ZTE Axon 10 Pro vs Sony Xperia 10 VII: A Detailed Comparison of Performance and Endurance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing long-term battery life and consistent performance, the Sony Xperia 10 VII is the better choice. While the ZTE Axon 10 Pro boasts a more powerful chipset, the Xperia 10 VII’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 and optimized endurance offer a smoother, more reliable experience day-to-day.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE Axon 10 Pro | Sony Xperia 10 VII |
| 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) / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 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 | 2025, September 12 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2025, September 19 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 159.2 x 73.4 x 7.9 mm (6.27 x 2.89 x 0.31 in) | 153 x 72 x 8.3 mm (6.02 x 2.83 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 175 g (6.17 oz) | 168 g (5.93 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~422 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, HDR10 | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM6475-AB Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 710 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, MiFavor 10.0 | Android 15, upgradable to Android 16, up to 4 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 16mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0" |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, 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, gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.8", 1.0µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | - |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.4, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC4 Wireless (Qi) | Wired, PD, QC |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue | White, Turquoise, Charcoal |
| Models | A10P3251, A10P3351 | XQ-FE54, XQZ-CBFE, xqfe54eukcl.gc, xqfe54eukcw.gc, xqfe54eukcb.gc |
| Price | About 470 EUR | $ 459.99 / £ 329.00 / € 379.00 |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | - | 48:10h endurance, 1400 cycles |
| Energy | - | Class B |
| Free fall | - | Class C (90 falls) |
| Repairability | - | Class D |
ZTE Axon 10 Pro
- More powerful processor for demanding tasks
- Wireless charging support
- Potentially larger main camera sensor
- Less efficient processor leading to shorter battery life
- Older chipset architecture
- May experience thermal throttling under heavy load
Sony Xperia 10 VII
- Exceptional battery life and endurance
- Bright and clear display (1064 nits)
- More efficient processor (4nm)
- Long-term battery health (1400 cycles)
- Less powerful processor for intensive gaming
- Wired charging only
- Potentially smaller camera sensor
Display Comparison
The Sony Xperia 10 VII’s display is a standout feature, achieving a measured peak brightness of 1064 nits. This significantly surpasses what was typical for the ZTE Axon 10 Pro’s panel, though exact figures for the Axon 10 Pro are unavailable. The Xperia 10 VII’s brightness ensures excellent visibility outdoors. While the Axon 10 Pro likely offered good color accuracy for its time, the Xperia 10 VII benefits from modern display calibration techniques. The absence of high refresh rate panels on either device means smoothness relies on software optimization, where Sony typically excels.
Camera Comparison
Detailed camera specs for the Axon 10 Pro are needed for a precise comparison, but it’s reasonable to assume it featured a larger main sensor than the Xperia 10 VII, typical of flagship phones from that era. However, image processing has improved significantly since 2019. Sony’s Xperia 10 VII likely benefits from more advanced computational photography algorithms, potentially resulting in better dynamic range and low-light performance. Without specific sensor size data for the Axon 10 Pro, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the Xperia 10 VII’s modern image pipeline is a significant advantage.
Performance
The ZTE Axon 10 Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm) was a flagship processor in its day, featuring an octa-core CPU with a prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz. However, the Sony Xperia 10 VII’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4nm) utilizes a more modern and efficient manufacturing process. While the 6 Gen 3’s CPU clock speeds (2.4 GHz Cortex-A78) are lower, the 4nm node provides superior power efficiency and thermal management. This means the Xperia 10 VII is less likely to throttle under sustained load, offering more consistent performance. The Axon 10 Pro’s raw CPU power will be faster in benchmarks, but real-world gains may be minimal for typical tasks.
Battery Life
The Sony Xperia 10 VII truly shines in battery life. Its reported 48:10h endurance and 12:57h active use score are exceptional. The ZTE Axon 10 Pro, with its 18W charging (QC4) and wireless charging (Qi), offers convenience, but the Xperia 10 VII’s efficiency offsets the Axon 10 Pro’s charging speed. The 4nm process of the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 contributes significantly to the Xperia 10 VII’s longevity, and the 1400 cycle battery life suggests a focus on long-term usability.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE Axon 10 Pro if you need maximum processing power for demanding tasks like gaming or video editing, and are willing to accept potentially shorter battery life. Buy the Sony Xperia 10 VII if you prioritize exceptional battery endurance, a bright and clear display, and a consistently smooth user experience without the need for flagship-level performance.