Huawei P30 lite (new version) in testing: Is the phone still a good choice in 2020?

The mid-range version of the P30 series can do just that

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Huawei sells two versions of the Huawei P30 lite. In addition to the 2019 models, a new version of the P30 lite was also released in the spring of 2020. What's different about mobile phones? Is Huawei P30 lite still a good choice? Our test tells you.

table of Contents

1. Unlimited trade embargo
   

2. Huawei P30 lite or new version of P30 lite?
   

3. Still worth buying Huawei P30 lite 2020?
   

4. P30 Lite (new version): Overview of alternatives
   

   1. Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro
      

   2. Motorola One Vision
      

5. Google Pixel 3a (XL)
   

6. Huawei P30 lite in practice test: great triple camera for less than 400 euros
   

7. Design and Craft
   

   1. Relaunch known color gradients
      

   2. Narrow bezels and small notches
      

8. technical equipment
   

   1. Display: cost-effective
      

   2. Performance: hard work
      

   3. Work and device memory: everyone has enough space
      

   4. Software: Huawei P30 lite comes with Android 9.0
      

   5. Voice quality: hard work
      

9. battery
   

10. camera
    

11. Price and availability
    

12. in conclusion
    And alternatives

A lot has happened since the Huawei P30 lite went on sale in April 2019. With the launch of a new version of the Huawei P30 lite, the Chinese manufacturer launched a new version of the phone in early 2020, and the manufacturer is struggling to deal with the impact of the US trade embargo. Is the Huawei P30 lite (new version) still a good choice when buying a new phone? Let's find out together.

Unlimited trade embargo

Good news in advance. Despite the trade embargo, both the Huawei P30 lite and the new Huawei P30 lite are provided with Google services, as these devices were certified before the embargo. Therefore, you do not need to be satisfied with Huawei App Gallery on your phone. Both phones are running on Android 10, or updates for new versions should be submitted within the next few weeks. It's unclear how to proceed, as Lite models usually do not receive a second major Android update. Therefore, you must not have Android 11. The quarterly security update is temporarily secure.

Huawei P30 lite or new version of P30 lite?

The new version of Huawei P30 lite was launched in Germany in January 2020. It was priced at 349 euros when it was launched, but the price has since dropped below 270 euros. The trend continues to decline. On the other hand, the original model for 2019 is already available for less than 200 euros. Of course, due to the huge price difference, the question arises: Is it worth using the new Huawei P30 lite new version, or is the ordinary Huawei P30 lite enough?

Apart from the price, there are only three obvious differences between the devices! The new version of Huawei P30 lite has more than 2 GB of RAM and twice the device memory. In addition, the front camera now has a resolution of 32 pixels instead of 24 megapixels. In our opinion, these differences are not enough to justify the higher purchase price of the new Huawei P30 lite. Usually, 4 GB of RAM is sufficient for mobile phones in daily life. In addition, you can use the microSD card to inexpensively expand the device memory of the Huawei P30 lite, so you don't have to buy the more expensive New Edition. If the price is close, the new version is certainly a better choice.

Still worth buying Huawei P30 lite 2020?

Now we have to solve the most important problem. Is Huawei P30 lite a good choice for a new phone in 2020? We think so. The Huawei P30 lite is not one of the fastest mid-range smartphones. However, by 2020, this performance should still be adequate in daily life. The camera is still good enough, and we don't expect any big leap in the price range this year. However, other cheap phones offer a noticeably modern design, a larger battery and fast charging options.

P30 Lite (new version): Overview of alternatives

So if you want to keep a distance from buying Huawei P30 lite, you can find the best option in the comments below.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro

Redmi Note 8 Pro has been leading the smartphone leaderboard by 200 Euros for months, which is correct. In terms of camera and performance, the phone clearly outperforms the Huawei P30 lite. However, the design here also looks a bit dated.

Motorola One Vision

On the other hand, Motorola One Vision offers modern design. The front camera of the phone is not in the groove, but in the hole. The phone also has a stylish 21: 9 format and has a special night mode to ensure better images in low light conditions.

Google Pixel 3a (XL)

If you're ready to spend a bit more, you can also use Google Pixel 3a (XL). For less than 320 euros, you can get OLED displays and software support by 2022, but you have to solve the problem with less memory.

Below you can find our hands-on test of the Huawei P30 lite, which was conducted when we launched it in spring 2019.

Huawei P30 lite in practice test: great triple camera for less than 400 euros

Huawei P20 lite is one of the best-selling smartphone models of 2018. No wonder after all, the new P20 series with three cameras sounds in everyone's mouth, and the P20 lite is a good and affordable option for everyone who doesn't have that much money. . Can Huawei P30 lite persuade the test and build on the success of its predecessor? You can find it in the video or in the following lines.

Huawei P30 lite test: design and processing

First let's look at the external values ​​of the Lite model. Gone are the days when buyers of mid-range smartphones had to accept a modern design and poor craftsmanship. This has been proven not only by Huawei for several years with its lite version, but also in competition. Huawei once again chose modern design and high-quality craftsmanship for the P30 lite. Cheap materials can do the same. Because even if at first glance the glossy back looks like glass, it is made "only" of plastic. The frame also has a chic chrome look and is slightly different from the main colors.

However, the device is not too slippery, but it can be safely held in the hand, because unlike other siblings, the edges of the display are not round. However, the back is slightly beveled. Fingerprints accumulate on it, but are not as strong as the glass back. In addition, it cannot be clearly recognized due to the color gradient.

The picture shows the Huawei P30 Lite

Relaunch known color gradients

Since the launch of the Huawei P20 and "Twilight" versions, there has been a clear trend in the smartphone market towards a color gradient. These exciting color gradients have also been discovered into the middle class. Therefore, the color of our test equipment is "peacock blue". The lower part is richer but lighter blue, giving a blue-violet tone. Depending on how you hold your device, blue is the decisive color you first need to perceive. The bezel and frame of the camera are set against turquoise. Therefore, otherwise the black front is still surrounded by a delicate blue border. The color of the power button (including the volume rocker) also stands out on the dark front.

Narrow bezels and small notches

The predecessor is the Huawei P20 lite with a modern mark on the market. The shape of the notches has changed in recent months. The goal is to make them as small as possible. Therefore, Huawei also installed a small water drop in the P30 lite where the front camera is located. According to Huawei, the screen ratio of the device is also very good, reaching 90%-for a mid-range model, this is indeed a remarkable value. This is also because the fingerprint sensor can finally be found on the back. However, it is placed too high for our taste. You can reach it easily by simply changing the handle, but our first handle didn't land, so you can touch the sensor directly with your index finger. Men's hands are slightly larger and there may be fewer problems here.

Huawei P30 lite test: technical equipment

As mentioned above, the mid-range model Huawei P30 lite is really hard to detect, at first glance it is the top league. The exciting question now is, does the Huawei P30 lite still believe in the intrinsic value of the test?

Display: cost-effective

In order to save costs and ensure reasonable prices, Huawei did not install expensive OLED displays in the P30 lite, but instead relied on established and cheap IPS replacement products. For OLED display users, it may be obvious at first glance, but for most smartphone users, IPS panels are also sufficient. Because it resolves to Full HD + (2,312 x 1,080 pixels), it provides a sufficiently high pixel density of 415 ppi. The P30 lite is always sharp enough-it can't keep up with Big Brother in terms of color fidelity and black levels.

In any case, this really only gets noticed when you watch the video. This is also interesting on 6.15-inch devices, as the color scheme can also be customized by the user. IPS displays have minor problems in strong sunlight. Cheap panels make me feel here.
If there is still a user at war with Notch, you can "hide" that user in settings.

Performance: hard work

Without a doubt, the Huawei P30 lite proves to be a cheap but faithful companion for everyday use. The mid-range Kirin 710 processor (also found in other Huawei or Honor smartphones) did the job reliably. It's quick to browse menus and call websites, and it doesn't take long to load. Of course, the 710 cannot match the high speed of the Kirin 980. However, few users will notice it in their daily lives-unless they are enthusiastic and demanding gamers. Because despite the GPU Turbo 2.0, complex 3D games still require too much graphics processing power. However, there were no significant hangers or stutters in the test (Mario Run).

In proven benchmarks, it's roughly comparable to other mid-range models like the Huawei Mate 20 lite or Samsung Galaxy A50-but it's the last in a direct three-way comparison. But technically, at least Huawei Mate 20 lite has the same processor and RAM.

Explanation: AnTuTu and Geekbench are probably the most popular tools for measuring the performance of your smartphone. These two applications check not only the performance of the processor (CPU), but also other components, such as the graphics unit or main memory. The higher the score, the better the result. You can download AnTuTu and Geekbench for free from our download archive.

Work and device memory: everyone has enough space

Once-very little memory: Even in the middle class, you don't have to worry about whether the next vacation photo will still fit your smartphone in 2019. The P30 lite is shipped with 128 GB of internal memory. It can also be expanded using a microSD card. You can add up to 512 GB here. However, the second SIM card will no longer be usable. Because Huawei has a hybrid box installed, a second SIM card or expandable memory is required. It is not possible to combine the two, but it should not cause problems for most users.

4 GB of RAM ensures that you can easily spend the day as a user. Even when performing multi-tasking tasks, we did not notice longer wait times. Bluetooth 4.2, WLAN-ac and NFC (for example for mobile payments) are also part of the technology equipment.

Software: Huawei P30 lite comes with Android 9.0

Unsurprisingly, the current Android version of the P30 lite was introduced with the market. Android 9.0 Pie is responsible for the appearance together with Huawei's own user interface EMUI 9. Anyone who once owned a Huawei phone will soon find a solution. For others, the non-existent application drawer may represent a change. Huawei places all installed apps on the home screen. If you like organizing, you must categorize them into folders. On the positive side, the Chinese manufacturer is reluctant to pre-install applications. In addition to the standard Google applications, Facebook, Booking, and Amazon are pre-installed.

Voice quality: hard work

Language quality must also prove itself in our tests. To this end, we took the federal highway. Despite the noise of cars, trams approaching, and the noise of the playground in the background, our conversation partners were able to hear us very well. The noise filter works. But please pay attention to how to wear the phone to your ear. Because the earmuff speakers are also located in the small water droplet slot. Depending on how you hold the P30 lite, you can only know your conversation partner relatively quietly.

Huawei P30 lite in battery test: economical display = durable battery

Huawei equipped the P30 lite with a 3,340 mAh battery. The battery capacity is not comparable to the 4,200 mAh battery of the P30 Pro, but it is not needed. On the one hand, the display of the P30 lite is slightly smaller than that of its big brother. On the other hand, the IPS panel consumes less power than the P30 Pro's OLED display. Even after 1.5 days of use and several benchmark tests, various lens shots, short game sessions and web surfing, the battery is still fully charged at 44%. A good value, so for most users a day of battery life should be enough.

A 9 volt / 2 amp charger is included in the package. With support for fast charging, Huawei said it should fully charge the phone in about 105 minutes.

Huawei P30 lite in camera test: no lite version!

In 2018, Huawei's luxury class still retains three camera lenses, and they can also be found in Lite mode in 2019. The P30 lite is Huawei's first mid-range model equipped with a triple camera. Even if you don't have the support of Leica, the cameras controlled by AI are fun. It consists of a 48-megapixel wide-angle lens, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2-megapixel bokeh lens. In the middle class, the ultra-wide-angle theme is not particularly a problem, but it helps a lot in everyday situations. The P30 lite can also achieve double zoom. The Chinese manufacturer does not use a third camera lens, but uses a 48-megapixel main sensor. Create a 12 megapixel image from its information. Nokia already uses similar technology on the Lumia 1020. According to Huawei, digital zoom should be equivalent to dual optical zoom. We cannot fully confirm this, but this function is a good tool for the middle class.

Huawei P30 Lite: Camera samples

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be turned on or off when taking photos. However, basically, we recommend that you use AI for photography because it can get more revenue from many situations. Color, light and contrast are automatically adjusted. The main camera can recognize 22 categories or situations. The result is vibrant colors and good exposure. If some patterns (such as food) are too rich in color, AI should be disabled for that pattern.

When taking photos in low light conditions, the camera of the P30 lite cannot be compared with the camera of its big brother. The P30 lite firework photo below is very good, but compared to the P30 Pro, it offers less detail and lower sharpness.

Left: P30 Pro fireworks, right: P30 lite fireworks

Not only can you use the main camera to achieve different bokeh effects. The front-facing camera has a resolution of 24 megapixels, which also makes selfie friends ’heartbeat faster. The bokeh recording was reliable in the test, and because of its various VR effects, it can quickly change the ears, glasses and Co. of the animal.

If you prefer making videos over selfies, then the P30 lite is also worth the money. Super slow motion feature provides 16 times slow motion. In general, videos can be recorded in maximum Full HD format.

Huawei P30 Lite in beta: price and availability

Since May 8, 2019, Huawei P30 lite has been on sale in the German retail market with a suggested retail price (RRP) of 369 Euros. Available in peacock blue, midnight black and pearl white.

High quality triple camera at low price

If you are looking for a powerful smartphone with a price of up to 400 Euros, with a long-lasting battery and a great camera, you can safely use the Huawei P30 lite. Only demanding gamers and all users who value special display technology should spend some money on the P30 (Pro) or the new Galaxy S10 series. The back glitters and draws a lot of attention, and the device is easy to use. In our opinion, just placing the fingerprint scanner a bit high.

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Katharina Schell

we like

• Outstanding triple camera with ultra wide angle and AI
• 128 GB storage and microSD card slot
• Long-lasting battery
• Exciting color gradient on the back

We don't like

• Fingerprint scanner is not the best way to access
• Simple IPS, no OLED panel
• Graphics limitations for complex 3D games
• Plastic back plate instead of glass

Design and Craft

7.0 / 10

Design and Craft At this point, the design language, color choices, selected materials, feel, and the so-called appearance of the device will be evaluated.

Equipment and operation

7.0 / 10

Equipment and operation At this point, the monitor, processor, device memory, operating system, and user interface will be evaluated.

Voice quality

7.0 / 10

Voice quality What does an interlocutor sound like? Is there any interruption in the connection? This was evaluated at this point.

Battery Life

8.0 / 10

Battery Life Assess battery run and charge time and structure (fixed or variable) at this point

Camera and multimedia

8.0 / 10

Camera and multimedia Cameras, speakers, and other multimedia features such as infrared transmitters have been evaluated at this point.

Information about test products

The test equipment was provided by the manufacturer and returned to netzwelt after the test.
You can find more information on how we use test products, how we conduct testing, and general guidelines for editors in our transparency guide.

• Wireless charging

  
  
  No la

• Reverse charge

  
  
  No la

• Expandable memory

  microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC

• Main camera image sensor

  48 MP

• Main camera resolution

  5632 x 4224 pixels

• Video

  1920 x 1080 pixels

• Third image sensor

  2 MP (depth)

• Fourth image sensor

  
  
  No la

• display resolution

  1080 x 2312 pixels

• Show diagonal

  6.15 inches

• Display pixel density

  415 ppi

• SIM / memory card format, number of slots

  Nano-SIM (4FF-fourth size card, 12.30 x 8.80 x 0.67 mm since 2012), Nano-SIM / microSD

• wireless network

  802.11a (IEEE 802.11a-1999), 802.11b (IEEE 802.11b-1999), 802.11g (IEEE 802.11g-2003), 802.11n (IEEE 802.11n-2009), 802.11n 5GHz, 802.11ac (IEEE 802.11ac )), Dual Band, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct

• LTE

  800, 850, 900, 1700/2100, 1800, 2100, 2600, 1900 (B39), 2300 (B40), 2500 (B41), 2600 (B38), 700 (B28), 2000 (B34) MHz

• GSM

  850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz

• Headphone jack

  
  
  Yes

• Accelerometer

  
  
  Yes

• Ambient light sensor

  
  
  Yes

• SAR value subject

  1.19 W / kg

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Show all values

Huawei P30 lite's current mobile tariff

Current price

All prices include VAT and may include shipping costs. You can find detailed information about the offers on their respective websites / stores.

Huawei P30 Lite

The Huawei P30 Lite is now really affordable. You can buy the cheapest model in the range from Mindfactory for just € 219.71. You save almost 150 Euros compared to the suggested retail price.

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News about Huawei P30 Lite

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