Huawei Nova 10 Pro vs. Huawei P30 Pro: A Clash of Generations

Huawei's smartphone lineup offers compelling options, but choosing between models can be tricky. Today, we pit the newer Huawei Nova 10 Pro against the established Huawei P30 Pro to see which phone delivers the best overall experience. We'll break down everything from display quality to camera capabilities and battery life.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The P30 Pro maintains a slight edge thanks to its superior camera system and slightly longer battery life. However, the Nova 10 Pro boasts significantly faster charging and a more modern chipset. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your priorities: photography or charging speed.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei nova 10 Pro Huawei P30 Pro
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, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat21 1400/200 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
 CDMA 800 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 66
Launch
Announced2022, July 042019, March 26. Released 2019, March 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, July 10Discontinued
Body
Build-Glass front (Aluminosilicate glass), glass back (Aluminosilicate glass), aluminum frame
Dimensions164.2 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm (6.46 x 2.93 x 0.31 in)158 x 73.4 x 8.4 mm (6.22 x 2.89 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight191 g (6.74 oz)192 g (6.77 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 min)
Display
Resolution1200 x 2652 pixels (~429 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.4 cm2 (~91.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 120HzOLED, HDR10
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 670)Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm)Kirin 980 (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LMali-G76 MP10
OSHarmonyOS 2.0Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, EMUI 10
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 2.1
Main Camera
Dual8 MP, f/2.2, 52mm (portrait), AF 60 MP, f/2.4, 17mm, 100˚ (ultrawide), AF-
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide), AF Auxiliary lens40 MP, f/1.6, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 20 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.7", PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)
Video4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps
Selfie camera
Dual8 MP, f/2.2, 52mm (telephoto), AF, 2x optical zoom 60 MP, f/2.4, 17mm, 100˚ (ultrawide), AF-
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single-32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
 -32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/a/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 Virtual proximity sensing-
Battery
Charging100W wired, 20-80% in 10 min Reverse wired40W wired, 70% in 30 min 15W wireless 2.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 4200 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, Silver, Green, VioletAurora, Amber Sunrise, Breathing Crystal, Black, Pearl White, Misty Lavender, Mystic Blue
ModelsGLA-AL00, GLA-LX1VOG-L29, VOG-L09, VOG-AL00, VOG-TL00, VOG-L04, VOG-AL10, HW-02L
PriceAbout 730 EURAbout 670 EUR
Tests
Audio quality- Noise -90.5dB / Crosstalk -93.0dB
Battery life Endurance rating 89h Endurance rating 100h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 5.119 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker -27.7 LUFS (Good) -28.1 LUFS (Average)
Performance AnTuTu: 528847 (v9) GeekBench: 2794 (v5.1) GFXBench: 23fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 316156 (v7), 401208 (v8) GeekBench: 10014 (v4.4), 2521 (v5.1) GFXBench: 29fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei nova 10 Pro

  • Blazing-fast 100W charging
  • Brighter display
  • Modern Snapdragon 778G chipset
  • Sleek and modern design

  • Camera not as impressive as P30 Pro
  • 4G-only connectivity
  • Software support concerns (Huawei ecosystem)

Huawei P30 Pro

  • Exceptional camera system with periscope zoom
  • Longer battery life (slightly)
  • Proven track record and reliability
  • Wireless charging

  • Slower charging speed
  • Older Kirin 980 chipset
  • Design feels dated compared to Nova 10 Pro
  • Software support concerns (Huawei ecosystem)

Display Comparison

The Nova 10 Pro features a brighter display (784 nits vs P30 Pro's unspecified brightness, but with a good sunlight readability score of 5.119), offering better visibility outdoors. Both boast 'infinite' contrast ratios, a marketing term indicating excellent black levels. The Nova 10 Pro's display likely has a more modern color science, while the P30 Pro's display is known for its accurate color reproduction.

Camera Comparison

The P30 Pro remains a camera powerhouse. Its triple-lens setup, including a groundbreaking periscope zoom lens, offers exceptional image quality and versatility. The Nova 10 Pro's camera is competent, but doesn't match the P30 Pro's overall photographic prowess, particularly in zoom capabilities and low-light performance. Both offer excellent video recording.

Performance

The Nova 10 Pro's Snapdragon 778G 4G provides a solid performance boost over the P30 Pro's Kirin 980. While both are capable of handling everyday tasks and moderate gaming, the Nova 10 Pro will feel snappier and more responsive, especially with demanding applications. The Kirin 980, while still capable, shows its age.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with endurance ratings of 89h and 100h respectively. However, the Nova 10 Pro's 100W charging is a game-changer, allowing for incredibly fast top-ups. The P30 Pro's 40W charging is considerably slower, though it does offer wireless charging.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Nova 10 Pro is ideal for users prioritizing fast charging, a vibrant display, and a modern design. The Huawei P30 Pro is a better fit for photography enthusiasts and those who value long battery life and a proven track record.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Huawei Nova 10 Pro 5G?
No, the Nova 10 Pro is a 4G-only device.
❓ Does the Huawei P30 Pro still receive software updates?
Huawei's software update policy is complex. While the P30 Pro initially received updates, support has slowed down and is dependent on the HarmonyOS ecosystem.
❓ Which phone has better low-light camera performance?
The Huawei P30 Pro generally offers superior low-light camera performance due to its larger sensor and more advanced image processing.
❓ Can I use Google apps on either of these phones?
Due to US trade restrictions, neither phone officially supports Google apps. Users may need to explore workarounds, but this is not guaranteed and can be complex.