I still keep a 6-year-old Android 10 phone in my back pocket

[ad_1] <img class="e_Mg" decoding="async" loading="eager" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="huawei p30 pro 2024 2 android 10" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/huawei-p30-pro-2024-2-android-10.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/huawei-p30-pro-2024-2-android-10-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/huawei-p30-pro-2024-2-android-10-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/huawei-p30-pro-2024-2-android-10-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/huawei-p30-pro-2024-2-android-10-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/huawei-p30-pro-2024-2-android-10-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/huawei-p30-pro-2024-2-android-10-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/huawei-p30-pro-2024-2-android-10-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="huawei p30 pro 2024 2 android 10" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/huawei-p30-pro-2024-2-android-10.jpg"/> Andy Walker / Android Authority

I’ve been feeling fairly nostalgic recently, particularly for outdated digicam telephones. Final month, I praised the Nokia 9 PureView for its distinctive digicam setup that makes each shot an journey. I’ve additionally revisited the LG G4, a telephone that sparked my love for pictures. Nonetheless, there’s another older Android digicam telephone I nonetheless carry round each time potential.

In its prime, the HUAWEI P30 Professional was the very best Android telephone cash might purchase. Positive, that’s simply my opinion, however loads of proof helps it. It was sturdy and comparatively compact in comparison with right this moment’s telephones. It had easy but engaging styling, quick efficiency, and glorious battery life.

After 5 years as my loyal day by day driver, its age began displaying. The battery well being was declining, and I obtained its final replace in mid-2023. It’s nonetheless caught on Android 10, and there's no hope of latest software program variations or safety upgrades.

How vital is smartphone digicam zoom efficiency to you? 407 votes

I solely take into account telephones with nice zoom efficiency.

17%

It is fairly excessive up my precedence listing.

31%

It isn't that vital to me.

35%

I do not care if a telephone does not have a zoom digicam.

17%

<img class="e_Mg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="pixel 8 galaxy s24 fe feat 1" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/pixel-8-galaxy-s24-fe-feat-1.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/pixel-8-galaxy-s24-fe-feat-1-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/pixel-8-galaxy-s24-fe-feat-1-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/pixel-8-galaxy-s24-fe-feat-1-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/pixel-8-galaxy-s24-fe-feat-1-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/pixel-8-galaxy-s24-fe-feat-1-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/pixel-8-galaxy-s24-fe-feat-1-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/pixel-8-galaxy-s24-fe-feat-1-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="pixel 8 galaxy s24 fe feat 1" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/pixel-8-galaxy-s24-fe-feat-1.jpg"/> Andy Walker / Android Authority

I needed to improve, albeit reluctantly. The telephone to fill that void was the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. Our evaluation of the 2024 Fan Version telephone was optimistic, and my expertise has been equally stable. Regardless of the poor battery life, mediocre show, and heavy footprint, it’s a succesful improve that might be supported for years. I even have a Pixel 8, which I like for its small measurement and swift operation.

Importantly, each units are succesful pocket cameras in their very own proper. I’ve had infinite enjoyable capturing avenue scenes and landscapes with the Pixel 8, whereas the Galaxy excels as a point-and-shoot portrait digicam for household and mates. Nonetheless, each telephones lag behind the P30 Professional in a single vital facet: zoom.

A periscope digicam that’s nearly as good as ever

<img class="e_Mg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="HUAWEI P30 Pro in misty blue in hand" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Huawei-P30-Pro-in-misty-blue-in-hand.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Huawei-P30-Pro-in-misty-blue-in-hand-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Huawei-P30-Pro-in-misty-blue-in-hand-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Huawei-P30-Pro-in-misty-blue-in-hand-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Huawei-P30-Pro-in-misty-blue-in-hand-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Huawei-P30-Pro-in-misty-blue-in-hand-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Huawei-P30-Pro-in-misty-blue-in-hand-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Huawei-P30-Pro-in-misty-blue-in-hand-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="HUAWEI P30 Pro in misty blue in hand" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Huawei-P30-Pro-in-misty-blue-in-hand.jpg"/> It could be half a decade older than the Samsung and Google telephones I changed it with, however the HUAWEI nonetheless outperforms each, grabbing objects a lot farther away and bringing them even nearer to me. On paper, the 8MP 5x optical and 50x digital periscope lens appears modest and outdated, however I miss it dearly when the telephone isn’t inside attain.

This sense was notably evident throughout a latest highway journey. I normally toss a couple of telephones in my bag earlier than heading off on adventures, and this time I introduced the Galaxy, Pixel, and PureView alongside. After a lot of the go to was spent capturing ground-level topics, I turned my view to the highest of a constructing the place a raptor was perched. I grabbed the Samsung — the one telephone with a devoted zoom lens — and zoomed. Regardless of its 3x optical and 30x digital zoom, the telephone couldn’t deliver me shut sufficient to my avian topic. It quickly flew off, and I regretted leaving the P30 Professional at dwelling.

It could be half a decade older than the Samsung and Google telephones I changed it with, however the P30 Professional nonetheless out-zooms each.

Spending much less time with the P30 Professional has made me understand how important periscope capabilities are for me on a smartphone, and never only for pictures. Capturing tighter pictures of distant, unapproachable fauna or flora will increase the probability of getting an correct hit in a chicken or plant identification app. Utilizing Lens or Circle to Search to establish different gadgets is less complicated too when used by way of Google Images on my major telephone. Longer zoom provides extra utility, which is indispensable for my telephone utilization habits.

<img class="e_Mg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="HUAWEI P30 Pro triple camera on the back" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Huawei-P30-Pro-triple-camera-on-the-back-scaled.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Huawei-P30-Pro-triple-camera-on-the-back-scaled-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Huawei-P30-Pro-triple-camera-on-the-back-scaled-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Huawei-P30-Pro-triple-camera-on-the-back-scaled-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Huawei-P30-Pro-triple-camera-on-the-back-scaled-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Huawei-P30-Pro-triple-camera-on-the-back-scaled-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Huawei-P30-Pro-triple-camera-on-the-back-scaled-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Huawei-P30-Pro-triple-camera-on-the-back-scaled-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="HUAWEI P30 Pro triple camera on the back" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Huawei-P30-Pro-triple-camera-on-the-back-scaled.jpg"/> Ryan-Thomas Shaw / Android Authority

I’ve since discovered my lesson. I hold the P30 Professional with me simply in case I want it. Regardless of its age, it nonetheless works nice as a backup telephone, regardless of its rising points. I haven’t reset it, so all my apps and recordsdata are nonetheless saved safely on it. Its 256GB storage financial institution additionally turns out to be useful for offline file storage.

Nonetheless, my latest experiences with out the telephone have taught me two precious classes. First, I can’t think about shopping for a telephone sooner or later with out a succesful zoom lens. Positive, I might and possibly ought to use my 70-300mm zoom lens on my D3400 extra typically, however I don’t at all times have the comparatively cumbersome DSLR digicam with me. Comfort comes at a worth.

Secondly, older {hardware} typically surpasses trendy innovation. The P30 Professional is proof of that. I wouldn’t have thought-about upgrading if the telephone nonetheless obtained common updates. Now that it’s not my day by day driver, I don’t care if it’s working an older model of Android. However, because of its stellar attain, it greater than earns its place amongst my present units.