier compatibility, especially in the US
  • Likely better camera image processing

  • Slower charging speeds (wired and wireless)
  • Exynos 990 may exhibit thermal throttling
  • Higher price point

Display Comparison

While both devices utilize 7nm+ fabrication processes, display details are limited in the provided data. However, the S20+ 5G likely benefits from Samsung’s industry-leading display technology, potentially offering higher peak brightness and more accurate color calibration. The View30 Pro’s display quality is likely very good, but the S20+ 5G’s panel is expected to be superior, especially in outdoor visibility. Bezels are likely comparable, given both phones aimed for a premium aesthetic.

Camera Comparison

The provided data doesn’t detail camera specs beyond the existence of cameras. However, Samsung historically excels in image processing and camera hardware. The S20+ 5G likely features a more sophisticated camera system with larger sensors and better optical image stabilization (OIS). While the View30 Pro likely offers a capable camera, the S20+ 5G’s image quality is expected to be more consistent across various lighting conditions. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is largely a marketing gimmick and offers minimal practical benefit.

Performance

The chipset battle is central here. The Honor View30 Pro’s Kirin 990 5G, built on 7nm+, faces off against the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G’s Exynos 990 (global) or Snapdragon 865 (USA), also on 7nm+. The Snapdragon 865, with its Cortex-A77 cores, generally offers a performance edge over the Exynos 990 and Kirin 990. The Kirin 990’s CPU configuration (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76, 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76, 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) is competitive, but the Snapdragon 865’s single high-performance core provides a boost in single-threaded tasks. The Exynos 990 has been known to exhibit thermal throttling under sustained load, a potential disadvantage compared to the Kirin 990 and especially the Snapdragon 865. Both phones likely utilize LPDDR4X RAM, but the S20+ 5G’s optimized software could lead to smoother multitasking.

Battery Life

The battery capacity isn’t specified, but the charging speeds are a key differentiator. The Honor View30 Pro’s 40W wired charging (70% in 30 minutes) and 27W wireless charging (52% in 30 minutes) are significantly faster than the S20+ 5G’s 25W wired (PD3.0) and 15W wireless (Qi). This means the View30 Pro can top up much quicker, mitigating the impact of a potentially smaller battery capacity. The View30 Pro also offers reverse wireless charging, a feature present but less powerful (4.5W) on the S20+ 5G.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor View30 Pro if you need blazing-fast charging speeds, a capable 5G modem, and don't mind potentially navigating a less polished software experience. It's ideal for power users who frequently top up their phones and prioritize raw performance-per-dollar. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G if you prefer a seamless software experience, a more established brand reputation, and wider carrier support, especially in North America. It's the better choice for users who value a complete package and long-term software updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 990 in the Galaxy S20+ 5G overheat during extended gaming sessions?
The Exynos 990 has been known to exhibit thermal throttling under sustained load, meaning performance can decrease over time during demanding tasks like gaming. While Samsung implemented cooling solutions, the Kirin 990 in the View30 Pro may offer more consistent performance during prolonged gaming.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone worth using?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras offer limited image quality and detail. They are often included as a marketing feature but don't provide a significant improvement over using the main camera in close-up mode. Don't base your purchasing decision on the presence of a 2MP macro lens.
❓ Does the Honor View30 Pro support 90fps gameplay in popular titles like PUBG?
While the Kirin 990 5G is a powerful chipset, achieving a consistent 90fps in PUBG depends on the game's optimization and graphics settings. The View30 Pro is capable of high frame rates, but you may need to adjust settings to balance performance and visual quality.
❓ What are the real-world benefits of the faster charging on the Honor View30 Pro?
The Honor View30 Pro's 40W charging allows you to add a significant amount of battery life in a short period. A 30-minute charge can get you from near-empty to 70%, which is ideal for users who need a quick top-up before heading out.