Honor View30 Pro vs. Sony Xperia 1 III: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Features

The Honor View30 Pro, released as a 5G powerhouse, now faces a compelling comparison against the Sony Xperia 1 III, a premium flagship known for its multimedia capabilities. This isn't a simple new-vs-old scenario; the View30 Pro offers a compelling value proposition, while the Xperia 1 III targets a different, more discerning user. We'll dissect their core components to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing value and fast charging, the Honor View30 Pro emerges as the winner. Its Kirin 990 5G offers strong performance, and its 40W wired and 27W wireless charging significantly outpace the Xperia 1 III's 30W wired charging. However, the Xperia 1 III's superior display and refined camera experience justify its higher price for content creators and enthusiasts.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor View30 Pro Sony Xperia 1 III
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, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe
5G bands1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)HSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 - SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific)
Launch
Announced2020, February 24. Released 2020, April 272021, April 14
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, August 25
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), 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)165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight206 g (7.27 oz)186 g / 187.1 g (mmWave) (6.56 oz)
 -IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionYesCorning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)
Size6.57 inches, 104.7 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
 -Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 990 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUMali-G76 MP16Adreno 660
OSAndroid 10, Magic UI 3, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 13
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.X
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, LED flash, HDR, panoramaZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Single-8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm
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/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 70mm (telephoto), f/2.8, 105mm (telephoto), 1/2.9", dual pixel PDAF, 3x/4.4x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.6", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@960fps, (gyro-EIS)4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis 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-8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output
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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
 -Native Sony Alpha camera support
Battery
Charging40W wired, 70% in 30 min 27W wireless, 52% in 30 min Reverse wireless30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4100 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsOcean Blue, Midnight Black, Icelandic frost, Sunrise OrangeFrosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple
Models-XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72
Price-€ 505.26 / $ 903.43
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 82h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.5 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 607423 (v8) GeekBench: 3515 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor View30 Pro

  • Significantly faster wired and wireless charging
  • More affordable price point
  • 5G connectivity

  • Older chipset (Kirin 990)
  • Less refined camera system (likely)
  • Display specs are less impressive

Sony Xperia 1 III

  • Superior display quality and brightness
  • More powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset
  • Advanced camera features and image processing

  • Slower charging speeds
  • Higher price
  • Potentially more prone to thermal throttling

Display Comparison

The Sony Xperia 1 III boasts a 620 nit peak brightness, providing excellent visibility outdoors, while the Honor View30 Pro's brightness is not specified. The Xperia 1 III's 'Infinite' contrast ratio suggests a true OLED panel, delivering deep blacks and vibrant colors. While the View30 Pro likely uses an OLED panel as well, the Xperia 1 III's display is geared towards professional content creators, offering color accuracy and potentially features like creator modes. The lack of refresh rate information for the View30 Pro is a drawback compared to the 120Hz likely found on the Xperia 1 III, impacting smoothness during scrolling and gaming.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are described as having capable photo/video systems, but the specifics differ. The Xperia 1 III likely features Sony's renowned image processing algorithms and a focus on manual controls, appealing to photography enthusiasts. The View30 Pro's camera performance is less well-defined, but its sensor size and lens apertures would be key differentiators. The absence of detailed camera specs for the View30 Pro makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Xperia 1 III's reputation for video quality and advanced features like 4K 120fps recording gives it a distinct edge. Ignoring the likely inclusion of low-resolution auxiliary cameras on both devices, the core imaging capabilities of the Xperia 1 III are likely more refined.

Performance

The Sony Xperia 1 III's Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) represents a significant architectural leap over the Honor View30 Pro's Kirin 990 5G (7nm+). The Snapdragon 888's Cortex-X1 prime core delivers superior single-core performance, crucial for responsive app launches and UI navigation. The 5nm process node also translates to improved thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads. While the Kirin 990 is no slouch, the Snapdragon 888 offers a clear advantage in GPU performance, benefiting demanding games and graphically intensive applications. The Xperia 1 III's LPDDR5 RAM likely provides faster memory speeds than the View30 Pro's unspecified RAM, further enhancing performance.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 82 hours, suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified for the View30 Pro). However, the charging speeds are where the Honor View30 Pro shines. Its 40W wired charging can reach 70% in 30 minutes, while the Xperia 1 III only manages 50% in the same timeframe. The View30 Pro also offers 27W wireless charging, significantly faster than the Xperia 1 III's wireless charging capabilities. The inclusion of reverse wireless charging on both devices adds convenience, but the View30 Pro's faster charging speeds provide a more practical benefit for users on the go.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor View30 Pro if you need a fast-charging, 5G-enabled phone with solid performance at a significantly lower price point. It's ideal for everyday users, gamers who don't demand the absolute highest frame rates, and those who value convenience. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you prioritize a top-tier display for media consumption, a more sophisticated camera system with advanced video features, and a premium build quality, and are willing to pay a premium for these features.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990 5G in the Honor View30 Pro overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Kirin 990 5G is a capable chipset, its 7nm+ process is less efficient than the 5nm Snapdragon 888. This means the View30 Pro is more likely to experience thermal throttling during extended gaming, potentially leading to reduced performance. However, it should still be capable of handling most games at reasonable settings.
❓ Is the 30W charging on the Sony Xperia 1 III fast enough for daily use, or is it a significant drawback?
30W charging is adequate, but slower than the Honor View30 Pro's 40W charging. It will take longer to fully charge the Xperia 1 III, which may be inconvenient for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly. The difference is noticeable, especially when comparing the 30-minute charge times.
❓ How does the camera processing differ between the Honor View30 Pro and the Sony Xperia 1 III?
Sony is known for its natural-looking image processing, prioritizing detail and color accuracy. The Honor View30 Pro likely employs a more aggressive processing style, potentially boosting colors and contrast for a more visually appealing image, but potentially sacrificing some realism. The Xperia 1 III also offers extensive manual controls for experienced photographers.