The vivo Y30 (China) and Honor 9X Pro represent distinct approaches to the budget and mid-range smartphone market. The Y30 prioritizes a modern chipset within a cost-conscious framework, while the 9X Pro, though older, boasts a more powerful processor and a focus on display quality. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device delivers the best user experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing raw performance and a brighter display, the Honor 9X Pro is the clear winner. Its Kirin 810 chipset offers a significant performance advantage over the Snapdragon 460 in the vivo Y30, despite the latter’s newer manufacturing process. However, the Y30’s 18W charging is a notable improvement over the 9X Pro’s 10W.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat12 600/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, October 22. Released 2020, October 26 | 2019, July 23. Released 2019, August 09 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 76.3 x 8.4 mm (6.47 x 3.00 x 0.33 in) | 163.5 x 77.3 x 8.8 mm (6.44 x 3.04 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 192.3 g (6.77 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.51 inches, 102.3 cm2 (~81.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 240 & 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 240) | Octa-core (2x2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x1.88 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM4250 Snapdragon 460 (11 nm) | Kirin 810 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G52 MP6 |
| OS | Android 10, Funtouch 10.5 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, EMUI 9.1, no Google Play Services |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/1.8, (wide) | Motorized pop-up 16 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 4.2, A2DP, LE (International)5.0, A2DP, LE (China) |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 10W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Obsidian Black, Dawn White, Blue | Midnight Black, Phantom Purple |
| Models | V2034A | HLK-AL10, HLK-TL10, HLK-L41, HLK-L42 |
| Price | About 190 EUR | About 230 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 104h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1319:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-31.1 LUFS (Below average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 312668 (v8)
GeekBench: 7836 (v4.4), 1911 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 18fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
vivo Y30 (China)
- Faster 18W charging
- More modern chipset (Snapdragon 460)
- Potentially better software support (depending on region)
- Significantly weaker CPU performance
- Display specifications are unknown
- Camera details are lacking
Honor 9X Pro
- More powerful Kirin 810 processor
- Brighter and higher contrast display (517 nits, 1319:1)
- Longer endurance rating (104h)
- Slower 10W charging
- Older chipset architecture
- Potentially limited software updates
Display Comparison
The Honor 9X Pro features a display with a measured peak brightness of 517 nits and a 1319:1 contrast ratio, providing a vibrant and easily viewable experience, especially outdoors. While the Y30’s display specifications are not provided, the 9X Pro’s contrast ratio suggests a superior visual experience. The 9X Pro’s brightness is a significant advantage for users who frequently consume content in bright environments. The lack of detailed display specs for the Y30 makes a direct comparison difficult, but the 9X Pro’s measured performance sets a high bar.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but lack specific details regarding sensor size, aperture, or image processing. Without this information, a meaningful comparison is impossible. However, given the market positioning, it’s likely the Honor 9X Pro benefits from a more sophisticated camera system, potentially with a larger main sensor and more advanced image processing algorithms. The absence of details on both sides suggests neither phone is a standout performer in the camera department.
Performance
The Kirin 810 in the Honor 9X Pro, built on a 7nm process, demonstrably outperforms the Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 (11nm) found in the vivo Y30. The 9X Pro’s octa-core CPU, with its 2x2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 and 6x1.88 GHz Cortex-A55 cores, offers a more robust architecture than the Y30’s 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 240 & 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 240 configuration. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive gaming experience. The 7nm process also contributes to better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads. While the Snapdragon 460 is more recent, the architectural advantages of the Kirin 810 are substantial.
Battery Life
Both the vivo Y30 and Honor 9X Pro share an endurance rating of 104 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, the charging speeds differ significantly. The Y30 supports 18W wired charging, while the 9X Pro is limited to 10W. This means the Y30 will recharge much faster, a crucial advantage for users who frequently need to top up their battery. While the battery capacity isn’t specified for either device, the faster charging of the Y30 partially offsets any potential capacity difference.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo Y30 (China) if you need a phone with a more modern chipset and faster charging, and are willing to trade off some processing power. It’s ideal for everyday tasks and light multimedia consumption. Buy the Honor 9X Pro if you prioritize performance for gaming and demanding applications, and value a brighter, higher-contrast display, even if it means slower charging and an older chipset.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Kirin 810 in the Honor 9X Pro prone to overheating during extended gaming sessions?
While the Kirin 810 isn't known for extreme overheating, sustained gaming will generate heat. However, the 7nm process node and the phone's thermal design should mitigate throttling to a reasonable degree, providing a consistently playable experience for most titles. The Snapdragon 460 in the Y30 may throttle more quickly due to its less efficient 11nm process.
❓ Does the vivo Y30 (China) support fast charging protocols beyond 18W, like Quick Charge or Power Delivery?
The provided specifications only confirm 18W wired charging. It's unlikely to support more advanced protocols like Quick Charge or Power Delivery without further confirmation from vivo. Using a charger exceeding 18W may not result in faster charging speeds.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 460's performance compare to other chipsets in the same price range?
The Snapdragon 460 is an entry-level chipset. It's generally outperformed by chipsets like the MediaTek Helio G85 or even older Snapdragon 665 in terms of CPU and GPU performance. The Honor 9X Pro’s Kirin 810 is in a different league, offering performance closer to mid-range chipsets.
