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Verdict
The Huawei P30 would have the best camera on the market if the P30 Pro didn’t exist – it can take high-quality and detailed pictures using a range of handy modes and effects, and it’s one of the easiest-to-use cameras we’ve tested.
Beyond the camera, though, in many respects the Huawei P30 feels like any other mid-range phone rather than a flagship to rival the best of Samsung and Apple – it has great specs and a beautiful design, but there’s nothing else special about it that distinguishes it from the competition, and it misses a few tricks with a lack of wireless charging and Huawei’s lurid UI.
If you’re looking for a great camera that can make calls too, then you’ve found your match, as the Huawei P30 is a five-star handset for photography, but if you want a phone for a range of purposes not limited to photography, there may be better options for you.
Competition
Huawei P30 Pro
The Huawei P30 has a larger sibling in the P30 Pro, which has a few advantages over the P30 – it has an extra ‘time-of-flight’ depth-sensing camera for even better pictures, a larger display, and IP68 water and dust resistance; but it also costs more, so you’re going to have to consider if those features are worth the extra outlay.
Read our full Huawei P30 Pro review
Samsung Galaxy S10
If you’re looking for a phone with great photographic capabilities, consider the Galaxy S10. It too has a triple-lens rear array, comprising 12MP main, 12MP optical zoom and 16MP ultra-wide lenses, and a state-of-the-art Infinity-O screen to show off your pictures in style. It will set you back $899 / £799 / AU$1,349 for the cheapest model though, a touch more than the P30.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S10 review
Huawei Mate 20
Before the P30 phones, Huawei launched the Mate 20 series, and again the flagship of the range had a three-camera configuration, although each had significantly lower megapixel counts than the snappers in the P30. The Mate 20 came out for around the same price as the P30, but if you check out the Mate 20 deals you can get it for about half that price now.
Read our full Huawei Mate 20 review
Xiaomi Mi 9
The Xiaomi Mi 9 is a great phone for photography too, but its real strength is that it’s also a highly capable all-rounder. It comes with a powerful Snapdragon 855 chipset, has a sleek curved design and, most importantly, comes with a lower price tag than you’d expect for the specs.
Read our full Xiaomi Mi 9 review
First reviewed: April 2019
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