It depends on what you mean by "better".
They're both the same strength; +/- up to 20% in the active ingredients depending on which state you live in. Ask your local pharmacist if you live in the United States what your state laws regarding generics vs. name brand differences are in your state.
It also depends on the person. Age, weight, tolerance, general health, any previous mental or physical condition, and the actual reason for use play a factor in why some MDs Rx the IR (instant release) version instead of the XR (controlled release).
There are only minor differences between XR (extended release) and IR (instant release). The main one being that in the XR version, 1/2 of the tablets active ingredients will be released immediately and the other half will be released over time (4 hours later to be specific) via time-released technology in bead form using the Mictrotrol delivery system. 1 Maximum blood plasma concentration of the active ingredients with the XR version is typically achieved at 7 hours, while the IR version's plasma concentration is achieved at approximately 4 hours. (This, like all medications, is not standard, and depends on the person. I.e., all medications and their side-effects/plasma concentration true half-lives and a plethora of other factors are on a case by case basis per person).
Age-wise, an MD would be more likely to Rx children the XR version for a few reasons: Children metabolize Adderall faster 2, so they won't need to go to the nurse's office at school mid-day. (This could create stigma.) Children are also less likely to suffer from insomnia caused by the XR version's longer half-life than adults would.
At the moment, Adderall (in either version) is only legal in the United States. Canada made Adderall a schedule I drug/medication, which means it can be used for research purposes only/not prescribed. Adderall IR is only approved for narcolepsy and ADHD, while Adderall XR is not approved for narcolepsy . This does not mean that MDs cannot prescribe either/or for off-label reasons (treatment resistant depression; sleep cycle disorders), or to negate side effects on a case by case basis. For example, a 12 year old child could easily suffer from insomnia, so the IR version might be given instead of the XR version. Some adult patients with ADHD feel that there is more of a "crash/comedown" with the IR version, so they might try the XR version instead, whereas the majority of people with narcolepsy would not notice this crash/come down side effect with the IR version of Adderall.
Regarding your specific question, 30 mgs of Adderall is not such a low dose in either IR or XR version, considering that the suggested prescribing guidelines regarding dose is 20-40 mgs in adults with ADHD, and 20-60 in adults with Narcolepsy. Those are also not typical starting/beginner dosages.
If you ask this question out of recreational- use behaviors and curiOSity, it is advised to let it be known that Adderall is a Schedule II medication in the United States for a reason. Adderall is made up of 4 stimulating "salts" in equal ratio (racemic amphetamine aspartate monohydrate, racemic amphetamine sulfate, dextroamphetaminesaccharide, and dextroamphetamine sulfate). A patient who has ADHD and/or Narcolepsy is unlikely to benefit from any "high" with this medication so they would clearly be at less of a risk for abuse, over-use and dependence than recreational users. Therefor, it has met the FDA's guidelines for being a Schedule II medication, and as such, should be used with precaution and under a medical doctor's supervision:
1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_release_technology and http://diyhpl.us/~bryan/papers2/adderall.txt
2 http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2007/021303s015lbl.pdf
3 http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/schedules/index.html
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