ZTE A41 Ultra vs. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G established itself as a premium Android experience, but the ZTE A41 Ultra enters the fray with a compelling combination of Snapdragon power and aggressive pricing. This comparison dissects the key differences between these two flagship devices, focusing on performance, camera capabilities, and overall value.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G remains the more polished and feature-rich experience, thanks to its superior display and refined software. However, the ZTE A41 Ultra offers nearly identical processing power with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 at a potentially lower price point, making it a strong contender for performance-focused users.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE A41 Ultra Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced20222022, February 09
StatusAvailable. Released 2022Available. Released 2022, February 25
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame
Dimensions161.9 x 72.9 x 8.5 mm (6.37 x 2.87 x 0.33 in)163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight199 g (7.02 oz)228 g / 229 g (mmWave) (8.04 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus, 2.8ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~90.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 144HzDynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1750 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) - EuropeOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) - ROW
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Exynos 2200 (4 nm) - EuropeQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) - ROW
GPUAdreno 730Xclipse 920 - EuropeAdreno 730 - ROW
OSAndroid 12, MyOS 12Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad-108 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
Triple64 MP, f/1.7, 35mm (standard), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide)-
VideoYes8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single44 MP, (wide)40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.82", 0.7µm, PDAF
VideoYes4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackUnspecifiedNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging66W wired, PD3.0, QC445W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
Type5000 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlackPhantom Black, White, Burgundy, Green, Graphite, Red, Sky Blue, Bora Purple
Models-SM-S908B, SM-S908B/DS, SM-S908U, SM-S908U1, SM-S908W, SM-S908N, SM-S9080, SM-S908E, SM-S908E/DS
Price-€ 397.07 / $ 269.98 / £ 304.99 / ₹ 63,899
SAR-1.18 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.05 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life-Endurance rating 108h
Camera-Photo / Video
Display-Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker--27.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance-AnTuTu: 968359 (v9) GeekBench: 3657 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE A41 Ultra

  • Faster 66W wired charging
  • Potentially more consistent performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  • Likely more affordable price point

  • Less detailed display specifications
  • Unknown camera performance
  • Potentially less refined software experience

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G

  • Brighter and more color-accurate display
  • Versatile camera system
  • Established Samsung ecosystem and software support

  • Slower 45W wired charging
  • Exynos variant may experience thermal throttling
  • Higher price point

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra boasts a significantly brighter display, peaking at 1266 nits, compared to an unstated peak brightness for the ZTE A41 Ultra. While both likely utilize AMOLED technology, Samsung’s display benefits from its contrast ratio of infinite (nominal). This translates to a more visible screen in direct sunlight and a more vibrant viewing experience. The S22 Ultra’s display is also likely to have a more sophisticated LTPO implementation for variable refresh rates, potentially improving battery life during static content viewing. The ZTE A41 Ultra’s display specs are less detailed, making a direct comparison of color accuracy and refresh rate capabilities difficult.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking for the ZTE A41 Ultra. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is known for its versatile camera system, including a high-resolution primary sensor and advanced image processing. Without knowing the sensor sizes, apertures, and OIS implementation of the ZTE A41 Ultra, it’s difficult to assess its camera performance relative to the S22 Ultra. The S22 Ultra’s image processing is geared towards vibrant, shareable photos, while the ZTE A41 Ultra’s approach remains unknown. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on many phones in this class is often a marketing gimmick and unlikely to significantly impact image quality.

Performance

Both devices utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm) in certain regions, but the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra also ships with the Exynos 2200 (4nm) in Europe. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the ZTE A41 Ultra and the ROW version of the S22 Ultra feature an octa-core configuration with 1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2, 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510 cores. The Exynos 2200 variant of the S22 Ultra has a slightly lower peak Cortex-X2 clock speed at 2.8 GHz. While the CPU core arrangement is similar, the Exynos 2200 has historically faced criticism regarding thermal throttling under sustained load, potentially impacting long gaming sessions. The ZTE A41 Ultra, with its dedicated Snapdragon variant, may offer more consistent performance. Both devices likely utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the speed and configuration are unspecified.

Battery Life

Both the ZTE A41 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G achieve an endurance rating of 108 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage patterns. However, the ZTE A41 Ultra boasts significantly faster 66W wired charging with PD3.0 and QC4 support, compared to the S22 Ultra’s 45W wired charging, 15W wireless (Qi), and 4.5W reverse wireless. This means the ZTE A41 Ultra can likely charge from 0-100% much faster, offering a more convenient charging experience. The S22 Ultra’s wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities provide added flexibility, but the charging speed is considerably slower.

Buying Guide

Buy the ZTE A41 Ultra if you prioritize raw processing power and fast 66W charging, and are comfortable with a potentially less refined software experience. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G if you value a brighter, more color-accurate display, a more versatile camera system, and the established ecosystem of Samsung's One UI.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 2200 chip in the European Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G overheat during demanding tasks like gaming?
The Exynos 2200 has been known to exhibit thermal throttling under sustained load, potentially leading to reduced performance during extended gaming sessions or video recording. While Samsung has implemented thermal management solutions, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 variant generally offers more consistent performance in this regard.
❓ How significant is the difference in charging speed between the ZTE A41 Ultra's 66W charging and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra's 45W charging?
The 66W charging on the ZTE A41 Ultra will significantly reduce charging times compared to the S22 Ultra's 45W charging. Expect a faster 0-100% charge on the ZTE A41 Ultra, potentially shaving off 20-30 minutes depending on battery capacity and charging conditions.
❓ Is the lack of detailed camera specifications for the ZTE A41 Ultra a cause for concern?
Yes, the absence of detailed camera specs makes it difficult to assess its capabilities. While megapixel count isn't everything, knowing the sensor size, aperture, and OIS implementation is crucial for evaluating image quality and low-light performance. Without this information, it's hard to determine how it stacks up against the S22 Ultra's proven camera system.