ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G vs Huawei P40 Pro+: Which 5G Flagship Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing raw performance and value, the ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G emerges as the stronger contender. Its Snapdragon 865 chipset provides a robust foundation for gaming and demanding tasks, and its more affordable price makes it a compelling alternative to the premium-priced Huawei P40 Pro+.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G | Huawei P40 Pro+ |
| 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, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 41, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA 800 / 1900 & TD-SCDMA | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, February 06 | 2020, March 26 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, June 06 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front, ceramic back, ceramic frame |
| Dimensions | 159.2 x 73.4 x 7.9 mm (6.27 x 2.89 x 0.31 in) | 158.2 x 72.6 x 9 mm (6.23 x 2.86 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 175 g (6.17 oz) | 226 g (7.97 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density) | 1200 x 2640 pixels (~441 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.58 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, HDR10 | OLED, 90Hz, HDR10 |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Mali-G76 MP16 |
| OS | Android 10, MiFavor 10 | Android 10, EMUI 10.1, no Google Play Services |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | UFS 3.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Leica optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/4.4, 240mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 40 MP, f/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), 1/1.54", PDAF TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.7, 28mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 20 MP, f/2.2, 125˚, 16mm (ultrawide) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720@7680fps, 1080p@960fps, HDR; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.8", 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, AF IR TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| 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 | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, 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 | Infrared Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC4 Wireless (Qi) | 40W wired 40W wireless 27W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4200 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue, Black | White Ceramic, Black Ceramic |
| Models | - | ELS-N39, ELS-AN10 |
| Price | - | About 1000 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 95h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -27.4 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 529687 (v8) GeekBench: 3203 (v5.1) GFXBench: 31fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G
- More affordable price point
- Powerful Snapdragon 865 chipset
- Reliable QC4 fast charging
- Slower charging speeds compared to P40 Pro+
- Display brightness and quality are unknown
- Camera likely inferior to P40 Pro+
Huawei P40 Pro+
- Superior camera system
- Faster wired and wireless charging
- Brighter and higher contrast display
- Higher price tag
- Kirin 990 5G may exhibit thermal throttling
- Software concerns due to US sanctions (historical context)
Display Comparison
The Huawei P40 Pro+ boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 760 nits, which translates to better visibility under direct sunlight compared to the Axon 10s Pro 5G (brightness data unavailable). While both utilize 7nm+ fabrication, the P40 Pro+'s 'Infinite' contrast ratio suggests a superior OLED panel capable of deeper blacks. However, without PWM frequency data for the Axon 10s Pro 5G, it's difficult to assess potential eye strain for sensitive users. The P40 Pro+'s display is likely to offer a more visually striking experience, but the Axon 10s Pro 5G's display quality remains a question mark without further data.
Camera Comparison
The P40 Pro+ is clearly positioned as the camera champion. While specific sensor details are missing for both, the P40 Pro+’s reputation centers around its advanced image processing and versatile lens array. The Axon 10s Pro 5G likely offers a competent camera experience, but it’s unlikely to match the P40 Pro+'s capabilities in low-light photography or zoom performance. The P40 Pro+'s image processing algorithms are likely more refined, offering better dynamic range and color accuracy. Without detailed sensor specifications for the Axon 10s Pro 5G, a direct comparison is difficult, but the P40 Pro+ holds a significant advantage in this category.
Performance
The core of the performance difference lies in the chipsets: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 5G in the Axon 10s Pro 5G versus Huawei’s Kirin 990 5G in the P40 Pro+. Both are built on a 7nm+ process, but the Snapdragon 865 utilizes newer Cortex-A77 cores (1x2.84 GHz & 3x2.42 GHz) alongside A55 cores, potentially offering a slight edge in sustained performance. The Kirin 990 5G employs older Cortex-A76 cores (2x2.86 GHz & 2x2.36 GHz) and A55 cores. While the Kirin 990 5G's architecture is efficient, the Snapdragon 865's Adreno 650 GPU is generally considered superior for gaming. Thermal management is a key consideration; the Kirin 990 5G has been known to exhibit throttling under sustained load, a potential issue for extended gaming sessions.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 95 hours, suggesting comparable real-world battery life. However, the charging capabilities differ dramatically. The P40 Pro+ supports a blazing-fast 40W wired charging, 40W wireless charging, and even 27W reverse wireless charging. The Axon 10s Pro 5G is limited to 18W wired charging with QC4 and standard Qi wireless charging. This means the P40 Pro+ can replenish its battery significantly faster, offering a more convenient charging experience. The P40 Pro+'s wireless charging capabilities are particularly noteworthy, providing a level of convenience the Axon 10s Pro 5G cannot match.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G if you need a powerful 5G phone for gaming and everyday use without breaking the bank. Its Snapdragon 865 offers excellent performance, and the QC4-compatible 18W charging is reliable. Buy the Huawei P40 Pro+ if you prioritize camera versatility and cutting-edge charging technology, and are willing to pay a premium for features like 40W wireless charging and a potentially more refined image processing pipeline.