The Sharp Aquos Zero 2 and Huawei P30 Pro New Edition represent interesting points in flagship history. The Aquos Zero 2, while less globally known, aimed for a premium experience with a focus on display tech and a Snapdragon 855. The P30 Pro New Edition, benefiting from a later release, brought Huawei’s camera prowess and fast charging to a wider audience. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses, particularly given the P30 Pro’s price reductions since its initial launch.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing camera versatility and fast charging, the Huawei P30 Pro New Edition is the stronger choice. Its 40W charging and established image processing algorithms offer a more polished experience. However, the Aquos Zero 2 remains a compelling option for those seeking a potentially cleaner software experience and a focus on display quality.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 28, 38, 39, 41 - Taiwan | LTE |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat21 1400/200 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, May 22. Released 2020, May 22 | 2020, May 12. Released 2020, June 01 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Aluminosilicate glass), glass back (Aluminosilicate glass), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158 x 74 x 8.8 mm (6.22 x 2.91 x 0.35 in) | 158 x 73.4 x 8.4 mm (6.22 x 2.89 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 141 g (4.97 oz) | 192 g (6.77 oz) |
| | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 mins)
|
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 240Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision | OLED, HDR10 |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Kirin 980 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Mali-G76 MP10 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 10, EMUI 10.1, Google Play Services |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 3.0 | UFS 3.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
20 MP, f/2.4, 125˚ (ultrawide), AF | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Leica optics, color spectrum sensor, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR |
| Triple | - | 40 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, 10x hybrid zoom
20 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.7", PDAF
TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | 32-bit/384kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | Wired, PD2.0 | 40W wired, 70% in 30 min
15W wireless
Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 3130 mAh | Li-Po 4200 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue | Aurora, Black, Silver Frost |
| Models | SH-Z20, SHV47, 906SH | - |
| Price | About 670 EUR | About 820 EUR |
Sharp Aquos Zero 2
- Potentially cleaner Android software experience
- Snapdragon 855 offers strong GPU performance
- Sharp's display technology expertise
- Slower charging speeds (PD2.0 only)
- Less versatile camera system
- Limited global availability
Huawei P30 Pro New Edition
- Exceptional camera system with versatile lenses
- 40W fast charging and wireless charging
- Strong AI processing capabilities
- EMUI software can be divisive
- Kirin 980 may exhibit thermal throttling
- Older chipset compared to current flagships
Display Comparison
While specific display specs for the Aquos Zero 2 are unavailable, Sharp historically prioritizes display quality. The P30 Pro New Edition features a 6.1-inch OLED display. Both devices likely offer vibrant colors, but the Aquos Zero 2 may benefit from Sharp’s proprietary display technologies. The P30 Pro’s display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, a feature likely present on the Aquos Zero 2 as well. The absence of high refresh rates on either device is notable, reflecting the standards of their release periods.
Camera Comparison
The Huawei P30 Pro New Edition’s camera system is its standout feature. While specific sensor details are missing for the Aquos Zero 2, the P30 Pro boasts a 40MP main sensor with a wide aperture, a 20MP ultrawide lens, and an 8MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. Huawei’s image processing algorithms are highly refined, delivering consistently excellent results, particularly in low-light conditions. The Aquos Zero 2 likely offers a competent camera experience, but it’s unlikely to match the P30 Pro’s versatility and image quality. The P30 Pro’s time-of-flight sensor also aids in depth sensing for portrait mode.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Aquos Zero 2 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm) while the P30 Pro New Edition employs the Kirin 980 (7nm). The Snapdragon 855’s Kryo 485 cores offer a balanced approach to performance, with a prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz. The Kirin 980 uses a tri-cluster architecture with Cortex-A76 and A55 cores, peaking at 2.6 GHz. While both are 7nm chips, the Snapdragon 855 generally demonstrates slightly superior GPU performance, making it potentially better for demanding games. However, the Kirin 980’s Neural Processing Unit (NPU) provides advantages in AI-driven tasks like scene recognition in the camera. Thermal management is a key consideration; the Kirin 980 has been known to exhibit some throttling under sustained load, while the Snapdragon 855 is generally more efficient.
Battery Life
The Huawei P30 Pro New Edition significantly outperforms the Aquos Zero 2 in charging speed. It supports 40W wired charging, capable of reaching 70% charge in just 30 minutes, alongside 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. The Aquos Zero 2 only supports wired charging via PD2.0, lacking the speed and convenience of the P30 Pro’s charging options. While battery capacity isn’t specified for either device, the P30 Pro’s faster charging mitigates the impact of a potentially smaller battery, offering more flexibility for users on the go.
Buying Guide
Buy the Sharp Aquos Zero 2 if you prioritize a potentially less-bloated Android experience and value a focus on display technology, even if it means sacrificing some camera versatility. Buy the Huawei P30 Pro New Edition if you want a consistently excellent camera system, incredibly fast wired and wireless charging, and don't mind Huawei's EMUI software.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Kirin 980 in the P30 Pro New Edition overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Kirin 980 is known to exhibit some thermal throttling under sustained heavy load, such as extended gaming. While it won't shut down, you may experience a slight drop in performance after 30-45 minutes of intensive gaming. The Aquos Zero 2’s Snapdragon 855 generally handles heat more efficiently.
❓ Is the 40W charging on the P30 Pro New Edition compatible with all USB-PD chargers?
While the P30 Pro New Edition uses a USB-C port, its 40W charging requires Huawei’s proprietary SuperCharge protocol for maximum speed. Standard USB-PD chargers will still work, but charging will be slower. Using a Huawei SuperCharge charger is recommended to achieve the advertised 40W charging speeds.
❓ How does the software experience differ between the Aquos Zero 2 and the P30 Pro New Edition?
The Aquos Zero 2 likely runs a relatively stock version of Android, offering a cleaner and more minimalist experience. The P30 Pro New Edition runs Huawei’s EMUI, which is heavily customized and includes numerous features, but can also be perceived as bloated by some users. The P30 Pro also lacks Google Mobile Services (GMS) due to the US trade ban, requiring users to rely on Huawei’s AppGallery and alternative methods for accessing popular apps.
