Honor manufacturers have released an updated line to the market with models 30, 30 Pro, as well as Pro+. The collection of flagship smartphones is equipped with aesthetic appearance, a built-in processor with 5G support, a bright impressive display, a main quad camera, a 32 MP front camera, and high speed payment processing. The announcement of the devices took place on April 15, 2020. Let's conduct a detailed review of the Honor 30 line of smartphones.
Appearance and ergonomics of devices
All Honor 30 series devices are classified as top-end. The cases of these phones are made of tempered glass . The rear panels of the devices in question hardly differ from each other from the outside. The manufacturer sells premium smartphones in strict silver and black colors. The simpler model ( Honor 30 ) additionally has a stylish emerald green option.
Honor 30 (left) and Honor 30 Pro Plus (right). Rear panels.
The difference in the class of phones can be felt when you pick them up. Thanks to the quality of materials, the Honor 30 Pro Plus feels like a more expensive and prestigious device. The glass on its back and front panels is rounded. It also looks more solid with the lock screen enabled.
Honor 30 (left) and Honor 30 Pro Plus (right). Lock screens.
The frames of Honor 30 series devices are made of aluminum alloy with chrome plating. fingerprint scanner under the screen (the phone can also be unlocked by face). On the top panels of the devices there is an infrared port for controlling household appliances from smartphones. USB Type-C chargers and trays for installing SIM cards. do not have a 3.5 mm audio jack for connecting wired headphones . But the delivery kits include adapters for connecting headphones via the charging connector.
The standard model is slightly sleeker and lighter than the upgraded model. The thickness of its body is 8.1 mm (compared to 8.63 mm for the premium device), and the weight is 185 g (for Honor 30 Pro Plus it is 190 g).
Powerful camera units of smartphones do not fit into their thin bodies and rise 2 mm above the rear panels.
Honor 30 (left) and Honor 30 Pro Plus (right). Camera blocks.
Sound
Stereo speakers produce powerful sound, without unnecessary noise that spoils the sound. The manufacturer offers its own settings system for headphones - Histen, which in terms of functionality is almost as good as the familiar Dolby Atmos. However, abandoning the proven system led to a deterioration in sound quality, although the volume itself was not affected.
The phone, like many modern models, lacks the old-school 3.5 mm audio jack and is used together with a wireless headset.
Smartphone monitors
Both Honor 30 series phones have OLED . In terms of image clarity and contrast, as well as color saturation, the displays of these smartphones are comparable to each other.
The main difference between the Honor 30 and Honor 30 Pro Plus monitors is that the basic model is flat, while the advanced model has rounded edges . Thanks to this screen feature, Honor 30 Pro+ looks more expensive than its relative. This device is of a premium level, designed to emphasize the status of its owner.
Honor 30 (left) and Honor 30 Pro Plus (right). Monitors.
However, rounded edges may have certain disadvantages. Below them are sometimes some text or site navigation buttons. Also, such frames can distort the picture.
As for the technical characteristics of the displays of these phones, they are almost identical. The monitor resolution of Honor 30 is Full HD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) , screen diagonal size is 6.53 inches . The premium version has a slightly larger screen diagonal ( 6.57 inches ). But the resolution, oddly enough, is slightly smaller - 2360 x 1080 pixels . For this reason, the number of pixels per square inch for the older Honor model is 392 ppi , and for the standard one - 403 ppi . However, such differences are, of course, invisible to the naked eye.
In the upper left corner of the screens of these phones there are cutouts for the front camera . For Honor 30, this is a small round hole for one front-facing module. The more advanced model has an oblong cutout for a camera with two modules. This cutout is located at the level of the notification line and sometimes hides part of the displayed information.
Display
The curved OLED display with a diagonal of 6.5 inches and a clock frequency of 90 Hz successfully complements the stylish design of the flagship. The outer surface of the screen with a resolution of 2340x1080 pixels is presented in the form of glass with a coating against small scratches, grease stains and glare.
Automatic brightness adjustment allows you to enjoy your smartphone in any light without causing stress to your eyes.
Device performance
The advanced premium Honor 30 Pro Plus has the most powerful board that Huawei currently has - Kirin 990 . The developers installed Kirin 985 Honor 30 model .
In the AnTuTu benchmark, Honor 30 Pro Plus scores 483,000 points . And this is significantly more than the standard model . Its figure is 395,000 “parrots”. However, in practical life, both devices will show approximately the same performance - they will easily cope with all assigned tasks and installed applications.
Honor 30 and Honor 30 Pro Plus. AnTuTu test results.
An improved smartphone with a higher power board is equipped with a liquid cooling system . After 15 minutes of battling in a demanding game, this model heats up to 34° (below human body temperature). However, the Honor 30 heats up even less - up to 30°. But the difference, as we see, is insignificant.
Both models have the same amount of RAM - 8 GB . internal memory capacity of these smartphones is 256 GB . However, the younger model has a version with built-in memory of 128 GB. memory card (up to 256 GB) in one of the SIM card slots
Speeded up videos
The acceleration of the video allows you to create unique frames that can find their place both in the home video library and in professional use (shooting advertising, journalistic reports, etc.).
Important! When shooting quickly, the main thing can be the object when the operator moves near it, or vice versa - a dynamic frame and a static filmer.
Instructions:
- You need to turn on the camera and select the “Video” mode.
- Open settings.
- Select the “Time Lapse” mode.
- Start the recording process.
Communications and wireless interfaces
The Honor 30 series flagship phones are already capable of operating in 5G networks . A SIM card supporting these frequencies can be installed in slot No. 1 of these smartphones. Naturally, these devices work in 4G and 3G networks.
Both devices are capable of connecting to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi wireless interfaces. Moreover, the premium Honor 30 Pro Plus supports Wi-Fi generation “6+” with the ability to transfer information at speeds of up to 2.4 Gbps. The navigation modules of these smartphones receive signals from satellite systems GPS (AGPS), Glonass, as well as Beidou and Galileo.
Equipped with Honor 30 series and NFC . However, these devices do not have Google services, so the user will not be able to make contactless payments using the usual Google Pay. A possible alternative to this application is the Wallet program from AppGallery store . However, currently this application does not support all types of cards. And paying with it is a little more complicated than using Google's technology.
Conclusion
Advantages
- Bright screen made of quality materials;
- High processor performance;
- Built-in module supporting 5G network;
- Quad camera;
- Screen fingerprint identification.
Flaws
- No output for wired headphones;
- The flash card is inserted into the slot of the second SIM card;
- Google services are missing .
The base Honor 30 is equipped with a wide range of features while maintaining a low price. The gadget will be of interest to a wide audience of users, as it has a lot of advantages. Despite the lack of Google services, this new product will appeal to many consumers. The smartphone has a high-performance processor and supports 5G. The line has large and bright screens with an identification chip on it. Fans of high-quality photographs will appreciate the presence of a quad camera.
Autonomy
Both devices in question have the same 4,000 mAh batteries . One battery charge lasts for about 8 hours of 3D gaming or 16 hours of continuous video viewing. Under maximum load, the phones can work for one day without recharging. If you reduce the intensity of use, the devices will not need to be recharged for 1.5-2 days.
Both phones have fast charging . They come with 40W power adapters. Using these devices, you can charge smartphones from 0 to 70% in just 30 minutes, and to maximum in 50 minutes.
In addition, the premium Honor 30 Pro Plus supports fast wireless charging (up to 27 W). Moreover, this device in wireless mode has the ability to both receive a charge and give it away. Thus, it will be possible to recharge, for example, headphones.
DC Dimming - salvation from PWM?
DC Dimming is a relatively new feature that was first used by Xiaomi. The technology allows you to reduce the brightness of the screen by simply reducing the power of the supplied current. That is, due to a decrease in voltage, the display does not shine as intensely. The flickering still remains, especially at brightness levels below 40%, but the pulses are no longer as active.
There is also a drawback, and this is color distortion. DC Dimming noticeably worsens color reproduction. The colors take on a reddish hue.
The technology is found only in some models. Manufacturers are in no hurry to add it to their smartphones, especially for inexpensive devices. But if you are very sensitive to PWM, be sure to check the availability of DC Dimming before purchasing a new mobile device. So far this is the only working method to escape from the harmful flicker.
Cameras
The rear camera units of both phones are equipped with 4 modules. Huawei engineers have designed these devices from the very beginning with a focus on enhancing their capabilities in terms of taking high-quality images.
rear camera module the Honor 30 Pro Plus is capable of taking photos with a resolution of up to 50 megapixels , and on the standard model - up to 40 megapixels . Separately, it should be noted the quality of the pictures that Honor 30 series smartphones take in “Night Mode”.
The main lenses of phones record video in 4K format up to 60 fps .
Honor 30 (left) and Honor 30 Pro Plus (right). Camera blocks.
The remaining rear camera modules on these devices are practically the same in their characteristics. Both smartphones have 16 megapixel wide-angle camera . The wide-angle lens on the improved Honor 30 Pro+ is equipped with autofocus and can record video in 4K resolution. The basic version does not have such options (video is recorded in Full HD format).
The resolution of the telephoto lenses of these smartphones is 8 megapixels . With their help, phones can take photos with a magnification of 5x (optical zoom) , 10x (hybrid zoom) and 50x (digital zoom).
The fourth module on the rear cameras of smartphones is an image depth sensor . It is responsible for creating photos with background blur (on Honor 30 it also takes macro photos). On the rear photo module of the advanced Honor 30 Pro Plus, engineers additionally placed laser autofocus.
The front camera on the simple Honor 30 consists of one module. It takes pictures with a resolution of 32 megapixels . On the improved device, the front camera is supplemented with an 8 megapixel wide-angle module . With it, you can create selfie shots that will fit more objects.
Honor 30 (left) and Honor 30 Pro Plus (right). Front cameras.
The fly in the ointment is cameras
In order not to over-praise the smartphone, we come down to earth, where three rear cameras await us. The main 48 megapixel one is, at best, a Sony IMX586, to which everyone is already allergic. And if you're unlucky, then the 1st generation Samsung module. I still haven’t figured out which sensor the Honor 30i received. However, this doesn’t matter. The quality of the pictures, even during the day, is not amazing. Average shooting level, poor work with white balance, exposure, insufficient detail - again I don’t recognize Honor. Only now in a negative way.
Main camera
Shirik
Main
Shirik
Main
Wide Angle
Macro
The second module is 8 megapixel wide. His masterpieces are best viewed on a smartphone, as the pictures look weak on a large computer screen. At night it is generally dark - in every sense.
Auto
Night mode
Shirik
The third camera is a 2 MP cover, supposedly for blurring the background in portrait mode. No more comments.
According to the video, the situation is not any better. The device only shoots FHD videos at 30 frames per second and without stabilization - at least not noticeable. In the settings you can find a recommendation to switch the resolution to 720p. Such recommendations in 2022 are, of course, “impressive.”
operating system
Both the basic and improved versions of the Honor 30 series run Android 10 . On top of Google's operating system is installed Huawei's own Magic UI , version 3.0.1.
A feature of modern Honor devices is the lack of Google services (YouTube, Google maps, Photos, Drive, Gmail, and most importantly, the Play Store). Naturally, there is also no way to connect to your Google account.
Where do users of top Honor devices download applications for their smartphones? They can be installed from Huawei's own AppGallery . Today, this site is the third largest application store. Some programs can be downloaded directly from this resource, for some you can get a link to their official websites. In terms of the number of applications, AppGallery is still inferior to the well-known App Store and Play Market, but it is developing very actively.
Clone application on Honor 30
The clone app feature allows you to log into two Facebook accounts at the same time without having to constantly switch between them. You will be able to communicate comfortably on work and personal issues.
The Clone App feature only works for certain apps.
1 Go to Settings > Applications > Clone application and turn on the switch next to the applications for which you want to create a clone application.
2 Two icons for the same application will appear on your home screen, and you can sign in to two different accounts at the same time.
3 To turn off the clone app feature, touch and hold the clone app icon, then tap Remove . All clone app data will be deleted.
Comparison of technical characteristics of devices
To make the information presented easier to perceive, we are publishing a comparative table of technical parameters of smartphones.
| Honor 30 | Honor 30 Pro Plus | |
| Frame | Tempered glass, metal frames | Tempered glass, metal frames |
| Fingerprint scanner | subscreen | subscreen |
| Number of SIM cards | 2 | 2 |
| Headphone jack | No | No |
| Monitor | OLED, 6.53 inches, 2400 x 1080 pixels, 403 ppi | OLED, 6.57 inches, 2360 x 1080 pixels, 392 ppi |
| CPU | Kirin 985 (1 core 2.58 GHz, 3 cores 2.4 GHz, 4 cores 1.84 GHz) | Kirin 990 (2 cores 2.86 GHz, 2 cores 2.36 GHz, 4 cores 1.95 GHz) |
| Video accelerator | Mali-G77 | Mali-G76 |
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Built-in memory | 128/256 GB | 256 GB |
| Memory card support | Huawei nano SD, up to 256 GB (instead of one of the SIM cards) | Huawei nano SD, up to 256 GB (instead of one of the SIM cards) |
| operating system | Android 10, Magic UI 3.0.1. | Android 10, Magic UI 3.0.1. |
| Google services support | No | No |
| Main camera | 40MP + 16MP + 8MP + 2MP, optical zoom x5, digital zoom x50 | 50MP + 16MP + 8MP + 2MP, optical zoom x5, digital zoom x50 |
| Front camera | 32MP | 32MP + 8MP |
| Battery | 4,000 mAh | 4,000 mAh |
| Fast charging | yes, 40 W charger included | yes, 40 W charger included |
| Wireless charger | No | yes, 27 W, reversible |
| Wireless interfaces | 5G, 4G, 3G, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 5, GPS, Glonass | 5G, 4G, 3G, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 6+, GPS, Glonass |
| Contactless payment | NFC yes, Google Pay no | NFC yes, Google Pay no |
| Multimedia speakers | 1 | 2 |
| Dimensions | 160mm * 74mm * 8.1mm | 160mm * 73mm * 8.6mm |
| Weight | 185 g | 190 g |
| Price | from 34,990 rubles | 54,990 rubles |
Total
Why should the user pay an additional 20 thousand rubles and purchase not a basic, but an advanced Honor model?
The first (and probably the main reason) is the more presentable appearance of Honor 30 Pro Plus . The rounded edges of the display and more pleasant to the touch materials of the body of this phone emphasize the social status of its owner.
All other differences between the devices are only the development of the top-end capabilities of the standard Honor 30. These include:
- more powerful processor;
- liquid cooling system;
- sixth generation Wi-Fi support;
- presence of stereo speakers;
- wide-angle front camera;
- wireless reverse charging.
Cropping a photo
Huawei and Honor are known for installing high-quality cameras even on phones in Light versions. Therefore, the phone owner will be able to select the desired frame from the entire composition and save it. For this:
- You need to launch the camera.
- Open settings (gear in the upper right corner).
- In the first line, select the maximum resolution for the main module.
- To make a photo.
- In photo viewing mode, click on the pencil icon (“Editing”).
- Select "Crop".
- In this mode, you can remove everything unnecessary and leave only the necessary part of the photo.
- Save photo.
