ZTE Axon 10 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S10+: Which 2019 Flagship Still Holds Up?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the ZTE Axon 10 Pro offers a better overall package. Its consistent Snapdragon 855 performance, coupled with competitive charging and a lower price point, outweighs the Galaxy S10+'s marginally better display and reverse wireless charging. However, Samsung's brand recognition and software support remain significant considerations.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE Axon 10 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S10+ |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global, USA |
| 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, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 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 | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, February. Released 2019, May | 2019, February 20 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2019, March 08 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), ceramic back, ceramic frame |
| Dimensions | 159.2 x 73.4 x 7.9 mm (6.27 x 2.89 x 0.31 in) | 157.6 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm (6.20 x 2.92 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 175 g (6.17 oz) | 175 g / 198 g (ceramic) (6.17 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density) | 1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~522 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 103.8 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, HDR10 | Dynamic AMOLED, HDR10+ |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M4 & 2x2.31 GHz Cortex-A75 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) - EMEA/LATAMOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) - USA/China |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Exynos 9820 (8 nm) - EMEA/LATAMQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/China |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Mali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAMAdreno 640 - USA/China |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, MiFavor 10.0 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, 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) | 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, AF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, Super Steady video |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@60fps (no EIS), 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 10 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, Dual Pixel PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm, depth sensor |
| Features | HDR | Dual video call, Auto-HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.8", 1.0µm | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | 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 |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio (USA & Canada only) |
| 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2 |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC4 Wireless (Qi) | 15W wired, PD2.0 15W wireless (Qi/PMA) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 4100 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue | Prism White, Prism Black, Prism Green, Prism Blue, Canary Yellow, Flamingo Pink, Ceramic Black, Ceramic White, Cardinal Red, Smoke Blue |
| Models | A10P3251, A10P3351 | SM-G975F, SM-G975U, SM-G975W, SM-G975U1, SM-G9750, SM-G975N, SM-G975X |
| Price | About 470 EUR | $ 199.00 / C$ 879.99 / £ 999.00 / € 299.00 / ₹ 39,940 |
| SAR | - | 1.06 W/kg (head) 1.03 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.52 W/kg (head) 1.58 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -93.0dB / Crosstalk -94.3dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 91h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.514 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -24.7 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 333736 (v7), 399901 (v8) GeekBench: 10387 (v4.4), 2190 (v5.1) GFXBench: 23fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE Axon 10 Pro
- More consistent performance with Snapdragon 855
- Faster wired charging (18W vs 15W)
- Generally lower price point
- Less brand recognition
- Lacks reverse wireless charging
Samsung Galaxy S10+
- Brighter, more vibrant display
- Reverse wireless charging for accessories
- Samsung’s established software ecosystem
- Exynos variant may suffer from throttling
- Higher price compared to Axon 10 Pro
- Potentially slower charging speeds
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S10+ boasts an 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) and a 4.514 contrast ratio in sunlight, suggesting superior visibility in bright conditions. While the Axon 10 Pro’s display specs aren’t detailed, Samsung’s Dynamic AMOLED panel is known for its vibrant colors and high peak brightness. However, the difference is likely subtle in real-world use. Both utilize Qi wireless charging, but Samsung’s display technology provides a slight edge for outdoor viewing.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer capable camera systems, but detailed sensor information is limited. The Galaxy S10+ likely benefits from Samsung’s image processing expertise, known for its vibrant and sometimes oversaturated colors. The Axon 10 Pro’s camera performance is less widely documented, but the Snapdragon 855’s ISP is highly capable. The presence of OIS on both devices is crucial for stable video recording. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on the S10+ is largely a marketing gimmick, offering minimal practical benefit over standard digital zoom.
Performance
The chipset is the core differentiator. The ZTE Axon 10 Pro exclusively features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm), while the Galaxy S10+ varies by region – utilizing the Exynos 9820 (8nm) in EMEA/LATAM and the Snapdragon 855 in USA/China. The 7nm process node of the Snapdragon 855 generally translates to better thermal efficiency compared to the 8nm Exynos 9820, potentially leading to less performance throttling during sustained workloads. Both CPUs are octa-core, but the Exynos uses a custom Mongoose M4 core alongside Cortex-A75 and A55, while the Snapdragon relies on Kryo 485 cores. For users in regions receiving the Exynos variant, thermal management is a key consideration.
Battery Life
The Galaxy S10+ achieves an impressive endurance rating of 91 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. While the Axon 10 Pro’s battery capacity isn’t specified, its 18W wired charging (QC4) is slightly faster than the S10+'s 15W (PD2.0). Samsung also offers 15W wireless charging and a unique 4.5W reverse wireless charging feature, allowing it to charge accessories like earbuds. The Axon 10 Pro supports Qi wireless charging, but lacks reverse wireless capabilities. The S10+'s endurance rating suggests a larger battery capacity, but the Axon 10 Pro’s faster charging could offset this difference for some users.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE Axon 10 Pro if you prioritize raw performance and value for money, and aren't heavily invested in the Samsung ecosystem. Its Snapdragon 855 delivers a consistently smooth experience. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S10+ if you value a slightly brighter display, the convenience of reverse wireless charging, and prefer Samsung’s One UI software experience, even if it comes at a premium.