Huawei P30 vs Pixel 3 vs Samsung S10 - which would you go for?

[editor]

I want to buy a new phone and I want one that isn't too massive but has a great camera. But each choice has compromises.

Here's my final three options and their pluses and minuses:

Samsung S10

Fabulous screen
Wireless charging
Great cameras
Average battery life
Waterproof

Huawei P30

Incredible cameras
Above average battery life
Only dust/drop proof
No wireless charger

Pixel 3

King of the cameras
Wireless charging
Immediate updates
Ugly notch
No fucking earphone jack

I'm thinking that brilliant camera and good battery life are the most important so I'm leaning towards the Huawei P30. But just for the hell of it, which of the three above would you choose?

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Id lean away from the Samsung as although it was a beautiful phone with an amazing screen it had a few things that pissed me off.

They aren't actually as waterproof as they claim according to people I know who have killed them. Fair enough don't get them wet. What really pissed me of was left in a slightly damp pocket the dam thing wouldn't charge for about 12 hours as it detected water in the port. Except everything was bone dry. Many hours ago.

Battery life was indeed average.

That beautiful edge screen cracked very easily along the edge, despite being in a case.

The camera was fucking great though. Didn't find wireless charging anywhere near as good as I thought it would be and I fact stopped using it after a few weeks.

 

[mauvais]

If you can afford Samsung, do it. They make excellent phones.

Google hardware is still consistently overrated IMO and I don't really trust them to remain in the consumer hardware business forever.

Huawei's bastard versions of Android continue to cause me trouble and therefore I deem them unfit for the big time as yet.

 

[Throbbing Angel]

Id lean away from the Samsung as although it was a beautiful phone with an amazing screen it had a few things that pissed me off.

They aren't actually as waterproof as they claim according to people I know who have killed them. Fair enough don't get them wet. What really pissed me of was left in a slightly damp pocket the dam thing wouldn't charge for about 12 hours as it detected water in the port. Except everything was bone dry. Many hours ago.

Battery life was indeed average.

That beautiful edge screen cracked very easily along the edge, despite being in a case.


The camera was fucking great though. Didn't find wireless charging anywhere near as good as I thought it would be and I fact stopped using it after a few weeks.

Depend how you 'phone' though, innit? Sat in an office most of the day with a wander about once an hour, a wireless charger on your desk is great.
Summat colleagues w/S10's have found is that the cable charger sometimes interferes wit the official samsung case (those ones that let you use the screen without opening the case).

Edge screens are more prone to cracking it seems - user dependent though - my S7edge has been fine for years - colleagues w/S8's, 9's and 10's have cracked theirs, edge or not

digitalcameraworld.com are always doing comparison articles on phone cameras editor
Can't believe you're even considering a phone without a jack, though

I thought Huawei were evil, no?
Huawei: The world's most controversial company - BBC News
and BBC iPlayer - Panorama - Can We Trust Huawei?

 

[Badgers]

Pixel or high end Xiaomi (not on your list)

 

[Wolveryeti]

I have cack-handedly dropped my current S7 in the bath/tea multiple times, and ordinarily that would mean new phone time, so I'm a big fan of waterproof.

Its charging socket got borked somehow and now wired charging doesn't work, so likewise, I'm grateful for a wireless charging option.

Average battery life doesn't bother me - if I'm going to be away from a power point for several days, I'll just bring a beastly power pack.

So S10 it is, unless I couldn't justify the price, in which case I'd consider a Chinese challenger brand.

 

[mauvais]

Yeah, wireless charging will bail you out if and when the USB port dies. This was the most likely thing to fail IME but I don't know yet if USB-C changes that at all.

 

[Tankus]

These

Totally recommend

 

[BristolEcho]

I'd possibly still go for the P30 pro, but I have been a bit annoyed with the way the last android update had messed about with my P20 pro. I do still love it though.

If the price difference between the P30 and S10 is still noticeable then I'd go for the P30 on that alone.

 

[souljacker]

Don't like Samsung so wouldn't buy an S10. I've got a Pixel 3 XL and it is ace. I've also hidden the notch with an app called Nacho Nocho. Not played with a P30 but aren't Huawei going to steal our children or something?

 

[MBV]

Wait for Pixel 4 (or 3a)?

 

[joustmaster]

P30 Pro or P30?

 

[editor]

Can't believe you're even considering a phone without a jack, though

It's only the allure of the Pixel's chuffing amazing camera and having instant updates.

I thought Huawei were evil, no?
Huawei: The world's most controversial company - BBC News
and BBC iPlayer - Panorama - Can We Trust Huawei?

They make bloody fantastic phones and I've still yet to see any proof that consumers should be concerned about their phones leaking data.

 

[editor]

Pixel or high end Xiaomi (not on your list)

Which high end Xiaomi? I don't fancy the Mi8(no headphone and a beastly notch)...

 

[editor]

Wait for Pixel 4 (or 3a)?

They'll both be too pricey. The P30 Pro is bloody great but it's too big, too pricey and no headphone jack.

 

[MBV]

Get a Pixel 3 then with a pair of One Plus USB C ear buds

 

[editor]

Get a Pixel 3 then with a pair of One Plus USB C ear buds

I'm really put off by the lack of an earphone socket. When I'm on tour I'm often listening to music and charging the phone at the same time and I don't want to rely on crappy adapters or having to keep charging wireless buds. That said, if I saw a Pixel 3 for £400 I'd be more tempted.

 

[editor]

Quite a price drop. mind

Google Pixel 3 Smartphone, Android, 5.5", 4G LTE, SIM Free, 64GB at John Lewis & Partners

 

[souljacker]

I'm really put off by the lack of an earphone socket. When I'm on tour I'm often listening to music and charging the phone at the same time and I don't want to rely on crappy adapters or having to keep charging wireless buds. That said, if I saw a Pixel 3 for £400 I'd be more tempted.

With fast charging and the excellent battery life, this thankfully hasn't cropped up for me yet. But I have some bluetooth headphones as back up just in case. The headphones you get with the phone are really nice too.

 

[editor]

With fast charging and the excellent battery life, this thankfully hasn't cropped up for me yet. But I have some bluetooth headphones as back up just in case. The headphones you get with the phone are really nice too.

But from what I've read the Pixel's battery life is a fair way behind the p30....

 

[MBV]

Was just about to post the JL link. Just get it and then it's done and you can get snapping.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

[souljacker]

But from what I've read the Pixel's battery life is a fair way behind the p30....

I'm getting two days out of it with reasonably heavy use, which I haven't had out of a phone in years.

 

[r0bb0]

Wire charging is impossible on this S7, ahh the countless time I've wasted trying to charge the damn things late at night. It's deffinately a big plus point for me!

 

[editor]

Wire charging is impossible on this S7, ahh the countless time I've wasted trying to charge the damn things late at night. It's deffinately a big plus point for me!

Have to say that my S7 still charges ok via wire and wireless. Have you tried taking it into a Samsung store? They were brilliant when I went.

 

[Shirl]

I'm on my 4th Huawei. I wouldn't have any other phone and the cameras are always great. I've no idea about technical stuff, I just get really good photos.

 

[editor]

I'm on my 4th Huawei. I wouldn't have any other phone and the cameras are always great. I've no idea about technical stuff, I just get really good photos.

That's what's driving this upgrade for me. My S7 takes good enough pics in daytimes but rubbish ones at night/in clubs/gigs etc.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

That's what's driving this upgrade for me. My S7 takes good enough pics in daytimes but rubbish ones at night/in clubs/gigs etc.

I'm in a similar situation. My Nokia 8 does absolutely everything I need, except I just want better photos.

I'm actually wondering if a P20 may be a sound buy in a little bit when the 30 has been out a while.

 

[BristolEcho]

I'm in a similar situation. My Nokia 8 does absolutely everything I need, except I just want better photos.

I'm actually wondering if a P20 may be a sound buy in a little bit when the 30 has been out a while.

I really love my P20 pro and the camera is great. I'd recommend getting Nova launcher when you do get it, but it's not esstiential. I don't think you'd regret it.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

I really love my P20 pro and the camera is great. I'd recommend getting Nova launcher when you do get it, but it's not esstiential. I don't think you'd regret it.

Yeah, used Nova launcher for years on various android phones. It's a hard shout right now but I'll see what prices do after the 30 has been out a bit.

 

[BristolEcho]

Yeah, used Nova launcher for years on various android phones. It's a hard shout right now but I'll see what prices do after the 30 has been out a bit.

The only issue I've had is since the last android update it's been unresponsive at times. Apparently though a hard reboot resolves this which I guess won't be a problem if you're starting from scratch though.

Agree though it's a tough choice as I'd like to ride this contract on a low pay as you go before having to upgrade. Hoping to get a 3-4 years out of it.