Software
Currently, my unit is on EMUI version 10.10.0 on top of Android 10. Thankfully, it has been receiving consistent updates and the latest version has the July 2020 security patch. A big update that hit a few weeks back also brought customizable Always-On displays, new wallpapers, and fixed miscellaneous bugs. Regarding the user experience itself, I’ve had very few qualms settling in with EMUI. It’s far from stock Android but it has tons of flexibility in terms of features.
The biggest gripe I’ve had is the unavailability of a swipe-down gesture to drop down the quick settings menu. After so many updates, we’ve still yet to see the feature. While this might seem nitpicky, there are many people who will share my concern. It is an absolutely vital feature to have for smartphones with the current form factor and I don’t know why EMUI, which is otherwise chock-full of customizations, doesn’t have such a basic feature. Similarly, some notifications from the lock screen quite frustratingly refuse to be swiped away while others don't mind it at all. This is despite the settings being the same for them all.
Huawei has previously added some many useful features such as the app tray, that make EMUI 10 much less frustrating than before. The overall experience of EMUI over time is still extremely snappy and error-free. If you constantly change the visuals of the software, there are a good number of customization options including a Theme store that lets you change the complete aesthetic although it is still isn't as elaborate as Xiaomi's theme store. And the fact that there are no ads just makes it even more appealing. On the other hand, there are a few pre-installed selections of its own apps, some of which duplicate what’s offered by Google. There are browser, email, app store, music and video apps from Huawei.
At the end of the day, EMUI 10 has come a long way and matured in the past years. Those minor complaints regarding the UI are the only blot in an otherwise pleasurable experience. However, with Google pulling the rug from underneath Huawei's software interface, we can only foresee a tough road ahead for future Huawei phones.
Price & Verdict
The Huawei P30 Pro really is an all-rounder flagship. Not only does it hold its own against its counterparts even after a year, but it also stands out specifically in areas like battery life, camera quality, and stunning design.
But, here’s the dilemma. The Huawei P30 Pro costs Rs 61,500 for the 8GB RAM + 256GB variant. Although this is only for the Breathing Crystal variant. There’s no 128GB version available as of this writing. At that price, it gets a lot of competition from similarly-priced (or even lower) current flagships such as the Find X2 and the OnePlus 8 Pro that perform at least as well, if not better.
You can even get to save a few bucks with the OnePlus 8 Pro and that makes Huawei’s argument tougher. However, if one were to get a pre-owned or refurbished Huawei P30 Pro, it can be at a significant discount compared to its retail price. Potential buyers might be able to snag a heavy 30% - 40% discount in some cases as well. This could be an option for buyers who don’t want to spend as much on a former flagship.
