ZTE A41 Ultra vs. vivo X80 Pro: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance and Charging

The ZTE A41 Ultra and vivo X80 Pro represent compelling options in the flagship Android space, both powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. However, the X80 Pro offers a Mediatek Dimensity 9000 variant, and significant differences in charging technology and battery endurance create a clear divergence in target users. This comparison dissects these nuances to help you choose the right device.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing rapid charging and a balanced feature set, the vivo X80 Pro emerges as the winner. Its 80W wired and 50W wireless charging capabilities, coupled with comparable battery life, offer a more convenient experience. The A41 Ultra remains a strong contender, but lags behind in charging speed.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE A41 Ultra vivo X80 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 - International
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 66, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced20222022, April 25
StatusAvailable. Released 2022Available. Released 2022, April 29
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Schott Xensation Up), glass back or ceramic back or eco leather back, aluminum frame
Dimensions161.9 x 72.9 x 8.5 mm (6.37 x 2.87 x 0.33 in)164.6 x 75.3 x 9.1 mm (6.48 x 2.96 x 0.36 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight199 g (7.02 oz)215 g / 219 g (7.58 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Schott Xensation Up
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~517 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 111.4 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 144HzLTPO3 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.05 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Mediatek Dimensity 9000 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 730Mali-G710 MC10
OSAndroid 12, MyOS 12Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, Funtouch 14 (Global), OriginOS Ocean (China)
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, Pixel Shift, dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-50 MP, f/1.6, (wide), 1/1.3", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, (periscope telephoto), 1/4.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/1.9, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.93", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, 2x optical zoom, gimbal OIS 48 MP, f/2.2, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", AF
Single-32 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
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@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single44 MP, (wide)32 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
VideoYes1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackUnspecifiedNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2 (Snapdragon)/ 5.3 (Dimensity), A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1 (Global)/ 3.2 (China), OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging66W wired, PD3.0, QC480W wired, 100% in 38 min 50W wireless, 100% in 50 min Reverse wired
Type5000 mAh4700 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlackCosmic Black, Blue, Orange
Models-V2185A, V2145
Price-About 850 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 79h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.1 LUFS (Very good)

ZTE A41 Ultra

  • Potentially lower price point
  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 performance
  • Solid battery endurance (79h)

  • Slower charging speed (66W wired only)
  • Missing wireless charging
  • Limited camera information

vivo X80 Pro

  • Faster 80W wired and 50W wireless charging
  • Option of Mediatek Dimensity 9000 variant
  • Likely superior camera system

  • Potentially higher price
  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 can throttle under load
  • Dimensity 9000 variant may not be available in all regions

Display Comparison

The vivo X80 Pro boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured peak of 1014 nits, which translates to better visibility under direct sunlight compared to the ZTE A41 Ultra (brightness data unavailable). While both likely utilize high refresh rate panels, the X80 Pro’s infinite contrast ratio suggests a superior OLED panel. The absence of detailed display specs for the A41 Ultra makes a precise comparison difficult, but the X80 Pro clearly holds an advantage in raw display performance.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking for the ZTE A41 Ultra. The vivo X80 Pro, based on its market positioning, is expected to feature a more sophisticated camera system with larger sensors and advanced image processing. Without specific sensor sizes or aperture details for the A41 Ultra, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. However, the X80 Pro’s reputation for image quality suggests a significant advantage in this area.

Performance

Both phones are available with the Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm), featuring the same CPU core configuration: 1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2, 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510. However, the vivo X80 Pro adds a variant with the Mediatek Dimensity 9000 (4nm), which features a slightly higher peak Cortex-X2 clock speed (3.05 GHz) and faster Cortex-A710 cores (2.85 GHz). This suggests a marginal performance uplift in CPU-intensive tasks on the Dimensity variant. Thermal management will be key; the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is known to throttle under sustained load, and the Dimensity 9000’s larger process node *could* offer better efficiency, though real-world testing is needed to confirm.

Battery Life

Both the ZTE A41 Ultra and vivo X80 Pro achieve an endurance rating of 79 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, the charging capabilities are drastically different. The vivo X80 Pro supports 80W wired charging (100% in 38 minutes) and 50W wireless charging (100% in 50 minutes), alongside reverse wired charging. The ZTE A41 Ultra is limited to 66W wired charging with PD3.0 and QC4 support, lacking wireless charging. This makes the X80 Pro significantly more convenient for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.

Buying Guide

Buy the ZTE A41 Ultra if you need a solid Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 performer at a potentially lower price point, and aren't heavily reliant on ultra-fast charging. Buy the vivo X80 Pro if you prefer a more complete flagship experience with significantly faster wired and wireless charging, and the option of a Mediatek Dimensity 9000 variant for potentially improved thermal management.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in either phone tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is known to generate significant heat under sustained load, potentially leading to thermal throttling. The vivo X80 Pro’s optional Dimensity 9000 variant *may* offer better thermal efficiency, but both phones will likely experience some performance reduction during extended gaming. Active cooling solutions (like gaming cases) could mitigate this.
❓ How does the 50W wireless charging on the vivo X80 Pro compare to other wireless charging solutions?
50W wireless charging is exceptionally fast, significantly exceeding the 15W-25W commonly found on other flagship devices. This allows for a full charge in approximately 50 minutes, making it a viable alternative to wired charging for many users. It's a key advantage of the X80 Pro.
❓ Is the lack of detailed camera specs for the ZTE A41 Ultra a cause for concern?
Yes, the absence of specific camera information is concerning. It suggests the A41 Ultra may not prioritize camera performance as heavily as the vivo X80 Pro. Without knowing sensor sizes, apertures, or image processing capabilities, it's difficult to assess its photographic potential.