Huawei has its work cut out for it with the P30 this year.
A lot of phones were released in 2018, but among all of them, one that stuck out as something special was the . Although not perfect, the P20 Pro is widely considered as having one of the very best camera packages we've ever seen on any smartphone. Add that together with a stunning design, fast performance, and greatly improved software, and it's easy to see why we were so enthralled with the phone.
We're now in 2019, and as such, it's time to look ahead to see what Huawei will do to improve upon last year. It's going to be a challenge, but if Huawei plays its cards right, the P30 Pro could very easily be one of the best phones of the year.
Without further ado, here's everything we know!
The latest P30 + P30 Pro news
March 21, 2019 — Huawei P30 and P30 Pro appear in leaked marketing images
We've seen heaps and heaps of renders for the P30 series over the last few months, but this time around, we have that likely provided us with the best look yet at the P30 and P30 Pro.
In addition to highlighting the phones' designs, including waterdrop notches and three rear cameras, the pictures also confirm some of the features we've been hearing about — such as the Kirin 980 processor, an in-display fingerprint sensor, 5x hybrid zoom for the P30, and 10x hybrid zoom on the P30 Pro.
As a reminder, Huawei's holding an event on March 26 where we're expecting the company to formally unveil the new phones.
March 20, 2019 — Video shot on Huawei P30 Pro gives us an early look at the periscope zoom camera
Huawei confirmed that the P30 Pro will have a camera, and while the manufacturer didn't go into detail over the feature, it's likely the phone will outmatch the P20 Pro's 5X hybrid zoom. A new video by filmmaker Parker Walbeck gives us a better understanding of the P30 Pro's zoom capabilities.
Walbeck says he shot the video with an unreleased smartphone camera, and while the footage is certainly impressive, what particularly stands out is the level of zoom. There are parts in the video where the phone is able to zoom in on far-away objects without a dramatic loss in quality, and the timing of the video suggests the phone in question is the P30 Pro.
With the unveil set for March 27, we're excited to see what Huawei has to offer with its 2019 flagship.
March 14, 2019 — Huawei P30 Pro appears in striking 'Sunrise' red color
We're just a few short days away from the P30 Pro's official unveiling on March 26, but in the meantime, has provided us with new renders of the phone that showcase a striking colorway called "Sunrise."
While not as technically impressive as some of the other color-shifting backs we've seen in other renders, Sunrise still looks like a great addition to the P30 Pro's lineup.
This is also the first time we've seen the bottom and top frames of the phone, and just like 2018's P20 Pro, it looks like the P30 Pro will not have a headphone jack.
February 27, 2019 — Huawei P30 Pro will reportedly offer 10x optical zoom
Just a day after the P30 Pro was shown-off in-person at MWC, has provided all-new renders for both it and the regular P30.
Looking first at the P30 Pro, the renders shown here unsurprisingly looks a lot like the phone we saw yesterday. The back is home to three rear cameras, but unlike the hands-on photos, the LED flash is moved to the right of the lenses instead of being on the bottom. We can also see an additional sensor by the flash which is apparently a time-of-flight sensor that'll be able to capture real-time depth information WinFuture also notes that the P30 Pro will be capable of 10x optical zoom.
We're also expecting three rear cameras on the regular P30, sans the 10x zoom. Both phones also have nearly bezel-less displays with waterdrop notches, but the P30 Pro curves the edges of its screen while the P30 appears to keep them flat.
February 26, 2019 — Huawei P30 Pro shown off at MWC 2019
We're still a month out from the P30 series' official unveiling, but at MWC 2019, Huawei decided to give the folks at an early hands-on look at the P30 Pro before everyone else.
No specs, pricing details, or anything of that nature was revealed, but what we can now confirm is the P30 Pro's design. According to Digital Trends, the P30 Pro they got to use is "almost completely final, in terms of the way it looks."
We can see that there are three rear cameras, the same as the P20 Pro. One render from Spigen indicated that the phone would have four cameras, so it's unclear what's going on there (maybe a special 5G version of the phone?).
The body of the P30 Pro is described as being about the same footprint as the P20 Pro with the addition of the Mate 20 Pro's tapered edges. This apparently makes the phone more comfortable to hold. A USB-C port is also confirmed, as is the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack.
February 19, 2019 — Huawei will unveil the P30 series on March 26
After weeks of leaks and rumors, Huawei has announced that it will formally unveil the P30 series on March 26 in Paris. The short video accompanying the tweet suggests the P30 series will feature a sizeable zoom lens.
Rules were made to be rewritten. Paris, 26.03.2019.
— Huawei Mobile (@HuaweiMobile)
Earlier leaks revealed a waterdrop notch and three rear cameras, and on the hardware front we're looking at the Kirin 980 and a massive battery. With the launch just over a month away, we should hear more about the P30 series in the coming weeks.
February 8, 2019 — Huawei P30 and P30 Pro fully revealed in Spigen case renders
It's been a little over a month since the Huawei P30 was fully revealed in a batch of renders, and now thanks to popular case manufacturer Spigen, we have even more renders to feast our eyes upon.
Just as we saw before, the features a waterdrop notch, three rear cameras, and a glass back. This time, however, we get to see the phone in a more subdued black color.
These renders also give us our first look at the more powerful . The P30 Pro looks nearly identical compared to the P30 from the front, but around back we see that it'll come equipped with four rear cameras instead of three.
January 4, 2019 — First Huawei P30 renders reveal a waterdrop notch and three rear cameras
2019's barely begun, but even so, we already have our first look at the Huawei P30. Thanks to a collaboration between @OnLeaks and , a new batch of device renders and a 360-degree video gives us a clear look at Huawei's upcoming handset.
Similar to last year, the P30 shown here is expected to be a more affordable, less powerful version of the flagship P30 Pro. Even so, it still looks like one heck of a device.
There are three big upgrades with the P30 over the P20, the first of which is its display. The notch at the top has been shrunk down to a waterdrop style and takes up far less space than the one we had last year. Furthermore, there's no longer a front-facing fingerprint sensor — allowing the chin to shrink considerably.
With no rear or side-mounted fingerprint sensor in sight, this means that the P30 more than likely has an in-display sensor.
Around back, you'll see a row of three rear cameras. That's one extra camera compared to the dual-lens setup on the P20 and should allow for much more variety with the shots you take.
Also pictured in these renders is a USB-C charging port, 3.5mm headphone jack, and Huawei's stunning Emerald Green color with what appears to be a texture on the back similar to what we saw with the Huawei Mate 20. As for the dimensions, those come in at 149.1 x 71.4 x 7.5mm.
All the big details
What will the Huawei P30 and P30 Pro look like?
Based on what we've seen so far, the Huawei P30 will look similar to the P20 with some welcome upgrades.
There's still a multi-colored glass back, but you'll now find three rear cameras instead of just two. Around front, there's a large 6-inch display with a small waterdrop notch and a much smaller chin compared to its predecessor.
The volume rocker and power button are both on the right, the bottom frame is home to a USB-C port and 3.5mm headphone jack, and with no fingerprint sensor in sight, we're assuming that Huawei's embedded it underneath the display.
The P30 Pro looks nearly identical to the regular P30, with the biggest difference being its rear camera setup. Rather than a measly three cameras, the P30 Pro is expected to come with a total of four.
What specs are we anticipating?
While no specs for the Huawei P30 have been confirmed, here's what we're currently expecting according to the rumor mill.
Category Spec
Operating System Android 9 Pie
EMUI 9.0
Display 6-inch
OLED
2340 x 1080
Processor Kirin 980
Rear Camera 1 40MP
Rear Camera 2 20MP
Rear Camera 3 5MP
RAM 6GB
Battery 4,000 mAh
The P30 Pro will likely have similar specs, with a few upgrades here and there. As we learn more, we'll update the spec list accordingly.
How much will the phones cost?
In the UK, the Huawei P20 has a retail price of £600 while the P20 Pro goes for £800.
No pricing information for the P30 or P30 Pro has been made available yet, but we can likely expect them to cost around £50 to £100 more than last year's phones.
When will they be released?
The Huawei P20 series was announced on March 27, 2018, and then released on April 6.
Following in its footsteps from last year, Huawei is holding an event on March 26 where we're expecting to see the entire P30 series.
A lot of phones were released in 2018, but among all of them, one that stuck out as something special was the . Although not perfect, the P20 Pro is widely considered as having one of the very best camera packages we've ever seen on any smartphone. Add that together with a stunning design, fast performance, and greatly improved software, and it's easy to see why we were so enthralled with the phone.
We're now in 2019, and as such, it's time to look ahead to see what Huawei will do to improve upon last year. It's going to be a challenge, but if Huawei plays its cards right, the P30 Pro could very easily be one of the best phones of the year.
Without further ado, here's everything we know!
The latest P30 + P30 Pro news
March 21, 2019 — Huawei P30 and P30 Pro appear in leaked marketing images
We've seen heaps and heaps of renders for the P30 series over the last few months, but this time around, we have that likely provided us with the best look yet at the P30 and P30 Pro.
In addition to highlighting the phones' designs, including waterdrop notches and three rear cameras, the pictures also confirm some of the features we've been hearing about — such as the Kirin 980 processor, an in-display fingerprint sensor, 5x hybrid zoom for the P30, and 10x hybrid zoom on the P30 Pro.
As a reminder, Huawei's holding an event on March 26 where we're expecting the company to formally unveil the new phones.
March 20, 2019 — Video shot on Huawei P30 Pro gives us an early look at the periscope zoom camera
Huawei confirmed that the P30 Pro will have a camera, and while the manufacturer didn't go into detail over the feature, it's likely the phone will outmatch the P20 Pro's 5X hybrid zoom. A new video by filmmaker Parker Walbeck gives us a better understanding of the P30 Pro's zoom capabilities.
Walbeck says he shot the video with an unreleased smartphone camera, and while the footage is certainly impressive, what particularly stands out is the level of zoom. There are parts in the video where the phone is able to zoom in on far-away objects without a dramatic loss in quality, and the timing of the video suggests the phone in question is the P30 Pro.
With the unveil set for March 27, we're excited to see what Huawei has to offer with its 2019 flagship.
March 14, 2019 — Huawei P30 Pro appears in striking 'Sunrise' red color
We're just a few short days away from the P30 Pro's official unveiling on March 26, but in the meantime, has provided us with new renders of the phone that showcase a striking colorway called "Sunrise."
While not as technically impressive as some of the other color-shifting backs we've seen in other renders, Sunrise still looks like a great addition to the P30 Pro's lineup.
This is also the first time we've seen the bottom and top frames of the phone, and just like 2018's P20 Pro, it looks like the P30 Pro will not have a headphone jack.
February 27, 2019 — Huawei P30 Pro will reportedly offer 10x optical zoom
Just a day after the P30 Pro was shown-off in-person at MWC, has provided all-new renders for both it and the regular P30.
Looking first at the P30 Pro, the renders shown here unsurprisingly looks a lot like the phone we saw yesterday. The back is home to three rear cameras, but unlike the hands-on photos, the LED flash is moved to the right of the lenses instead of being on the bottom. We can also see an additional sensor by the flash which is apparently a time-of-flight sensor that'll be able to capture real-time depth information WinFuture also notes that the P30 Pro will be capable of 10x optical zoom.
We're also expecting three rear cameras on the regular P30, sans the 10x zoom. Both phones also have nearly bezel-less displays with waterdrop notches, but the P30 Pro curves the edges of its screen while the P30 appears to keep them flat.
February 26, 2019 — Huawei P30 Pro shown off at MWC 2019
We're still a month out from the P30 series' official unveiling, but at MWC 2019, Huawei decided to give the folks at an early hands-on look at the P30 Pro before everyone else.
No specs, pricing details, or anything of that nature was revealed, but what we can now confirm is the P30 Pro's design. According to Digital Trends, the P30 Pro they got to use is "almost completely final, in terms of the way it looks."
We can see that there are three rear cameras, the same as the P20 Pro. One render from Spigen indicated that the phone would have four cameras, so it's unclear what's going on there (maybe a special 5G version of the phone?).
The body of the P30 Pro is described as being about the same footprint as the P20 Pro with the addition of the Mate 20 Pro's tapered edges. This apparently makes the phone more comfortable to hold. A USB-C port is also confirmed, as is the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack.
February 19, 2019 — Huawei will unveil the P30 series on March 26
After weeks of leaks and rumors, Huawei has announced that it will formally unveil the P30 series on March 26 in Paris. The short video accompanying the tweet suggests the P30 series will feature a sizeable zoom lens.
Rules were made to be rewritten. Paris, 26.03.2019.
— Huawei Mobile (@HuaweiMobile)
Earlier leaks revealed a waterdrop notch and three rear cameras, and on the hardware front we're looking at the Kirin 980 and a massive battery. With the launch just over a month away, we should hear more about the P30 series in the coming weeks.
February 8, 2019 — Huawei P30 and P30 Pro fully revealed in Spigen case renders
It's been a little over a month since the Huawei P30 was fully revealed in a batch of renders, and now thanks to popular case manufacturer Spigen, we have even more renders to feast our eyes upon.
Just as we saw before, the features a waterdrop notch, three rear cameras, and a glass back. This time, however, we get to see the phone in a more subdued black color.
These renders also give us our first look at the more powerful . The P30 Pro looks nearly identical compared to the P30 from the front, but around back we see that it'll come equipped with four rear cameras instead of three.
January 4, 2019 — First Huawei P30 renders reveal a waterdrop notch and three rear cameras
2019's barely begun, but even so, we already have our first look at the Huawei P30. Thanks to a collaboration between @OnLeaks and , a new batch of device renders and a 360-degree video gives us a clear look at Huawei's upcoming handset.
Similar to last year, the P30 shown here is expected to be a more affordable, less powerful version of the flagship P30 Pro. Even so, it still looks like one heck of a device.
There are three big upgrades with the P30 over the P20, the first of which is its display. The notch at the top has been shrunk down to a waterdrop style and takes up far less space than the one we had last year. Furthermore, there's no longer a front-facing fingerprint sensor — allowing the chin to shrink considerably.
With no rear or side-mounted fingerprint sensor in sight, this means that the P30 more than likely has an in-display sensor.
Around back, you'll see a row of three rear cameras. That's one extra camera compared to the dual-lens setup on the P20 and should allow for much more variety with the shots you take.
Also pictured in these renders is a USB-C charging port, 3.5mm headphone jack, and Huawei's stunning Emerald Green color with what appears to be a texture on the back similar to what we saw with the Huawei Mate 20. As for the dimensions, those come in at 149.1 x 71.4 x 7.5mm.
All the big details
What will the Huawei P30 and P30 Pro look like?
Based on what we've seen so far, the Huawei P30 will look similar to the P20 with some welcome upgrades.
There's still a multi-colored glass back, but you'll now find three rear cameras instead of just two. Around front, there's a large 6-inch display with a small waterdrop notch and a much smaller chin compared to its predecessor.
The volume rocker and power button are both on the right, the bottom frame is home to a USB-C port and 3.5mm headphone jack, and with no fingerprint sensor in sight, we're assuming that Huawei's embedded it underneath the display.
The P30 Pro looks nearly identical to the regular P30, with the biggest difference being its rear camera setup. Rather than a measly three cameras, the P30 Pro is expected to come with a total of four.
What specs are we anticipating?
While no specs for the Huawei P30 have been confirmed, here's what we're currently expecting according to the rumor mill.
Category Spec
Operating System Android 9 Pie
EMUI 9.0
Display 6-inch
OLED
2340 x 1080
Processor Kirin 980
Rear Camera 1 40MP
Rear Camera 2 20MP
Rear Camera 3 5MP
RAM 6GB
Battery 4,000 mAh
The P30 Pro will likely have similar specs, with a few upgrades here and there. As we learn more, we'll update the spec list accordingly.
How much will the phones cost?
In the UK, the Huawei P20 has a retail price of £600 while the P20 Pro goes for £800.
No pricing information for the P30 or P30 Pro has been made available yet, but we can likely expect them to cost around £50 to £100 more than last year's phones.
When will they be released?
The Huawei P20 series was announced on March 27, 2018, and then released on April 6.
Following in its footsteps from last year, Huawei is holding an event on March 26 where we're expecting to see the entire P30 series.