ZTE Axon 10 Pro vs Google Pixel 4 XL: A Detailed Comparison of Snapdragon 855 Flagships
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user in 2024, the Google Pixel 4 XL emerges as the stronger choice. While both phones share the Snapdragon 855, the Pixel 4 XL’s superior camera system, coupled with Google’s software support and a comparable battery endurance rating, justifies its slightly higher price. However, the Axon 10 Pro remains a compelling option for budget-conscious buyers.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE Axon 10 Pro | Google Pixel 4 XL |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 - Global |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 - USA | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, February. Released 2019, May | 2019, October 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2019, October 22 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 159.2 x 73.4 x 7.9 mm (6.27 x 2.89 x 0.31 in) | 160.4 x 75.1 x 8.2 mm (6.31 x 2.96 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 175 g (6.17 oz) | 193 g (6.81 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density) | 1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~537 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 98.0 cm2 (~81.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, HDR10 | P-OLED, 90Hz, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, MiFavor 10.0 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 20 MP, f/2.2, 11mm (ultrawide) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.8", 1.0µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1.22µm, no AF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC4 Wireless (Qi) | 18W wired, PD2.0 Wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3700 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue | Clearly White, Just Black, Oh So Orange |
| Models | A10P3251, A10P3351 | G020P, G020, GA01181-US, GA01182-US, GA01180-US |
| Price | About 470 EUR | About 180 EUR |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 364.52 |
| 64GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 274.99 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 149.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -93.9 / Crosstalk -94.1 |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 73h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 80dB / Noise 78dB / Ring 88dB |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 323305 (v7), 403267 (v8) GeekBench: 10171 (v4.4), 2267 (v5.1) GFXBench: 21fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE Axon 10 Pro
- More affordable price point
- Quick Charge 4 support for potentially faster charging with compatible adapters
- Offers a flagship-level processor at a budget price
- Less refined camera system compared to the Pixel 4 XL
- Software updates may be less frequent and slower to arrive
- Potentially less optimized thermal management
Google Pixel 4 XL
- Superior camera performance, especially in low light
- Clean and timely Android updates directly from Google
- Optimized software experience for smooth performance
- Higher price compared to the ZTE Axon 10 Pro
- Battery life is comparable, not superior, to the Axon 10 Pro
- May have limited long-term software support
Display Comparison
Both the Axon 10 Pro and Pixel 4 XL feature AMOLED displays, but detailed specifications beyond that are missing. Given the Pixel 4 XL’s positioning as a flagship, it likely boasts a higher peak brightness and potentially a more accurate color calibration. The Pixel 4 XL’s 90Hz refresh rate (a common feature for the time) would provide a smoother scrolling experience compared to the Axon 10 Pro, assuming the latter is limited to 60Hz. Bezels are likely comparable, reflecting the design trends of 2019.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 4 XL’s camera is its defining feature. While both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Pixel’s reputation for computational photography – particularly its HDR+ processing and Night Sight mode – significantly surpasses what the Axon 10 Pro likely offers. The Pixel 4 XL’s image processing excels in dynamic range and low-light conditions. Sensor size and lens apertures are unknown for both, but Google’s software algorithms compensate for potentially smaller hardware. The Axon 10 Pro’s camera is likely competent, but won’t match the Pixel’s consistently high image quality.
Performance
Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) chipset, featuring an Octa-core CPU configuration (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485, 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485, and 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485). This means raw processing power will be nearly identical. Performance differences will likely stem from RAM management and thermal throttling. The Pixel 4 XL, benefiting from Google’s software optimization, may exhibit slightly more consistent performance under sustained load. Both phones utilize LPDDR4X RAM, and while the exact speed isn't specified, it's a standard configuration for the Snapdragon 855 era.
Battery Life
Both the Axon 10 Pro and Pixel 4 XL share an endurance rating of 73h, suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite potentially different battery capacities. The Axon 10 Pro supports 18W wired charging with Quick Charge 4 (QC4) technology, while the Pixel 4 XL utilizes 18W wired charging with Power Delivery 2.0 (PD2.0). Both also support wireless charging via Qi standard. The difference in charging protocols doesn’t translate to a significant speed advantage, as both are capped at 18W. The similar endurance ratings suggest efficient power management on both devices.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE Axon 10 Pro if you prioritize maximizing value and are comfortable with a less refined software experience. It’s ideal for users who want a capable Snapdragon 855 phone without breaking the bank. Buy the Google Pixel 4 XL if you value a best-in-class camera, clean and timely Android updates, and a more polished overall user experience, even if it means spending a bit more.