OnePlus 8 Pro vs. vivo X30 Pro: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance and Value

The OnePlus 8 Pro and vivo X30 Pro represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone market. The OnePlus 8 Pro, launched with a premium price tag, aimed to compete directly with the top-tier offerings. The vivo X30 Pro, while still a flagship, offered a more competitive price point, relying on a different chipset and feature set. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device delivers the best experience for your needs.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the OnePlus 8 Pro emerges as the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 865 chipset provides significantly better performance and sustained speeds, while its robust battery endurance and faster charging options offer a more reliable experience. However, the vivo X30 Pro presents a compelling value proposition for budget-conscious users.

PHONES
Phone Names	vivo X30 Pro	OnePlus 8 Pro

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) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66 - EU
5G bands	41, 78 SA/NSA	1, 3, 7, 28, 78 SA/NSA - EU
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G (3.6+ Gbps DL)	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA	78 SA/NSA - IN

Launch
Announced	2019, December. Released 2019, December	2020, April 14
Status	Discontinued	Available. Released 2020, April 21

Body
Build	Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions	158.5 x 74.1 x 8.8 mm (6.24 x 2.92 x 0.35 in)	165.3 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm (6.51 x 2.93 x 0.33 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	198.5 g (7.02 oz)	199 g (7.02 oz)
	-	IP68 dust/water resistant

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)	1440 x 3168 pixels (~513 ppi density)
Size	6.44 inches, 100.1 cm2 (~85.3% screen-to-body ratio)	6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Super AMOLED, HDR, 800 nits (typ)	Fluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A77 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex A55)	Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Exynos 980 (8 nm)	Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPU	Mali-G76 MP5	Adreno 650
OS	Android 9.0 (Pie), Funtouch 10.0	Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
	UFS 2.1	UFS 3.0

Main Camera
Features	Laser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama	Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad	64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/3.0, 135mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 32 MP, f/2.0, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm	48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 5 MP, f/2.4, (Color filter camera)
Video	4K@30fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	32 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
Radio	FM radio	No
USB	USB Type-C, OTG	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	33W wired	30W wired, 50% in 23 min 30W wireless, 50% in 30 min 3W reverse wireless
Type	4350 mAh, non-removable	Li-Po 4510 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Black, Peach, Light Blue	Glacial Green, Ultramarine Blue, Onyx Black
Models	V1938T	IN2023, IN2020, IN2021, IN2025
Price	About 600 EUR	About 310 EUR

Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM	-	$ 428.39
256GB 12GB RAM	-	$ 853.51
RENEWED	-	$ 486.00

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 103h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-23.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 573276 (v8) GeekBench: 3374 (v5.1) GFXBench: 24fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo X30 Pro

Superior performance with Snapdragon 865
Faster charging speeds (wired and wireless)
Excellent battery endurance (103h rating)

Higher price point
Can get warm under heavy load

OnePlus 8 Pro

More affordable price
Competitive 33W wired charging
Sleek design

Less powerful Exynos 980 chipset
Limited information on camera specs

Display Comparison

Both devices boast 'Infinite' contrast ratios, suggesting excellent OLED panels. However, detailed specifications like peak brightness and color gamut coverage are missing for the vivo X30 Pro. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s display benefits from a 120Hz refresh rate (not specified for the X30 Pro), resulting in smoother scrolling and animations. While both likely offer excellent viewing experiences, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s higher refresh rate provides a tangible advantage for visually intensive tasks and gaming.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but specifics beyond 'Photo / Video' are limited for the vivo X30 Pro. The OnePlus 8 Pro likely benefits from Qualcomm’s image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 865, offering advanced image processing capabilities. Sensor size and aperture details are crucial for low-light performance, but are unavailable for the X30 Pro. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s camera system is known for its versatility and image quality, while the X30 Pro’s camera performance remains less defined without detailed specifications.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s Snapdragon 865 (7nm+) significantly outperforms the vivo X30 Pro’s Exynos 980 (8nm). The Snapdragon 865 features a more powerful CPU configuration – a 1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 prime core versus the Exynos 980’s 2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A77 cores – and a more robust GPU. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance. The 7nm+ fabrication process of the Snapdragon 865 also contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling during sustained workloads. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s 12GB RAM option (vs. up to 8GB on the X30 Pro) further enhances multitasking capabilities.

Battery Life

The OnePlus 8 Pro boasts an endurance rating of 103 hours, indicating excellent battery life. While the exact battery capacity isn't specified, the 30W wired charging (50% in 23 minutes) and 30W wireless charging (50% in 30 minutes) are significant advantages over the vivo X30 Pro’s 33W wired charging. The addition of 3W reverse wireless charging on the OnePlus 8 Pro provides added convenience for charging accessories. The X30 Pro’s charging speed is competitive, but the OnePlus 8 Pro’s wireless charging and reverse wireless charging capabilities offer greater flexibility.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo X30 Pro if you prioritize a lower upfront cost and are willing to accept some performance compromises. It's ideal for everyday tasks, social media, and casual gaming. Buy the OnePlus 8 Pro if you demand top-tier performance for demanding applications, gaming, and photography, and value faster charging and longer battery life. It's the better choice for power users and those who want a future-proofed device.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 980 in the vivo X30 Pro suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?

The Exynos 980, built on an 8nm process, is more prone to thermal throttling compared to the Snapdragon 865’s 7nm+ process. While capable of handling most tasks, prolonged gaming or demanding applications may lead to reduced performance as the chip heats up. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s superior thermal management offers a more consistent experience.

❓ What real-world charging time difference can I expect between the 33W charging on the vivo X30 Pro and the 30W charging on the OnePlus 8 Pro?

While the vivo X30 Pro has slightly higher wattage, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s charging implementation is optimized. The OnePlus 8 Pro reaches 50% charge in 23 minutes, and a full charge is likely only marginally slower than the X30 Pro. The key advantage of the OnePlus 8 Pro is the addition of 30W wireless charging, a feature absent on the X30 Pro.

❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up shots?

Generally, 2MP macro cameras on smartphones are limited in quality. They often lack the detail and clarity of dedicated macro lenses or higher-resolution sensors. While they can capture close-up images, the results are often soft and lack sharpness. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s overall camera system is likely to provide better close-up results even without a dedicated macro mode.

❓ Can the OnePlus 8 Pro reliably maintain 60fps in demanding games like PUBG or Call of Duty: Mobile?

Yes, the Snapdragon 865 in the OnePlus 8 Pro is more than capable of maintaining 60fps in PUBG and Call of Duty: Mobile at high graphics settings. The combination of the powerful GPU and ample RAM ensures a smooth and responsive gaming experience. The Exynos 980 in the vivo X30 Pro may struggle to maintain consistent frame rates at the same settings.