ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G vs. vivo X50 Pro+: A Deep Dive into Snapdragon 865 Flagships

The ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G and the vivo X50 Pro+ represent interesting points in the Snapdragon 865 lifecycle. The Axon 10s Pro 5G aimed to deliver flagship performance at a more accessible price point, while the X50 Pro+ pushed the boundaries of mobile photography. Both devices share the same core chipset, making a detailed comparison of their supporting hardware crucial for discerning buyers.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing rapid charging and potentially superior camera capabilities, the vivo X50 Pro+ is the stronger choice. While the ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G offers a compelling value proposition, the X50 Pro+'s 44W charging and reported endurance rating give it a practical edge.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G vivo X50 Pro+
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands41, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)HSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 / 1900 & TD-SCDMACDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA
Launch
Announced2020, February 062020, June 01. Released 2020, July 11
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front, eco leather back or glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions159.2 x 73.4 x 7.9 mm (6.27 x 2.89 x 0.31 in)158.5 x 73 x 8.8 mm (6.24 x 2.87 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight175 g (6.17 oz)192.2 g (6.77 oz)
Display
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density)1080 x 2376 pixels (~398 ppi density)
Size6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.56 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, HDR10AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10, MiFavor 10Android 10, Funtouch 10.5
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/3.0, 135mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 32 MP, f/2.1, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm
Triple48 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)-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.8", 1.0µm32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
 24-bit/192kHz audio32-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging18W wired, QC4 Wireless (Qi)44W wired, 62% in 30 min
TypeLi-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable4350 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlue, BlackBlue, Brown
Models-V2011A
Price-About 630 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 93h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.5 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 621433 (v8) GeekBench: 3411 (v5.1) GFXBench: 43fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G

  • More affordable price point
  • Supports Qi wireless charging
  • Capable Snapdragon 865 performance

  • Slow 18W charging
  • Potentially less advanced camera system
  • Missing details on display specs (refresh rate, brightness)

vivo X50 Pro+

  • Significantly faster 44W charging
  • Potentially superior camera performance
  • Longer reported battery endurance

  • Higher price tag
  • No mention of wireless charging support
  • Missing details on display specs (refresh rate, brightness)

Display Comparison

Both devices boast displays with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels likely achieved through OLED technology. However, specific details like peak brightness and color gamut coverage are missing. The lack of information on refresh rates is also notable; the market trend at the time favored 90Hz or 120Hz panels, and the absence of this spec on either device is a potential drawback compared to competitors. Bezels are likely comparable given the similar overall design philosophies of maximizing screen real estate.

Camera Comparison

The vivo X50 Pro+ is positioned as a camera-centric device, though specific sensor details are lacking in the provided data. The mention of 'Photo / Video' suggests a focus on both still and moving image capture. The absence of detailed sensor specifications makes a direct comparison difficult, but the X50 Pro+ likely features a more advanced camera system overall, potentially including larger sensors and more sophisticated image processing algorithms. The ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G likely offers a competent camera experience, but it's unlikely to match the X50 Pro+'s capabilities. Ignoring the likely inclusion of 2MP macro/depth sensors on both devices, the main sensor and image processing pipeline are the critical factors.

Performance

Both the ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G and the vivo X50 Pro+ are powered by the Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+). This means they share the same CPU configuration: an octa-core setup with 1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. Performance will be largely identical in CPU-bound tasks. The key differentiator will be thermal management. The X50 Pro+’s larger chassis *potentially* allows for a more robust cooling solution, mitigating throttling during sustained workloads like gaming. RAM configurations are not specified, but LPDDR5 is expected on both, contributing to fast application loading and multitasking.

Battery Life

Both devices report an endurance rating of 93 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite the lack of specific mAh capacities. However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G supports 18W wired charging with Quick Charge 4 (QC4) and Qi wireless charging. The vivo X50 Pro+ boasts a significantly faster 44W wired charging capability, capable of reaching 62% charge in just 30 minutes. This difference in charging speed is a major advantage for the X50 Pro+, especially for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.

Buying Guide

Buy the ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G if you need a capable 5G phone on a tighter budget and aren't overly concerned with the absolute fastest charging speeds. Buy the vivo X50 Pro+ if you prioritize camera performance, faster charging (44W vs 18W), and are willing to pay a premium for those features. Both are excellent choices for media consumption and gaming, but the X50 Pro+ caters to the power user.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G's 18W charging feel noticeably slow in 2024?
Yes, compared to modern charging standards (65W, 120W, etc.), 18W charging is relatively slow. It will take considerably longer to fully charge the device, potentially over two hours. This is a significant drawback for users accustomed to faster charging technologies.
❓ Is the camera on the vivo X50 Pro+ still competitive in 2024, given the rapid advancements in mobile photography?
While the X50 Pro+ was a strong contender in its time, camera technology has evolved significantly. However, a Snapdragon 865-powered device with a focus on photography will still deliver respectable results, especially in good lighting conditions. Expect excellent image quality, but it may not match the computational photography capabilities of newer flagship phones.
❓ Will either of these phones struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile?
The Snapdragon 865 is still a capable chipset, but demanding games may require reduced graphics settings to maintain a stable frame rate. Thermal throttling could also become a factor during extended gaming sessions, potentially impacting performance. The X50 Pro+ *might* handle this slightly better due to potentially improved cooling.