Honor X30i vs Google Pixel 5: A Clash of Titans (and Budgets)

The smartphone market is overflowing with options, making it tough to choose. Today, we're pitting the budget-friendly Honor X30i against the established Google Pixel 5. Can the X30i challenge the Pixel's reputation for camera excellence and smooth performance?
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Google Pixel 5 wins overall, offering a superior camera, cleaner software experience, and guaranteed updates. However, the Honor X30i provides impressive value with a decent chipset and large display for a significantly lower price. It's a trade-off between features and affordability.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor X30i Google Pixel 5
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 258, 260, 261 Sub6/mmWave - GD1YQ
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 Sub6 - GTT9Q
Launch
Announced2021, October 282020, September 30
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, November 02Available. Released 2020, October 15
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum back, aluminum frame
Dimensions163.4 x 74.7 x 7.5 mm (6.43 x 2.94 x 0.30 in)144.7 x 70.4 x 8 mm (5.70 x 2.77 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight175 g (6.17 oz)151 g (5.33 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2388 pixels (~391 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~432 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.0 inches, 87.6 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 90HzOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 810 (6 nm)Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)
GPUMali-G57 MC2Adreno 620
OSAndroid 11, Magic UI 5.0Android 11, upgradable to Android 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 2.1
Main Camera
Dual-12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 117˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Single8 MP, f/2.0-
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single8 MP, f/2.08 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with dual speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compassFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging22.5W wired18W wired, PD2.0 12W wireless 5W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Po 4080 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Blue, Silver, Rose GoldJust Black, Sorta Sage
ModelsTFY-AN00GD1YQ, GTT9Q, G5NZ6
PriceAbout 190 EUR€ 181.31 / $ 272.44 / £ 136.00
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM-$ 194.84
RENEWED-$ 253.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 95h
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)

Honor X30i

  • Affordable price
  • Large display
  • Decent performance for the price
  • Good battery capacity

  • Slower charging
  • Less impressive camera
  • Plastic build
  • Software updates less guaranteed

Google Pixel 5

  • Excellent camera
  • Clean Android experience
  • Guaranteed software updates
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Wireless charging
  • Reverse wireless charging

  • Higher price
  • Battery life, while good, isn't class-leading
  • Plastic back (though premium feel)
  • Slower wired charging compared to some competitors

Display Comparison

The Honor X30i boasts a larger display, likely with vibrant colors, while the Pixel 5's display shines with excellent brightness (699 nits) and infinite contrast, providing a more premium viewing experience. Pixel 5's color accuracy is generally better.

Camera Comparison

This is where the Pixel 5 truly shines. Google's computational photography is unmatched, delivering consistently excellent photos in various conditions. The Honor X30i's camera is decent for its price range, but it can't compete with the Pixel 5's image quality, dynamic range, and low-light performance.

Performance

The Dimensity 810 in the Honor X30i is a capable mid-range chip, but the Snapdragon 765G in the Pixel 5 offers a noticeable performance edge, especially in demanding games and multitasking. The Pixel 5's CPU architecture is also more efficient.

Battery Life

The Pixel 5's endurance rating of 95h is exceptional, suggesting outstanding battery life. The Honor X30i's battery capacity is likely large, but its charging speed (22.5W) is slower than the Pixel 5's (18W wired, 12W wireless, 5W reverse wired).

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Honor X30i? Users on a tight budget who prioritize a large screen and decent performance for everyday tasks. Who should buy the Google Pixel 5? Photography enthusiasts, those seeking a clean Android experience, and users who value long-term software support.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Google Pixel 5 has significantly better software support, with guaranteed updates directly from Google for several years. The Honor X30i's update schedule is less predictable.
❓ Is the Honor X30i good for gaming?
The Honor X30i can handle most casual games well, but demanding titles might require lower graphics settings. The Pixel 5 offers a smoother gaming experience overall.