Redmi K30 Ultra vs Huawei P40 Pro+: A Deep Dive into Flagship Trade-offs

The Xiaomi Redmi K30 Ultra and Huawei P40 Pro+ represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone market. The K30 Ultra, released as a performance-focused value proposition, now faces off against the older, but still potent, Huawei P40 Pro+, a device that prioritized camera capabilities and premium features. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which phone best suits your needs in today's market.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user in 2024, the Redmi K30 Ultra offers a compelling package. Its Dimensity 1000+ chipset delivers strong performance, and its 33W charging is respectable. While the P40 Pro+ boasts superior camera hardware and wireless charging, its age and potential software limitations make the K30 Ultra the more practical choice.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Redmi K30 Ultra Huawei P40 Pro+
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 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, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
EDGENo-
GPRSNo-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO -
Launch
Announced2020, August 11. Released 2020, August 142020, March 26
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, June 06
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front, ceramic back, ceramic frame
Dimensions163.3 x 75.4 x 9.1 mm (6.43 x 2.97 x 0.36 in)158.2 x 72.6 x 9 mm (6.23 x 2.86 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight213 g (7.51 oz)226 g (7.97 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5-
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1200 x 2640 pixels (~441 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.58 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ)OLED, 90Hz, HDR10
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.6 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 1000+ (7 nm)Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+)
GPUMali-G77 MC9Mali-G76 MP16
OSAndroid 10, MIUI 12Android 10, EMUI 10.1, no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 UFSUFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.2, 50mm (telephoto macro), AF Auxiliary lens50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/4.4, 240mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 40 MP, f/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), 1/1.54", PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)
Single8 MP, AF-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720@7680fps, 1080p@960fps, HDR; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
SingleMotorized pop-up 20 MP, (wide)32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, AF IR TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
 24-bit/192kHz audio 32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassInfrared Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging33W wired, PD, QC4, 100% in 58 min40W wired 40W wireless 27W reverse wireless
Talk timeUp to 11 h 30 min (multimedia)-
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 4200 mAh
Misc
ColorsMoonlight White, Midnight Black, Mint GreenWhite Ceramic, Black Ceramic
ModelsM2006J10CELS-N39, ELS-AN10
PriceAbout 250 EURAbout 1000 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 95h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.4 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 529687 (v8) GeekBench: 3203 (v5.1) GFXBench: 31fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Redmi K30 Ultra

  • Strong performance with Dimensity 1000+ chipset
  • Faster wired charging (58 minutes)
  • More modern software experience

  • Camera system likely less advanced than P40 Pro+
  • Display brightness potentially lower than P40 Pro+

Huawei P40 Pro+

  • Versatile and high-quality camera system
  • 40W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging
  • High peak display brightness (760 nits)

  • Older chipset (Kirin 990 5G)
  • Potential software limitations and ecosystem concerns

Display Comparison

The Huawei P40 Pro+ features a display capable of reaching 760 nits of peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the K30 Ultra’s display specs aren’t provided, its market positioning suggests a slightly less bright panel. The P40 Pro+’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) indicates a high-quality OLED panel, likely with excellent black levels. The absence of refresh rate information for the K30 Ultra means it likely doesn’t match the smoothness of some newer displays, but the P40 Pro+ doesn’t explicitly advertise a high refresh rate either, focusing instead on color accuracy and peak brightness.

Camera Comparison

The Huawei P40 Pro+ is clearly positioned as the camera champion. While specific sensor details are missing, its ‘Photo / Video’ designation and ‘Pro+’ branding indicate a sophisticated multi-camera system with advanced features like optical image stabilization (OIS) and potentially periscope zoom lenses. The K30 Ultra, while capable, likely prioritizes overall value over cutting-edge camera technology. The P40 Pro+'s image processing is known for its vibrant colors and strong dynamic range, while the K30 Ultra likely offers a more natural, balanced look. The absence of details on the K30 Ultra’s camera system suggests it won’t compete directly with the P40 Pro+ in terms of sheer image quality or zoom capabilities.

Performance

The Redmi K30 Ultra’s Mediatek Dimensity 1000+ (7nm) chipset utilizes an octa-core configuration with four high-performance Cortex-A77 cores clocked at 2.6 GHz, paired with four efficiency cores. This contrasts with the Huawei P40 Pro+’s Kirin 990 5G (7nm+), which employs a more complex core arrangement – two Cortex-A76 cores at 2.86 GHz, two more Cortex-A76 cores at 2.36 GHz, and four Cortex-A55 cores at 1.95 GHz. While the Kirin 990 5G’s higher clock speeds on its primary cores suggest a theoretical performance advantage, the Dimensity 1000+’s newer architecture and efficient core design often translate to better sustained performance and thermal management in real-world gaming scenarios. The K30 Ultra’s focus on gaming is further supported by its likely optimized software.

Battery Life

Both devices boast an endurance rating of 95 hours, suggesting comparable battery life despite differing charging capabilities. The Huawei P40 Pro+ offers a more versatile charging solution with 40W wired charging, 40W wireless charging, and even 27W reverse wireless charging. The Redmi K30 Ultra supports 33W wired charging, along with PD and QC4 standards, achieving a full charge in 58 minutes. While the P40 Pro+’s wireless charging is a significant advantage, the K30 Ultra’s faster wired charging time and broader compatibility with charging standards make it a practical choice for users who primarily rely on wired power.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi Redmi K30 Ultra if you prioritize raw performance for gaming and everyday tasks, and value a more modern software experience. It’s ideal for users who want a fast, responsive phone without breaking the bank. Buy the Huawei P40 Pro+ if you are a photography enthusiast who values a versatile camera system with excellent image quality, and are comfortable with the potential limitations of Huawei’s ecosystem and older software.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990 5G in the P40 Pro+ still hold up for demanding games like PUBG or Genshin Impact?
While the Kirin 990 5G was a flagship chip in its time, it may exhibit some throttling during extended gaming sessions. The Dimensity 1000+ in the K30 Ultra is generally better at sustaining performance over longer periods due to its more efficient architecture and thermal design.
❓ Is the lack of a dedicated telephoto lens on the Redmi K30 Ultra a significant drawback for photography?
The absence of a dedicated telephoto lens means the K30 Ultra relies on digital zoom, which results in lower image quality at higher zoom levels. If you frequently take photos of distant subjects, the P40 Pro+'s advanced camera system with optical zoom will be a better choice.
❓ What are the implications of using a Huawei phone in 2024 regarding app availability and Google services?
Due to ongoing restrictions, Huawei phones like the P40 Pro+ do not come with Google Mobile Services (GMS) pre-installed. This means you'll need to rely on Huawei's AppGallery and alternative methods to access popular apps like Gmail, YouTube, and Google Maps. While many apps are available, the experience may not be seamless.
❓ How does the 33W charging on the Redmi K30 Ultra compare to the 40W charging on the P40 Pro+ in real-world usage?
While the P40 Pro+ supports slightly faster wired charging, the K30 Ultra's 33W charging is still quite rapid, reaching 100% in 58 minutes. The difference in charging time is unlikely to be noticeable for most users, especially considering the K30 Ultra's broader charging standard compatibility.