The Xiaomi Redmi K30 and Honor 30 Pro+ represent a fascinating crossroads in the smartphone market. Both devices aimed to deliver flagship-adjacent experiences at more accessible price points, but they took different approaches. The K30 focused on maximizing value with a capable Snapdragon 730G, while the 30 Pro+ leveraged Honor’s Kirin 990 5G chipset and a more premium feature set. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which phone offers the best overall package.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing fast charging and a potentially smoother software experience, the Honor 30 Pro+ is the better choice. Its 40W wired and 27W wireless charging significantly outperform the Redmi K30’s 27W wired charging. However, the K30 remains a compelling option for budget-conscious buyers who don't need the fastest charging speeds.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 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 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, December 10. Released 2019, December 20 | 2020, April 15. Released 2020, April 21 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 165.3 x 76.6 x 8.8 mm (6.51 x 3.02 x 0.35 in) | 160.3 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm (6.31 x 2.90 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 208 g (7.34 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| | - | Water-repellent coating |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~392 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz, HDR10 | OLED, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-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) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730G (8 nm) | Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Mali-G76 MP16 |
| OS | Android 10, MIUI 11 | Android 10, Magic UI 3, no Google Play Services |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1
| UFS |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 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 |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps, 720p@960fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@1920fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Dual | 20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
2 MP, f/2.4, 1/5.0", 1.75µm, depth sensor | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) |
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K, 1080p; gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio
| - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | FM radio, recording | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.0, 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 |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 27W wired, 100% in 68 min | 40W wired
27W wireless
5W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue, Red, Purple | Titanium silver, Emerald Green, Midnight Black |
| Models | M1912G7BE, M1912G7BC | EBG-AN10 |
| Price | About 210 EUR | About 650 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -94.0dB / Crosstalk -93.0dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 101h
| Endurance rating 99h |
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1378:1 (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-23.8 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 218200 (v7), 272229 (v8)
GeekBench: 7008 (v4.4), 1692 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 510031 (v8)
GeekBench: 3191 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Redmi K30
- Excellent battery endurance (101h)
- More affordable price point
- Solid all-around performance for everyday tasks
- Slower charging speed (27W)
- Less powerful chipset compared to Kirin 990
- Lacks wireless charging
Honor 30 Pro+
- Faster 40W wired and 27W wireless charging
- More powerful Kirin 990 5G chipset
- Potentially better camera performance
- Slightly lower battery endurance (99h)
- Higher price compared to Redmi K30
- Software experience can be polarizing
Display Comparison
The Honor 30 Pro+ boasts an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, a marketing term that likely indicates a high-quality OLED panel, but lacks specific measured data. In contrast, the Redmi K30’s display delivers a measured 1378:1 contrast ratio and a respectable 714 nits of peak brightness. While the Honor’s panel likely offers deeper blacks, the K30’s higher measured brightness ensures better visibility in direct sunlight. Both phones lack high refresh rate displays, a common omission in this price bracket at the time of release. The lack of detailed display specs for the Honor makes a definitive brightness comparison difficult, but the K30’s measured output provides a concrete benchmark.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack detailed camera specifications in the provided data. Given Honor’s historical focus on camera technology, the 30 Pro+ likely incorporates a more sophisticated camera system with larger sensors and advanced image processing algorithms. The Kirin 990’s integrated ISP (Image Signal Processor) also contributes to superior image quality. Without specific sensor sizes or aperture information, it’s difficult to make a precise comparison, but the Honor 30 Pro+ likely offers better low-light performance and more detailed images. The Redmi K30 likely provides a competent camera experience, but may fall short in challenging conditions.
Performance
The Kirin 990 5G in the Honor 30 Pro+ represents a significant step up in processing power compared to the Snapdragon 730G in the Redmi K30. The Kirin 990’s octa-core configuration, with two high-performance Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.86 GHz, provides a noticeable advantage in demanding tasks and gaming. The Snapdragon 730G, while capable, relies on Kryo 470 Gold cores clocked lower at 2.2 GHz. The Kirin 990’s 7nm+ manufacturing process also contributes to improved efficiency. While real-world performance differences may not be drastic for everyday use, the Honor 30 Pro+ will handle graphically intensive games and multitasking with greater ease.
Battery Life
The Redmi K30 boasts an endurance rating of 101 hours, slightly exceeding the Honor 30 Pro+'s 99 hours. However, this doesn’t tell the whole story. The Honor 30 Pro+ compensates with significantly faster charging: 40W wired, 27W wireless, and 5W reverse wired. The Redmi K30 is limited to 27W wired charging, taking 68 minutes to reach 100%. The addition of wireless and reverse wireless charging on the Honor 30 Pro+ provides added convenience. While the K30 offers slightly longer battery life on a single charge, the 30 Pro+'s faster charging mitigates this difference and offers more flexibility.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi K30 if you need exceptional battery endurance and a solid all-around experience without breaking the bank. It’s ideal for users who prioritize longevity and aren’t demanding the absolute highest performance. Buy the Honor 30 Pro+ if you prefer faster charging speeds, a potentially more refined user interface, and are willing to spend a bit more for those benefits. This phone caters to users who value convenience and a premium feel.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Kirin 990 in the Honor 30 Pro+ suffer from overheating during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Kirin 990 is a powerful chipset, early reports indicated potential thermal throttling under sustained load. However, Honor implemented software optimizations to mitigate this issue. The 30 Pro+’s cooling system is adequate for most gaming scenarios, but extremely demanding titles may experience some performance reduction over extended periods.
❓ Is the 27W wireless charging on the Honor 30 Pro+ significantly faster than standard wireless charging?
Yes, 27W wireless charging is considerably faster than the 10-15W wireless charging commonly found on other devices. It allows for a substantial charge in a relatively short amount of time, making it a convenient alternative to wired charging. Expect a full charge from 0% to 100% via wireless charging to take around 90-120 minutes.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 730G in the Redmi K30 handle popular games like PUBG Mobile?
The Snapdragon 730G is capable of running PUBG Mobile at high settings with smooth frame rates. However, you may need to lower the graphics settings slightly to maintain a consistent 60fps, especially during intense firefights. It won't deliver the same level of performance as the Kirin 990, but it provides a playable and enjoyable gaming experience.
❓ What type of storage does each phone use, and does that impact performance?
While not specified in the provided data, both phones likely utilize UFS 2.1 storage. UFS 2.1 offers faster read/write speeds compared to older storage standards, contributing to quicker app loading times and smoother overall performance. The Honor 30 Pro+ may have utilized a slightly faster variant of UFS 2.1, but the difference is unlikely to be noticeable in everyday use.
