vivo iQOO Neo3 5G vs Honor 30 Pro+: Which 5G Flagship Reigns Supreme?

The vivo iQOO Neo3 5G and Honor 30 Pro+ represent a fascinating crossroads in the smartphone market. Both launched as performance-focused devices, but now, with price drops and evolving software landscapes, the choice isn't as straightforward. This comparison dissects their core components to determine which offers the best experience for today's user.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and gaming, the vivo iQOO Neo3 5G emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 865 chipset, while older, delivers consistently strong performance, and its 44W charging is faster than the Honor 30 Pro+'s wired option. The Honor 30 Pro+ counters with wireless charging and a slightly longer endurance rating, but the iQOO Neo3's value proposition is stronger.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO Neo3 5G Honor 30 Pro+
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 25, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands1, 3, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G (3.3 Gbps DL)HSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 / 1900 & TD-SCDMA-
Launch
Announced2020, April 23. Released 2020, April 292020, April 15. Released 2020, April 21
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions163.7 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm (6.44 x 2.98 x 0.35 in)160.3 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm (6.31 x 2.90 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight198.1 g (6.98 oz)190 g (6.70 oz)
 -Water-repellent coating
Display
Resolution1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~392 ppi density)
Size6.57 inches, 104.0 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 144Hz, HDR10OLED, 90Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 650Mali-G76 MP16
OSAndroid 10, iQOO UI 1.0Android 10, Magic UI 3, no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad-50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (Periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 18mm (ultrawide), AF Auxiliary lens
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@1920fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Dual-32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.0, (wide)-
Video1080p@30fps4K, 1080p; gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging44W wired, 50% in 20 min, 100% in 58 min40W wired 27W wireless 5W reverse wired
Type4500 mAhLi-Po 4000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlue, Black/Dark BlueTitanium silver, Emerald Green, Midnight Black
ModelsV1981AEBG-AN10
PriceAbout 350 EURAbout 650 EUR
Tests
Battery life-Endurance rating 99h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -23.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 510031 (v8) GeekBench: 3191 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo iQOO Neo3 5G

  • Faster 44W wired charging
  • Stronger sustained performance with Snapdragon 865
  • Potentially better thermal management

  • Camera details are limited
  • No wireless charging

Honor 30 Pro+

  • Wireless charging support
  • Excellent 99-hour endurance rating
  • Higher peak display brightness (586 nits)

  • Slower wired charging (40W)
  • Kirin 990 may exhibit more throttling under load
  • Software support concerns due to brand history

Display Comparison

The Honor 30 Pro+ boasts a measured peak brightness of 586 nits, suggesting a more visible display in direct sunlight compared to the iQOO Neo3 5G (brightness data unavailable). Both utilize 7nm+ fabrication, implying similar efficiency in driving the displays. However, without knowing the iQOO Neo3’s panel type or refresh rate, it’s difficult to assess its overall visual experience. The Honor 30 Pro+'s 'Infinite' contrast ratio is a marketing term; real-world contrast performance depends on the panel technology used.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking. Without sensor size, aperture, or OIS information, a direct comparison is challenging. However, given the market positioning, the Honor 30 Pro+ likely prioritizes camera features more heavily. The absence of details on the iQOO Neo3 suggests a more functional, less feature-rich camera system. Any 2MP macro lenses on either device should be considered a marketing gimmick rather than a significant photographic asset.

Performance

The iQOO Neo3 5G’s Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+) and the Honor 30 Pro+'s Kirin 990 5G (7nm+) are both flagship-class chipsets, but differ in architecture. The Snapdragon 865 utilizes a 1+3+4 core configuration with Cortex-A77 cores, while the Kirin 990 employs a 2+2+4 configuration with Cortex-A76 cores. While clock speeds are similar (2.84GHz vs 2.86GHz), the Snapdragon 865 generally exhibits superior sustained performance and GPU capabilities, making it more suitable for demanding games. The iQOO Neo3 5G benefits from Qualcomm’s optimizations, potentially leading to better thermal management and less throttling under prolonged load.

Battery Life

The Honor 30 Pro+ achieves an endurance rating of 99 hours, indicating excellent battery life. However, the iQOO Neo3 5G’s 44W wired charging (50% in 20 minutes, 100% in 58 minutes) is significantly faster than the Honor 30 Pro+'s 40W wired charging. The Honor 30 Pro+ also offers 27W wireless charging and 5W reverse wired charging, providing added convenience. While the Honor 30 Pro+ may last longer on a single charge, the iQOO Neo3 5G’s faster charging mitigates this advantage for users who frequently top up their battery.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO Neo3 5G if you need a phone primarily for gaming, demanding applications, and fast charging. Its Snapdragon 865 provides a robust foundation for sustained performance. Buy the Honor 30 Pro+ if you prioritize wireless charging convenience, a slightly longer battery life, and potentially prefer Honor's software experience (though software support is a key consideration given the brand's history).

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Kirin 990 known to overheat during extended gaming sessions?
The Kirin 990, while powerful, has been reported to experience thermal throttling under sustained load, particularly in graphically intensive games. This can lead to reduced performance over time. The Snapdragon 865 in the iQOO Neo3 5G generally manages heat more effectively.
❓ Does the iQOO Neo3 5G support high refresh rate gaming, like 90fps in PUBG Mobile?
While the context data doesn't explicitly state the display's refresh rate, the Snapdragon 865 is capable of driving high refresh rate displays. Whether the iQOO Neo3 5G supports 90fps in PUBG Mobile depends on the display panel and software optimizations, but the hardware is certainly capable.
❓ Given Honor's past, is software support a concern for the Honor 30 Pro+?
Historically, Honor's software support has been less consistent than that of other major brands. While the Honor 30 Pro+ launched with a specific software version, long-term updates and security patches may be less frequent compared to devices from vivo or Samsung. This is a crucial consideration for users who prioritize software longevity.