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Verdict
The Huawei P30 Pro not only sets a new standard for the Chinese smartphone manufacturer, it sets a new standard for the entire mobile industry.
The four rear cameras on the P30 Pro are quite simply astonishing. We were skeptical during the Huawei press conference at which CEO Richard Yu showed us what the P30 Pro was capable of, but its abilities shine through in real-world use.
It’s not the perfect smartphone – such a device will likely never exist – but the Huawei P30 Pro gets pretty darn close, and it’s the best camera phone we’ve used to date.
There are small niggles in the look of the interface and the lower-resolution display compared to rivals, but its stand-out cameras, slick performance and premium design make this one of the best flagship smartphones around.
Competition
Huawei P30
Smaller, one less camera, missing out on wireless charging but gaining a headphone jack, and with a lower price tag, the Huawei P30 isn't all that far off its larger sibling.
As we've highlighted, there are a few differences between the two phones, and the P30 comes with just three rear cameras and a zoom up to 30x (rather than 50x of the P30 Pro) meaning it's just not quite as good.
However, if you're a fan of what Huawei is doing, but can't quite stretch your wallet (or your hands) to the P30 Pro, the P30 gives you a decent alternative. We'd still have the Huawei P30 Pro given the choice though.
- Read our in-depth Huawei P30 review
Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus
Huawei's best goes up directly against Samsung's best, with both handsets packing a heap of power and excellent camera arrays, there's really not that much to pick between the two.
The P30 Pro is better when it comes to being a camera phone, but the Galaxy S10 Plus just shades it on design, display and the overall smartphone experience.
That said, if you're looking for the best-of-the-best both are worthy of top-billing and it will come down to your personal preference on which one you decide to plump for.
- Read our in-depth Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus review
iPhone XS Max
If you're considering an Android phone, the likelihood is you're not even thinking about iPhones, but if you're currently in Apple's camp you may be interested a peering over the fence (of course, there are always exceptions to this rule).
The closes Apple handset to the Huawei P30 Pro is the iPhone XS Max which is more expensive while offering less internal storage and no expandable memory option, and it comes with just two rear cameras.
It would seem, on paper, the P30 Pro is the obvious choice, but the tight integration between hardware, software and the rest of the Apple ecosystem on the iPhone XS Max makes it a tempting choice for fans of the Cupertino, California based firm.
- Read our in-depth iPhone XS Max review
Huawei P20 Pro
It may be over a year old now, but the Huawei P20 Pro is still a popular choice thanks to its great cameras and powerful internals – plus it’s come down considerably in price since it launched, making it much cheaper than the P30 Pro and even the P30.
- Read our in-depth Huawei P20 Pro review
First reviewed: April 2019
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