vivo X50 vs Honor 30 Pro+: A Detailed Comparison of Mid-Range Flagships

The vivo X50 and Honor 30 Pro+ represent a fascinating intersection of price and performance from 2020. Both aimed to deliver a flagship experience without the top-tier price tag, but they took different approaches. The X50 leaned on a refined Snapdragon 730 and camera prowess, while the Honor 30 Pro+ boasted the powerful Kirin 990 5G and faster charging. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which phone offers the best value today.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing all-around performance and a more balanced experience, the Honor 30 Pro+ emerges as the winner. Its Kirin 990 5G chipset provides a significant performance uplift over the Snapdragon 730 in the X50, coupled with faster 40W wired and 27W wireless charging. However, the X50 remains a compelling option for camera-focused users.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo X50 Honor 30 Pro+
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 401, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands-1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2020, July 07. Released 2020, July 162020, April 15. Released 2020, April 21
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions159.5 x 75.4 x 7.6 mm (6.28 x 2.97 x 0.30 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
Weight173 g (6.10 oz)190 g (6.70 oz)
 -Water-repellent coating
Display
Resolution1080 x 2376 pixels (~398 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~392 ppi density)
Size6.56 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~87.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+OLED, 90Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver)Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730 (8 nm)Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 618Mali-G76 MP16
OSAndroid 10, Funtouch 10.5Android 10, Magic UI 3, no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad48 MP, f/1.6, (wide), PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.5, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro)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
Single5 MP, AF-
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
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm-
Video1080p@30fps4K, 1080p; gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C, OTGUSB Type-C 3.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 Virtual proximity sensing-
Battery
Charging33W wired40W wired 27W wireless 5W reverse wired
Stand-byUp to 570 h (2G) / Up to 420 h (3G)-
Talk timeUp to 17 h 50 min (2G) / Up to 8 h 20 min (3G)-
Type4200 mAhLi-Po 4000 mAh
Misc
ColorsGlaze Black, Frost BlueTitanium silver, Emerald Green, Midnight Black
Models2004EBG-AN10
PriceAbout 400 EURAbout 650 EUR
SAR EU0.52 W/kg (head)     -
Tests
Audio quality Noise -87.8dB / Crosstalk -87.3dB-
Battery life-Endurance rating 99h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 853:1 (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker Voice 69dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 67dB -23.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 510031 (v8) GeekBench: 3191 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo X50

  • Potentially excellent camera performance (pending detailed sensor info)
  • Streamlined software experience
  • More affordable price point (likely)

  • Less powerful Snapdragon 730 chipset
  • Slower 33W charging
  • Limited display brightness information

Honor 30 Pro+

  • Powerful Kirin 990 5G chipset
  • Faster 40W wired and 27W wireless charging
  • Higher display brightness

  • Potentially more complex software experience
  • May run hotter under sustained load
  • Higher price point (likely)

Display Comparison

The Honor 30 Pro+ boasts a measured peak brightness of 586 nits, significantly exceeding the vivo X50’s nominal contrast ratio of 853:1. While the X50’s contrast ratio suggests good black levels, the Honor’s higher brightness translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. Both displays are listed as having an 'infinite' contrast ratio, a common marketing term that doesn't necessarily indicate superior quality. The lack of refresh rate information for the X50 puts it at a disadvantage compared to many competitors at this price point, while the Honor 30 Pro+’s display is likely to offer a smoother visual experience.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are marketed as having strong camera capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking. The absence of specifics makes a direct comparison difficult. However, the Honor 30 Pro+’s more powerful chipset likely enables more sophisticated image processing algorithms, potentially resulting in better dynamic range and low-light performance. The X50’s camera system may excel in specific scenarios, but the Kirin 990’s image signal processor (ISP) gives the Honor 30 Pro+ an edge in overall image quality and video recording capabilities. The lack of detail regarding OIS on either device makes it difficult to assess stabilization performance.

Performance

The Kirin 990 5G in the Honor 30 Pro+ represents a substantial leap in processing power over the Snapdragon 730 in the vivo X50. The Kirin 990’s octa-core configuration, with two high-performance Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.86 GHz, delivers significantly faster CPU performance. The 7nm+ manufacturing process of the Kirin 990 also contributes to improved efficiency compared to the Snapdragon 730’s 8nm node. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user experience on the Honor 30 Pro+. While the Snapdragon 730 is capable for everyday tasks, it will struggle with demanding games and applications compared to the Kirin 990.

Battery Life

Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 99 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the Honor 30 Pro+ offers a significant advantage in charging speed with its 40W wired charging, 27W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wired charging. The vivo X50 is limited to 33W wired charging. This means the Honor 30 Pro+ can be fully charged much faster, and the addition of wireless charging provides added convenience. While both phones offer similar battery endurance, the Honor 30 Pro+'s charging capabilities are a clear win.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo X50 if you prioritize a strong camera system and a more streamlined software experience, and are comfortable with slightly less raw processing power. It’s ideal for social media enthusiasts and casual photographers. Buy the Honor 30 Pro+ if you demand the best possible performance for gaming and multitasking, and value faster charging speeds and 5G connectivity. This phone is geared towards power users and those who want a future-proofed device.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990 in the Honor 30 Pro+ suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Kirin 990 is a powerful chipset, it was known to run relatively hot under sustained load. Reports from the time indicated some throttling during prolonged gaming, though the Honor 30 Pro+ likely employed cooling solutions to mitigate this. The Snapdragon 730 in the X50, being less powerful, is less prone to throttling but also delivers lower peak performance.
❓ How does the 5G connectivity on the Honor 30 Pro+ compare to the X50, considering network availability in 2024?
The Honor 30 Pro+ was designed with 5G connectivity in mind, utilizing the Kirin 990’s integrated 5G modem. While 5G infrastructure has expanded significantly since 2020, the X50 lacks native 5G support. Users with access to robust 5G networks will benefit from the faster speeds offered by the Honor 30 Pro+, while X50 users will be limited to 4G LTE.
❓ Is the 33W charging on the vivo X50 sufficient for quick top-ups throughout the day?
33W charging is reasonably fast, but it's noticeably slower than the 40W charging on the Honor 30 Pro+. While it will still provide a decent charge in a short amount of time, users who frequently need to quickly replenish their battery will find the Honor 30 Pro+'s charging speed more convenient.