Huawei has come up with great phones in the past years. The brand is known for providing great service to its users with the best specs available in the market. Many of Huawei’s phones are sought after and the P30 line is one of those. Despite being released more than a year ago, there are still many reasons to still buy Huawei P30 Pro and the smaller P30. The phones are in the same series but what exactly is the difference between Huawei P30 and P30 Pro, if any at all?
In this article, let’s look at what makes the two models different and which model could be the perfect one for you.
Huawei P30 vs P30 Pro: Overview
Huawei P30 and Huawei P30 Pro are two of Huawei’s most impressive phones. Not only do they have great features but they also have top of the line performance that shouldn’t be missed.
At a glance, Huawei P30 and Huawei P30 Pro have a lot of similarities but also a lot of differences. Here’s a quick rundown of their specs to give you an idea.
| Features | Huawei P30 | Huawei P30 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Body | 149.1 x 71.36 x 7.57 mm, 5.82 oz | 158 x 73.4 x 8.41 mm, 6.77 oz |
| Display | 6.1 inches OLED, 2340 x 1080 pixels | 6.47 inches OLED, 2340 x 1080 pixels |
| Battery Life | 3,650 mAh battery | Li-Po 4,200 mAh |
| Memory and Storage | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB minimum storage | 8 GB RAM, 128 GB minimum storage |
| Camera | 32 MP Front camera 40 MP Triple rear camera with 3x optical zoom |
32 MP Front camera 40 MP Quad rear camera with 5x optical zoom |
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1. Pricing
The P30 Pro has a rather hefty price tag that starts at around $549, depending on the storage size that you want. With more features and a greater camera, it’s no surprise that the Pro series costs more than the basic P30.
The P30, on the other hand, have features that are at par with P30 Pro but a little bit cheaper starting at $398. If you’re looking for a solid phone with great specs for its price, the P30 is the way to go.
Winner: For those on a budget, the Huawei P30 is this round’s winner.
2. Form Factor
The P30 is relatively smaller than the P30 Pro. The P30 is 71.36 mm in width with a 6.1″ screen while the P30 Pro is 73.4 mm wide with a 6.47″ screen. What make P30 Pro standout are its curved edges. This feature eliminates the bezels and makes the screen appear to be floating in the air. It can give an immersive experience to users, one thing that is hard to find with P30.
However, the curved screen itself can be a pet peeve for some users as it can also ruin the ergonomics of a device. Although it became a hype when it was first introduced, unintended touches became a major annoyance for many users of phones with curved edges.
Then again, it still comes down to personal preference. If you’re looking for a bigger phone with an unorthodox design, we suggest getting the P30 Pro. But if you’re looking for a more compact phone and find comfort with flat screens, you can opt to get the P30.
Winner: There is no clear winner of this round as their form specs are similar and it would be up to the user’s personal preference.
3. Battery Capacity
The P30 packs a powerful 3,650 mAh battery that should last you a day and a half on normal to medium usage. It doesn’t originally support wireless charging, but Huawei later added the feature using a charging case people need to purchase separately. Without the P30 charging case the smaller Huawei P30 won’t work on the standard Qi charging.
On the other hand, P30 Pro is a lot more powerful with a 4,200 mAh battery. The battery should be enough to last two days, depending on its usage. To make your battery last that long, normal to medium usage is recommended.
Unlike the original model, the P30 Pro supports wireless charging. The phone is integrated with Qi-certified wireless charging, allowing for it to be charged on any Qi-certified wireless charger. The model also supports reverse charging that will allow you to charge other gadgets such as earbuds and smartwatches if needed.
Winner: The clear winner for this round is the Huawei P30 Pro.
4. Camera
The feature highlight of this model series is the camera. Huawei has released many phones with exemplary camera features, but the battle of P30 vs P30 Pro in terms of this aspect is tight.
Both phones come with a 40 MP Sensor with Leica cameras. The P30 sports triple rear cameras with 3x optical zoom and up to 30x digital zoom. The model also has an f/1.8 aperture, an 8 MP zoom sensor with an f/2.4 aperture, and a 16 MP ultra-wide sensor with an f/2.2 aperture. In all, the P30 has a competitive set of cameras and great for those who are looking to invest in camera phones for beginner photography.
Meanwhile, the P30 Pro upgrades the experience of the P30 with its own powerful camera features. The P30 Pro is fitted with a quad rear camera that will surely produce great photos.
Apart from its 4x optical zoom (with up to 50x digital zoom), the model also has an additional sensor called Time of Flight for additional photo depth. Further, the model also features an f/1.6 aperture, an 8 MP zoom sensor with f/2.4 aperture, and a 20 MP ultra-wide sensor with an f/2.2 aperture.
The P30 Pro is competitive when it comes to its camera and is the ideal phone for aspiring photographers and even vloggers who are looking for a phone with a great camera to shoot with.
Winner: While the P30 is a force to be reckoned with and sports a great camera, the winner of this round is the P30 Pro with its powerful camera performance that will surely impress you.
5. Connectivity
Connectivity-wise, both models support Bluetooth 5, Type-C, USB 2.0 support, and PC sync. The only aspect that makes them different is their earphone support.
P30 still supports the conventional 3.5mm earphone jack that many users have come to love because of its stable audio quality, accessibility, and ease of use. Despite the rise of USB-C earphones, many still prefer to use the earphone jacks for its tried and tested audio quality.
The P30 Pro, on the other hand, removed its 3.5mm earphone jack support and replaced it with a Type-C earphone jack. There is nothing wrong with using a Type-C jack; however, because it’s still in its early stages of development, it can get faulty from time to time.
Type-C earphones emit a great amount of quality from the audio, which might not provide the best experiences for users. If you’re unsure what the difference between the 3.5mm earphone jack is and the Type-C earphone jack, you can check out our guide on earphone jack adapters to use for your phone.
Winner: This round will have to go to Huawei P30.
6. Software
Both models feature Huawei’s powerful Kirin 980 processor which allows the phones to have exemplary performance. Further, the phones also run on a dual NPU that gives great camera benefits, notable phone performance, and battery optimization.
Both phones run on Android 9 (upgradable to Android 10) and the EMUI 9 (upgradable to EMUI 10).
That said, both models feature a well-designed and feature-rich UI. Users will be able to customize your phone to your liking and even put it into a dark theme if you so wish.
What Makes Huawei P30 Pro Better Than P30?
There are a couple of things that make the P30 Pro better than the P30.
For starters, the very obvious thing that makes it better than than the smaller P30 are the camera features. Not only does the P30 Pro have better camera settings but it also features a quad rear camera. The P30 Pro has a lot to give when it comes to its camera and while the P30 model is just as competitive, the P30 Pro delivers better photos.
Another factor that makes it better is its battery life. With a larger battery capacity, the Huawei P30 Pro lasts longer than the P30. It also supports wireless charging on Qi-devices whereas the P30 can only be wirelessly charged with its specialized case.
Memory and storage in the P30 Pro are also relatively larger and have more variations than the P30, which allows users to get the most out of their phones and to be able to download what they want without fearing any storage restrictions.
Lastly, Huawei P30 Pro has a bigger display. While resolutions might be the same, the P30 Pro has a 6.7in display which makes viewing clearer and better compared to that of the P30.
What Makes Huawei P30 Better Than P30 Pro?
The Huawei P30 is definitely more compact than the P30 Pro. It will be able to fit in your hand better and is less likely to slip from your grip. But don’t let its size fool you, the P30 is still packed with great features too.
The camera quality of the P30 shouldn’t be ignored either. It might not have the same camera features as the P30 but doesn’t shy away from being a great camera either. It also has great photo modes that you can play around with to create equality photos.
Performance wise, P30’s powerful software and processor provide users with a flagship-grade performance that won’t disappoint you.
Pricing is also what makes the P30 better than the P30 Pro. The P30 is relatively cheaper but with the same Kirin processor and display features.
Huawei P30 vs P30 Pro: The Verdict
When it comes to upgraded features, the Huawei P30 Pro is the obvious winner between the two. However, with these advanced features, it comes with a very hefty price tag making it unaffordable for some users.
The Huawei P30 might be lacking some features but it also offers competitive performance, which can easily compare to P30 Pro. It’s a great phone to have if you’re looking for something that’s smaller but just as powerful as other phones.
That said, the Huawei P30 Pro is recommended for those who are very big on photography or taking videos because of its advanced camera features. It’s also for those who are looking to get a phone with bigger RAM, a bigger display, and longer battery life.
But for those who are looking for a great companion phone that and doesn’t mind having one camera-less, the P30 is also a great choice.
Either way, in the game of Huawei P30 vs P30 Pro, both models are great choices and deliver exactly what they promise to deliver. Ultimately, most mobile phones are flexible and allow users to customize and tweak them to their liking.
