Here’s the reason I still hold this old Android 10 phone in the back pocket

I’ve been pretty nostalgic lately, especially for old camera phones. Last month, in praised Nokia 9 Pureview For its unique camera setup that makes each shot an adventure. I have too Revisited LG G4A phone that triggered my love for photography. However, there is one older to Android Camera Phone I still carry around whenever possible.

In his first was Huawei P30 Pro Best Android phone Money could buy. Sure, it’s just my opinion, but plenty of evidence supports it. It was durable and relatively compact compared to today’s phones. It had simple but attractive styling, fast performance and excellent battery life.

After five years as my loyal daily driver, the age began to show. Battery health fell and I got the last update in mid -2023. It is still stuck on Android 10, and there is no hope of new software versions or safety upgrades.

I had to upgrade, albeit reluctantly. The phone to fill that void was Samsung Galaxy S24 Fe. Our review of the Fan Edition phone in 2024 was positive, and my experience has been just as solid. Despite poor battery life, mediocre screen and heavy footprint, it is a skilled upgrade that will be supported for years. I also have a Pixel 8, which I love for its small size and fast operation.

It is important that both devices are skilled pocket cameras themselves. I have had endless fun to catch street scenes and landscapes with Pixel 8, while the galaxy stands out as a point-and-clay portrait camera for family and friends. However, both phones behind the P30 Pro hang in one important aspect: Zoom.

It may be half a decade older than the Samsung and Google phones I replaced with, but Huawei still exceeds both, and grabs objects much further away and brings them even closer to me. On paper, 8MP 5x is optical and 50x digital periscopic lens modest and outdated, but I really miss it when the phone is not within reach.

This feeling was especially clear during a recent road trip. I usually throw some phones in my bag before heading for adventure, and this time I brought the galaxy, Pixel and Purereview. After much of the visit was spent on catching topics at the ground level, I turned my view on top of a building where a raptor was placed. I grabbed Samsung – the only phone with a dedicated zoom lens – and zoomed. Despite its 3x optical and 30x digital zoom, the phone couldn’t bring me close enough to my avian. It soon flew off, and I regretted leaving P30 Pro at home.

Spending less time with the P30 Pro has made me realize how important periscope features are to me on a smartphone, and not just for photography. Catching tighter shoots of distant, unapproarable fauna or flora increases the likelihood of getting an accurate hit in a bird or plant identification app. Use objective or Circle to search to identify other items Is also easier when used via Google images on my primary phone. Longer zoom offers more utility, which is indispensable for the phone’s use habits.

I have since learned my lesson. I keep P30 Pro with me in case I need it. Despite age, it still works well as a backup phone, despite its growing problems. I haven’t reset it, so all my apps and files are still stored safely on it. The 256 GB storage bank also benefits offline filling.

Still, my recent experiences without the phone have taught me two valuable lessons. First, I can’t imagine buying a phone in the future without a skilled zoom lens. Sure, I could and probably should use my 70-300mm zoom lens on my D3400 more often, but I don’t always have the relatively bulky DSLR camera with me. Convenience comes at a price.

Second, older hardware often exceeds modern innovation. P30 Pro is proof of that. I would not have considered upgrading if the phone still got regular updates. Now that it is no longer my daily driver, I do not care if it runs an older version of Android. But thanks to its fantastic reach, it earns more than its place among my current devices.