Honor View30 vs Sony Xperia 1 III: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Performance and Features

The Honor View30, representing a peak in Honor's Kirin-powered era, now faces off against the Sony Xperia 1 III, a premium flagship focused on multimedia and photography. This comparison examines how these two devices, representing different approaches to the high-end smartphone market, stack up in key areas, particularly given the View30's current price point.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing value, the Honor View30 offers compelling performance and fast 40W charging at a significantly lower price. However, the Sony Xperia 1 III excels in display quality, camera versatility, and sustained performance thanks to the Snapdragon 888's 5nm process, making it the better choice for content creators and power users.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor View30 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 8.9 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
Weight213 g (7.51 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 (~401 ppi density)1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)
Size6.57 inches, 104.2 cm2 (~84.5% 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 & 2x2.09 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.86 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 990 (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 6GB RAM, 128GB 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/1.8, 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/1.7, 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
Video1080p@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
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 min30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4200 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

  • Faster 40W wired charging
  • More affordable price point
  • Potentially better value for money

  • Older chipset (Kirin 990)
  • Less detailed display specifications
  • Limited camera information

Sony Xperia 1 III

  • More powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset
  • Superior display brightness and quality
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging

  • Higher price
  • Slower wired charging (30W)
  • Potential for thermal throttling under extreme load (though mitigated by 5nm process)

Display Comparison

The Sony Xperia 1 III boasts a superior display experience with a measured peak brightness of 620 nits, offering better visibility in direct sunlight compared to the Honor View30 (brightness data unavailable). While both feature infinite (nominal) contrast ratios, the Xperia 1 III’s focus on color accuracy and potentially a higher-quality panel construction provides a more immersive viewing experience. The View30’s display specs are less detailed, suggesting a more standard LCD or OLED implementation.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are marketed as having strong camera capabilities, but details are limited. The Xperia 1 III likely benefits from Sony’s advanced image processing algorithms and potentially larger sensor sizes, typical of their flagship devices. The View30’s camera specs are not detailed enough to make a direct comparison, but it likely focuses on a versatile multi-camera setup. Without specific sensor size or aperture information for the View30, it’s difficult to assess its low-light performance relative to the Xperia 1 III.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Sony Xperia 1 III’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm) offers a significant architectural advantage over the Honor View30’s Kirin 990 (7nm). The Snapdragon 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core at 2.84 GHz provides a performance boost over the Kirin 990’s Cortex-A76 cores (2.86 GHz). Furthermore, the 5nm process of the Snapdragon 888 translates to improved thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling during prolonged intensive tasks. While both utilize a similar Cortex-A55 cluster for efficiency, the Xperia 1 III’s chipset is demonstrably more powerful and efficient.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 82 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite differing charging speeds. The Honor View30’s 40W wired charging is significantly faster, achieving 70% charge in 30 minutes, while the Xperia 1 III manages 50% in the same timeframe with its 30W PD charging. The Xperia 1 III also adds wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities, offering greater convenience, but the View30’s faster wired charging is a clear advantage for users who prioritize quick top-ups.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor View30 if you need a powerful daily driver with fast charging and don't require the absolute best camera or display technology. It's ideal for users who prioritize value and enjoy a responsive user experience. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you prefer a premium multimedia experience with a top-tier camera system, a bright and color-accurate display, and sustained performance for demanding tasks like video editing or extended gaming sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990 in the Honor View30 struggle with sustained performance in demanding games?
The Kirin 990, while powerful, is built on a 7nm process. This means it's more prone to thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions compared to the Snapdragon 888's 5nm process in the Xperia 1 III. While the View30 can handle most games, the Xperia 1 III will likely maintain higher frame rates for longer periods.
❓ Is the 30W charging on the Sony Xperia 1 III significantly slower than the 40W charging on the Honor View30 in real-world use?
While 40W is theoretically faster, the difference in charging times isn't massive. Both achieve a substantial charge in 30 minutes. The Xperia 1 III compensates with the convenience of wireless charging, which the View30 lacks.
❓ How does the camera processing differ between the Honor View30 and the Sony Xperia 1 III?
Sony is known for its natural color science and detail preservation in its camera processing. The Honor View30 likely employs a more vibrant and contrast-boosted image processing style, common in many smartphones. The Xperia 1 III offers more control for photography enthusiasts.