Honor X30 review
The Honor X30 is a mid-range smartphone that makes no pretenses about its capabilities. With a snappy fingerprint sensor, massive battery, and fast 66W charging, this device delivers on its promises. The inclusion of Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 695 chipset, paired with a 120Hz refresh rate, provides smooth scrolling and enjoyable gaming experiences. While the camera may not be the strongest suit, the display boasts vibrant colors and decent brightness levels. Overall, the Honor X30 is an excellent choice for those seeking a reliable and feature-rich smartphone without breaking the bank.
Build Quality and Design
The Honor X30's build quality and design are truly impressive. The device boasts a sleek and premium look, reminiscent of Huawei's Mate 40 series and Magic 3 series. The glossy finish gives the phone a sophisticated feel, while the circular camera module adds a touch of elegance. The camera setup is well-designed, with the main shooter being a more-than-decent 48-megapixel sensor that takes acceptable photos in any lighting condition. Unfortunately, it lacks an ultra-wide-angle camera in favor of a depth sensor and macro camera, which might be a drawback for some users. One of the standout features of the Honor X30 is its fingerprint sensor, which is snappy and easily accessible on the phone's side. The sensor's placement makes it simple to use, even with one hand. Once unlocked, the device reveals Magic UI 5.0, which provides a clean and intuitive user interface. The design itself is bold and eye-catching, making the Honor X30 stand out in a crowded market. While some might find the chin at the bottom of the screen to be slightly larger than expected, it's still a minor quibble for an otherwise well-designed device. The inclusion of near-invisible bezels on the top and sides of the screen is a welcome feature, giving the phone a more seamless look. Although not an OLED panel, the display itself is huge and packs vibrant colors and decent brightness levels. Overall, the Honor X30's design and build quality are truly impressive, making it a great value for its price.
Battery Life
The Honor X30 boasts an impressive battery life, making it a standout feature in the mid-range segment. During my testing, I was pleased to see that this phone can easily last a day and a half with moderate use. I conducted a series of benchmark tests to gauge its efficiency, and the results were astounding. Despite running demanding applications and games, the Honor X30 only drained by 5% after three intense benchmarks. This translates to a milliamp hour per minute drain of just 14.12, which is significantly better than my channel average. Furthermore, the phone's temperature only gained by 4.2 degrees Celsius during this test, showcasing its excellent heat dissipation capabilities under high load. In comparison, the average temperature gain on similar devices in my testing has been around 13.4 degrees Celsius. In terms of actual usage, I found that the Honor X30 can easily go a day and a half with normal use, including social media scrolling, music playback, and occasional gaming sessions. Even with heavy use, such as playing demanding games or watching videos for extended periods, it still managed to last around 12-14 hours. Overall, I'm thoroughly impressed with the Honor X30's battery life, which is a testament to its efficient design and robust charging capabilities. With a huge battery and great efficiency, this phone is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a long-lasting mid-range device.
Display
The Honor X30's display is a standout feature of the device. Measuring huge, it packs in vibrant colors and decent brightness levels, making it perfect for watching videos or browsing through your favorite websites. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling, but unfortunately, many games don't seem to make use of this feature. The display itself is an LCD panel, not an AMOLED as one might expect from a mid-range device in this price range. However, it still manages to deliver impressive color accuracy and decent viewing angles. The near-invisible bezels on the top and sides of the screen add to its sleek appearance, making it feel premium. One thing that's noticeable is the chin size, which feels disproportionate compared to the rest of the device. It's a shame, really, as this feature could have made the X30 truly exceptional. Nevertheless, the display remains one of the best aspects of the phone. In terms of display settings, you can adjust the color temperature and saturation to suit your preferences. The screen is also surprisingly efficient in bright environments, making it easy to use outdoors. However, the lack of an ultra-wide viewing angle might be a disappointment for some users. Overall, the Honor X30's display is a solid offering that won't leave you wanting more. It's not perfect, but it gets the job done with style and precision. If you're in the market for a mid-range device with a great display, the X30 is definitely worth considering.
Camera
The camera on the Honor X30 is a decent effort, but it doesn't quite live up to expectations. The device features a more-than-decent 48-megapixel main shooter that takes acceptable photos in any lighting condition. However, its lack of an ultra-wide-angle camera in favor of a depth sensor and macro camera is a notable omission. While the primary camera performs adequately, it's not particularly exceptional in terms of detail or dynamic range. Photos taken in bright light are crisp and well-exposed, but may suffer from slight over-processing. Indoor shots, on the other hand, tend to be softer and more prone to noise, especially when using the flash. Low-light performance is where the camera truly struggles. While it's not uncommon for mid-range devices to struggle with low-light photography, the Honor X30's results are less impressive than some of its contemporaries. Noise becomes a significant issue, and details can get lost in the dark areas of the image. The ultra-wide-angle camera, when available on other devices in this price range, often provides a welcome addition for capturing more expansive scenes or getting closer to the subject without having to physically move. Unfortunately, the Honor X30's lack of an ultra-wide camera means users will have to rely solely on the primary lens, which can be limiting. The macro camera is a nice touch, however, and allows for some decent close-up shots of small objects or subjects. Portrait mode performance is also commendable, with well-defined edges and a pleasing bokeh effect. While the Honor X30's camera capabilities are not bad per se, they're simply adequate for a mid-range device. If you're looking for exceptional camera quality, you may want to consider other options in this price bracket. However, if you're on a tight budget and still want a capable all-around smartphone with a decent camera, the Honor X30 is worth considering.
Price and Value
The Honor X30 is an exceptional mid-range smartphone that offers incredible value for its price. As one of the most affordable smartphones in the world, it packs a punch with its impressive features. One of the standout aspects of the X30 is its pricing. With a cost that's lower than many other mid-range devices on the market, it's a steal for anyone looking to upgrade their smartphone without breaking the bank. The X30's price is a testament to Honor's commitment to providing high-quality smartphones at an affordable price. In terms of value, the X30 delivers in spades. Its sleek design, complete with a glossy finish and circular camera module, makes it a stylish addition to any phone case. The 48-megapixel main shooter takes impressive photos in any lighting condition, while the lack of an ultra-wide camera is somewhat mitigated by the inclusion of a depth sensor and macro camera. The X30's performance is also commendable, with its Snapdragon 695 chipset providing smooth scrolling and gaming experiences. While some games may not fully utilize the 120Hz refresh rate, the overall experience is still enjoyable thanks to stable frame rates and great thermals. Another significant advantage of the X30 is its battery life. With a huge battery that's incredibly efficient, it's possible to get through the day without needing to recharge. The inclusion of 66W fast charging is also a welcome touch, making it easy to top up the battery when needed. In conclusion, the Honor X30 is an excellent mid-range smartphone that offers incredible value for its price. Its affordable cost, impressive features, and efficient performance make it a compelling choice for anyone looking to upgrade their smartphone without breaking the bank. Whether you're on a tight budget or simply want a great all-around phone, the X30 is definitely worth considering.
Performance
The Honor X30's performance is a mixed bag. On the one hand, its Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset provides a significant boost in terms of CPU processing and graphics rendering compared to its predecessor, the Snapdragon 690. In our testing, the phone's CPU performance was impressive, with Geekbench scores of 674 single-core and 1,870 multi-core. The integrated Adreno 619 GPU also performed well, delivering a score of 1,213 points in 3DMark Wildlife, which is better than the Snapdragon 765G but slightly behind the MediaTek Dimensity series. However, the phone's performance was not consistently smooth across all apps and games. In our battery drain test, the phone managed to complete three demanding benchmarks without draining by more than 5%, with a milliamp hour per minute drain of just 14.12. This is significantly better than the average battery drain on my channel for the same test. The temperature gain during this test was also relatively low at 4.2 degrees Celsius. Overall, the Honor X30's performance is decent for its price range, but it falls short of being a flagship device. While it may not be as smooth or efficient as some other mid-range phones, it should still provide a good all-around experience for most users. The phone's ability to run demanding apps and games without breaking a sweat is impressive, even if it doesn't always reach the full potential of its hardware. In conclusion, the Honor X30's performance is a mixed bag that will satisfy most users but may not impress those who are looking for a top-of-the-line device. It's worth noting that the phone's price is extremely competitive, and its performance, while not perfect, is still respectable given the cost.