Huawei P30 Lite review

User interface

• Android 9 Pie
• Huawei/Honor EMUI 9 UI
• Highly customizable

The Huawei P30 Lite runs Android 9, and that’s a good thing. It’s the latest version of Google’s OS, so brings with it the benefits of a digital wellbeing center, as well as battery- and app-management tools, and the latest security updates from Google.

That said, given Google and Huawei’s relationship there may not be updates to future versions of Android.

Huawei customizes Android with EMUI, and the P30 Lite features version 9, as introduced on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro. That’s a version behind the Huawei P30 and P30 Pro. 

While there aren’t too many tangible differences, the Huawei P30 Lite doesn’t feature EMUI Desktop, the neat desktop interface that fires up when a compatible Huawei device is hooked up to a TV or monitor.

As for the core interface, it’s easy to get to grips with and features plenty of tools for tinkerers to get stuck into, built upon a core experience of home screens and a pull-down notification bar, as well as other familiar Android and iOS elements.

While there isn’t an apps tray or navigation bar by default, you can activate them in the settings, and when it comes to app support, thanks to Google Play Store support, for the time being at least – it’s excellent.

What you end up with from a software point of view therefore is a mid-range take on a flagship UI. It will be a bit busy for stock Android purists, but if you’re coming from an iPhone or another Huawei phone, you should feel right at home.

Performance, storage and connections

• Kirin 710 chipset
• 4GB of RAM depending on region
• 128GB of storage plus microSD card support

The P30 Lite runs on Huawei’s own HiSilicon Kirin 710 chipset, combined with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. While the chipset is under-powered for the price, the RAM and storage configurations are great.

The phone performs well when faced with most daily tasks, and even picture taking. There’s seldom lag when split-screen multitasking, and picture-in-picture video also works a treat.

Basic 2D games are handled without any issues too unsurprisingly, and even basic 3D games run smoothly. That said, when you start loading up intensive 3D games, like Injustice 2 for example, frame rates take a tumble and some scenes run at what feels like about 12fps - we’d expect more from a phone that costs more than £300.

As for space for your stuff, the P30 Lite’s 128GB of internal storage coupled with microSD card support is excellent. There should be enough room for your apps, movies and music, and while it isn’t the most affordable 128GB device around, it may well be one of the best looking.

Connectivity is good. Naturally, 4G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are all on board, though it’s not Bluetooth 5 as found on the cheaper Redmi Note 7. Instead, the P30 Lite packs Bluetooth 4.2. There’s also NFC for mobile payment and one-touch pairing support, as well as a USB-C port for charging and data.