The ZTE Axon 11 4G represented a solid mid-range offering in its time, but the smartphone landscape has shifted dramatically. The OnePlus Nord 5 arrives with a modern chipset and charging technology, creating a stark contrast. This comparison dissects the key differences to determine which phone best suits your needs in 2024.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the vast majority of users, the OnePlus Nord 5 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset provides a substantial performance boost, coupled with incredibly fast 80W charging and a brighter, more modern display. The Axon 11 4G remains a viable option only for those on an extremely tight budget.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 32, 38 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, June 04. Released 2020, June 17 | 2025, July 08 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2025, July 08 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 7i), glass back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 159.2 x 73.4 x 7.9 mm (6.27 x 2.89 x 0.31 in) | 163.4 x 77 x 8.1 mm (6.43 x 3.03 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 168 g (5.93 oz) | 211 g (7.44 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, Mohs level 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density) | 1272 x 2800 pixels (~450 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.83 inches, 113.3 cm2 (~90.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED | Swift AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 3840Hz PWM, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1400 nits (HBM), 1800 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.1 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A520) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6771 Helio P70 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G72 MP3 | Adreno 735 |
| OS | Android 10, MiFavor 10 | Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades, OxygenOS 15 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, AF |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, Ultra HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | Panorama |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.8", 1.0µm | 50 MP, f/2.0, 21mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | - |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LHDC 5 |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Unspecified | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | - | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| 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, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | Wired | 80W wired, 33W PPS, 18W PD, 100% in just 54 min
5W reverse wired
Bypass charging |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh | Market-dependent versions:· 5200 mAh (Europe)· 6800 mAh (Global) |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White, Black | Phantom Grey, Dry Ice, Marble Sands |
| Models | - | CPH2709 |
| Price | About 280 EUR | £ 339.00 / € 294.97 / ₹ 31,998 |
| SAR | - | 1.18 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| EU LABEL |
|---|
| Battery | - | 49:12h endurance, 1200 cycles |
| Energy | - | Class B |
| Free fall | - | Class C (90 falls) |
| Repairability | - | Class B |
ZTE Axon 11 4G
- Lower price point (likely)
- May be sufficient for basic tasks
- Potentially more compact design
- Significantly slower performance
- Outdated chipset and architecture
- Slower charging speeds
- Likely inferior display quality
OnePlus Nord 5
- Exceptional performance with Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
- Ultra-fast 80W charging
- Bright and vibrant display (1330 nits)
- Long battery life (49:12h endurance)
- Reverse wired charging and bypass charging
- Higher price point
- May be larger and heavier than the Axon 11 4G
- Software updates may be limited compared to flagship OnePlus devices
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Nord 5 boasts a significantly superior display experience. With a measured peak brightness of 1330 nits, it will remain easily visible even in direct sunlight, a stark contrast to the Axon 11 4G’s likely lower peak brightness (spec not provided, but typical of the era). While the Axon 11 4G’s panel technology isn’t specified, the Nord 5’s likely utilizes a more modern AMOLED panel with potentially higher color accuracy and contrast. The absence of refresh rate information for the Axon 11 4G further highlights the Nord 5’s advantage, as modern displays offer smoother scrolling and animations.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications for the ZTE Axon 11 4G, a direct comparison is limited. However, the OnePlus Nord 5 benefits from a more modern image signal processor (ISP) integrated within the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, enabling superior image processing capabilities. While sensor size and aperture data are missing for both, the newer chipset on the Nord 5 will likely deliver better dynamic range, noise reduction, and overall image quality. The Axon 11 4G likely relies on older image processing algorithms, resulting in less refined photos and videos.
Performance
The performance gap between these two devices is immense. The OnePlus Nord 5’s Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4nm) is built on a far more efficient process node than the ZTE Axon 11 4G’s Mediatek MT6771 Helio P70 (12nm). The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3’s CPU configuration – a 1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4, 4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720, and 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A520 – offers significantly higher single-core and multi-core performance compared to the Axon 11 4G’s 4x2.1 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a much more enjoyable gaming experience. The 4nm process also means better thermal management, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during sustained workloads.
Battery Life
The OnePlus Nord 5’s battery endurance of 49:12h and active use score of 13:47h demonstrate a significant advantage over the Axon 11 4G, which lacks comparable data. Crucially, the Nord 5’s 80W wired charging, alongside 33W PPS and 18W PD support, allows for a full charge in just 54 minutes – a game-changer for convenience. The Axon 11 4G, limited to wired charging only, will take considerably longer to replenish its battery. The Nord 5 also offers 5W reverse wired charging and bypass charging, features absent on the older ZTE model.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE Axon 11 4G if you prioritize absolute affordability and basic smartphone functionality, and are willing to accept significantly slower performance and charging speeds. Buy the OnePlus Nord 5 if you demand a smooth, responsive experience for gaming, multitasking, and content consumption, and value the convenience of rapid charging and a vibrant display. The Nord 5 is for users who want a phone that keeps up with their pace.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 in the OnePlus Nord 5 get hot during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is built on a 4nm process, which offers excellent thermal efficiency. While it will get warm during prolonged gaming, the Nord 5’s thermal management system is designed to prevent significant throttling, maintaining consistent performance for longer periods compared to the older Helio P70 in the Axon 11 4G.
❓ How does the 80W charging on the OnePlus Nord 5 compare to standard fast charging?
80W charging is significantly faster than typical fast charging solutions. The Nord 5 can charge from 0 to 100% in just 54 minutes, whereas the Axon 11 4G, lacking comparable charging technology, will take considerably longer. This means less downtime and more time using your phone.
❓ Is the difference in CPU performance between the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 and Helio P70 noticeable in everyday tasks?
Absolutely. While both phones can handle basic tasks like browsing and social media, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 provides a much smoother and more responsive experience, especially when multitasking or opening demanding applications. The difference is particularly noticeable in graphically intensive games and video editing.
