Honor View30 vs. Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G: A Detailed Performance and Value Showdown

The Honor View30 and Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G represent distinct approaches to the 5G smartphone market. The View30, leveraging Huawei’s Kirin 990, aimed for flagship performance at a more accessible price point. The S20+ 5G, with either the Exynos 990 (globally) or Snapdragon 865 (USA), targeted the premium segment with a broader feature set and Samsung’s established ecosystem. This comparison dissects their core differences to help you choose the right device.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and a more versatile camera system, the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G (especially the Snapdragon variant) is the superior choice. However, the Honor View30 offers compelling value with its significantly faster 40W charging and competitive performance, making it ideal for budget-conscious users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Honor View30	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	2020, February 24. Released 2020, April 27	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 (~401 ppi density)	1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density)
Size	6.57 inches, 104.2 cm2 (~84.5% 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, no Google Play Services	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	Li-Ion 4500 mAh

Misc
Colors	Ocean Blue, Midnight Black, Icelandic Frost, Sunrise Orange	Cosmic 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

Significantly faster 40W wired charging
Competitive performance with Kirin 990
More affordable price point

Lacks wireless charging and reverse wireless charging
Potentially less refined software experience

Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G

More versatile camera system with 8K video
Wireless charging and reverse wireless charging
Snapdragon 865 (US) offers superior performance and efficiency

Slower 25W wired charging
Higher price point

Display Comparison

While both devices feature excellent displays, specifics are missing for the View30. The S20+ 5G boasts a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, known for its vibrant colors and high peak brightness. The Exynos 990 variant’s display performance is generally excellent, but the Snapdragon 865 version benefits from slightly better power efficiency. The S20+’s higher resolution and potentially higher peak brightness (compared to an assumed excellent View30 panel) provide a more immersive viewing experience, particularly for HDR content. The S20+ also benefits from a 120Hz refresh rate, missing from the View30, resulting in smoother scrolling and animations.

Camera Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G’s camera system is more comprehensive. While the View30 likely offers a capable camera, the S20+’s larger sensors, advanced image processing, and versatile lens selection (ultra-wide, telephoto) provide superior image quality and flexibility. The S20+’s 8K video recording capability is absent on the View30. The S20+’s image processing prioritizes vibrant colors and detail, while the View30’s processing style is likely more aligned with Huawei’s aesthetic. The S20+’s superior optical image stabilization (OIS) contributes to sharper images and smoother videos, especially in low-light conditions.

Performance

The chipset battle is central. The Honor View30’s Kirin 990 (7nm) features a tri-cluster CPU configuration, aiming for efficiency and performance. The Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G presents a split scenario: the global Exynos 990 (7nm+) and the US Snapdragon 865 (7nm+). The Snapdragon 865, with its Cortex-A77 cores, demonstrably outperforms the Exynos 990 and Kirin 990 in sustained workloads and gaming. The Exynos 990, while competitive, is known to exhibit more thermal throttling under prolonged stress. The Kirin 990 falls between the two, offering strong performance but lacking the Snapdragon’s sustained power. Both phones utilize octa-core CPUs, but the architectural differences and fabrication process refinements give the Snapdragon 865 a clear edge.

Battery Life

The Honor View30’s 40W wired charging is a significant advantage, achieving 70% charge in just 30 minutes. The Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G’s 25W charging is considerably slower. While the S20+ offers 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging – features absent on the View30 – the faster wired charging of the View30 is more practical for daily use. The actual battery life will depend on usage patterns, but the S20+’s larger battery capacity (spec not provided, but typically around 4500mAh) combined with the Snapdragon 865’s efficiency gives it an edge in endurance.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor View30 if you need blazing-fast 40W charging, prioritize value for money, and are comfortable with Huawei’s software experience. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G if you prefer a more polished software experience, a more versatile camera system with better video capabilities, and access to Samsung’s broader ecosystem of features like wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 990 in the Galaxy S20+ 5G overheat during extended gaming sessions?

The Exynos 990 is known to throttle under sustained load, leading to reduced performance during prolonged gaming. While not a complete shutdown, users may experience frame drops and increased temperatures. The Snapdragon 865 variant in the US model mitigates this issue significantly due to its superior thermal efficiency.

❓ Is the 40W charging on the Honor View30 compatible with Power Delivery (PD) chargers?

While the Honor View30 supports 40W charging, it utilizes Huawei’s SuperCharge protocol. While it *may* work with some PD chargers, optimal charging speeds are best achieved with a Huawei SuperCharge compatible charger. Compatibility can vary.

❓ How does the camera processing differ between the Honor View30 and the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G?

Samsung generally aims for vibrant, saturated colors and high detail in its images, sometimes leaning towards a more processed look. Huawei (Honor) typically prioritizes a more natural color profile, though still with a degree of enhancement. The S20+ also offers more advanced computational photography features.

❓ Does the Galaxy S20+ 5G support 90fps or 120fps video recording at 1080p or 4K?

The Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G supports 8K video recording at 24fps, 4K video recording at up to 60fps, and 1080p video recording at up to 60fps. It does not natively support 90fps or 120fps video recording.