ZTE Axon 10 Pro vs Huawei P30 Pro New Edition: Which 2019 Flagship Still Holds Up?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing raw performance and a more open software experience, the ZTE Axon 10 Pro emerges as the better choice. While the Huawei P30 Pro New Edition boasts significantly faster 40W charging, the Snapdragon 855’s efficiency and Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 4 support provide a compelling alternative, especially considering the P30 Pro’s potential software limitations.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE Axon 10 Pro | Huawei P30 Pro New Edition |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 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 | LTE |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat21 1400/200 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / 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 | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, February. Released 2019, May | 2020, May 12. Released 2020, June 01 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Aluminosilicate glass), glass back (Aluminosilicate glass), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 159.2 x 73.4 x 7.9 mm (6.27 x 2.89 x 0.31 in) | 158 x 73.4 x 8.4 mm (6.22 x 2.89 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 175 g (6.17 oz) | 192 g (6.77 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 mins) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, HDR10 | OLED, HDR10 |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Kirin 980 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Mali-G76 MP10 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, MiFavor 10.0 | Android 10, EMUI 10.1, Google Play Services |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | UFS 3.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Leica optics, color spectrum sensor, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR |
| 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) | 40 MP, f/1.6, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom 20 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.7", PDAF TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.8", 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| 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 |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC4 Wireless (Qi) | 40W wired, 70% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4200 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue | Aurora, Black, Silver Frost |
| Models | A10P3251, A10P3351 | - |
| Price | About 470 EUR | About 820 EUR |
ZTE Axon 10 Pro
- Superior CPU and GPU performance with Snapdragon 855
- More open Android ecosystem and software updates
- Efficient chipset for potentially longer battery life
- Slower 18W wired charging
- Lacks wireless charging capabilities
Huawei P30 Pro New Edition
- Ultra-fast 40W wired charging
- Innovative periscope zoom lens
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Kirin 980 prone to thermal throttling
- Potential software limitations with EMUI and Google Mobile Services
Display Comparison
Neither ZTE nor Huawei specified display details beyond size in their initial marketing. However, both likely utilized AMOLED panels, common for flagships of this era. The key difference lies in processing power impacting display responsiveness. The Snapdragon 855’s image signal processor (ISP) and graphics capabilities contribute to smoother animations and faster image processing for the display. While both likely offer excellent color accuracy, the Axon 10 Pro’s chipset provides a slight edge in overall visual fluidity.
Camera Comparison
Both phones were camera leaders in their time, but the specifics matter. While both likely feature multi-lens setups, the P30 Pro’s strength lay in its innovative periscope zoom lens. However, the Axon 10 Pro’s image processing, powered by the Snapdragon 855’s ISP, offers a different approach. The Snapdragon’s ISP excels in dynamic range and detail preservation. The P30 Pro’s 40MP main sensor is likely larger than the Axon 10 Pro’s, potentially capturing more light, but the Snapdragon’s processing can compensate for this. The P30 Pro’s zoom capabilities are a clear advantage, but the Axon 10 Pro offers a more balanced overall camera experience.
Performance
The core battleground is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm) in the Axon 10 Pro versus the Huawei Kirin 980 (7nm) in the P30 Pro New Edition. The Snapdragon 855’s Kryo 485 cores, with their varying clock speeds (2.84 GHz, 2.42 GHz, 1.78 GHz), are designed for a balance of performance and efficiency. The Kirin 980’s Cortex-A76 and A55 configuration, while competitive, generally trails the Snapdragon 855 in sustained performance and GPU capabilities. This translates to potentially better gaming performance and smoother multitasking on the Axon 10 Pro. The Kirin 980 is known to exhibit more thermal throttling under prolonged heavy load, impacting sustained performance. The Axon 10 Pro benefits from Qualcomm’s optimizations and potentially better thermal design.
Battery Life
The Huawei P30 Pro New Edition’s 40W wired charging is a significant advantage, capable of reaching 70% charge in just 30 minutes. The ZTE Axon 10 Pro’s 18W charging, while supporting Quick Charge 4, is considerably slower. However, the Snapdragon 855’s efficiency can offset this difference in daily use. The P30 Pro also offers 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Axon 10 Pro. While the P30 Pro’s charging speed is faster, the Axon 10 Pro’s chipset efficiency contributes to potentially longer battery life during typical usage scenarios.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE Axon 10 Pro if you need a phone with a consistently smooth experience for demanding apps and gaming, and value a more open Android ecosystem. Buy the Huawei P30 Pro New Edition if you prioritize extremely fast wired charging and are comfortable with the EMUI software environment, potentially navigating around Google Mobile Services restrictions depending on your region.