Interesting stuff!
But, but, I want quality
and cheap!
I have a theory about the Apple premium, which is kind of based on what they used to say - and maybe still do - about buying cars: that the very best VFM you can get is buying a top end prestige model when all that prestige has worn off. Three year old Lexus with FSH sort of thing.
I have been using the P30 pro, and could never go back to an old Pixel, say. Three lenses is a deal-breaker for me. And the P30P has Leica lenses - and you can tell. The sharpness is jaw-dropping. Superb macro, genuinely worthwhile 50x zoom. It really is an awesome bit of kit. But. Then I came across a review comparing it with the iPhone 11 Pro Max, and what's close to clinching it for me is this brace of photos, Huawei on the left, iPhone on the right:
View attachment 669929
They immediately brought to mind the number of times I've looked at my photos and thought hmmm...that's not what I was looking at. And apparently this is what Apple's particularly good at. Colour rendition. Less 'kodachrome', for us older viewers; more 'true'.
And the price premium isn't what I expected, not least thanks to the pretty much zero street cred of a three year old 'prestige' phone - order of magnitude, maybe +25%, on the bay. For me, maybe £300, as against £230ish.
Dammit, I'm going to press the button! You only live once, and like the man said, you can always sell it on if it doesn't work out.