Almost every new smartphone gets split between the little and the large: a big device for the power users, and a smaller one for the more price-conscious.
The trick is knowing where to make the cuts without compromising the essence of the phone.
Huawei has made the right calls here when making the smaller version of the P30 Pro flagship, the P30.
Much like Huawei's other smartphones, you're unlikely to see this device in the US anytime soon.
We tested the £599 (approximately $760) P30 in England.
Design and Screen
Available in either aurora, black, or a pearlescent "breathing crystal" color, the P30 sports a 6.1-inch, 2,340-by-1,080 OLED screen.
Apart from the small teardrop notch at the top that allows space for the front-facing camera, the display takes up almost all of its 5.8-by-2.8-by-0.2-inch body (HWD).
The fingerprint scanner is hidden beneath the screen.
It's as quick and responsive as it needs to be come rain or shine, though it doesn't work quite as well as the in-screen scanner on the OnePlus 7 Pro.
The screen itself is certainly bright enough, but can't match the realistic colors of other flagship phones.
Video looks a little washed-out and skin tones appear a bit too white when compared with the Google Pixel 3 or the OnePlus 7 Pro.
One of the areas where the P30 does stand out, however, is the inclusion of a headphone jack.
Even though wireless headphones are almost ubiquitous nowadays, the ability to simply plug in any headphones without worrying about pairing or connection issues is good to see.
It's part of what makes the Google Pixel 3a so attractive, and having come back from using phones that only have a USB-C port, it's a welcome inclusion that the Pixel 3, OnePlus 7 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S10, and of course all current iPhones lack.
The P30 doesn't have the wireless charging capabilities of its larger sibling, so you'll need to plug it in (another trait it shares with the Pixel 3a).
The battery is also smaller, at 3,450mAh to the P30 Pro's 4,200mAh, but it can still last for a full day of dedicated use without hitting the touch-and-go battery saver modes.
Camera
The P30 uses a three-camera system similar to the P30 Pro, with a 40MP f/1.8 wide-angle lens as its main sensor, a 16MP f/2.2 ultra-wide lens, and an 8MP f/2.4 5x hybrid zoom lens.
The Pro version has slightly higher specs with a brighter f/1.6 40MP wide-angle lens, a higher-resolution 20MP f/2.2 ultra-wide lens, and a more powerful 8MP f/3.4 10x hybrid zoom lens.
Both have identical 32MP f/2.0 front-facing cameras.
The two phones ultimately have nearly the same photographic capabilities, and as such share the same benefits and pitfalls.
A built-in AI mode detects the subject of your shot and tries to adjust settings accordingly.
Take a photo of a cat, for example, and the P30 will use one type of setting, but point it at a person and it will automatically switch into Portrait mode and blur the background for a bokeh effect.
It might be a neat feature for those that don't take many photos, but it does result in a lack of detail and contrast overall, so user discretion is advised before keeping it on.
The color balance is good, looking relatively natural.
The P30 employs the same SuperSpectrum technology as Huawei's other phones, using RYYB (Red, Yellow, Yellow, Blue) color sensors instead of the standard RGB.
The attention to detail from its main camera has always been Huawei's crown jewel with regards to its P Series, and the P30 is no exception.
Taking it around central London, the phone picks up the shimmer of sunlight off metal decorations with a relatively nuanced touch.
Despite the strong camera performance, the P30 falls behind the cameras on the Google Pixel 3 and the OnePlus 7 Pro.
Both have a more natural approach to photography, while the P30 tends to overstate its whites.
This is distinctly obvious when it comes to the 32MP selfie camera.
The P30 takes sharp photos, but it can't quite capture blush, color range, or the interplay of subtle shadows as well as we would like.
But put it in complete darkness, and that's where the P30 comes into its own.
Much like its bigger sibling, its ability to take low-light photographs is astounding, knocking the competition out of the park.
The OnePlus 7 Pro and the Google Pixel 3's night modes can't match the default mode of the P30, and the difference is only more substantial when using the P30's own night setting.
Software and Performance
Much like other Huawei phones, disappointing software lets down the P30's otherwise impressive hardware.
The Kirin 980 octa-core processor and 6GB of RAM keep the phone speedy and responsive, and 128GB of storage means that most people will have more than enough space for music or photos, but Huawei's EMUI skin feels like more of a barrier between you and the phone than it should.
Settings menus are difficult to navigate, the apps tray is bafflingly gone, and the usual array of Huawei bloatware sit alongside the duplicate Google applications for Calendar, Music, Contacts, Gallery, and so on.
Conclusions
Much like the P30 Pro, the P30 is an impressive phone.
However, competition is far tougher in the midrange than it is at the top.
For just a little more money, you can pick up the OnePlus 7 Pro, which has a completely notchless screen, a better camera, and a more intuitive user interface.
Or if you're looking to spend even less, the Google Pixel 3a offers less processing power but similarly terrific camera performance for substantial savings, making it our Editors' Choice.
Cons
The Bottom Line
The Huawei P30 is an impressive smartphone, but you won't be getting it in the US anytime soon and there are strong options for the price.
