ZTE Axon 11 SE 5G vs Realme 8 5G: Which 5G Phone Delivers More?
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the ZTE Axon 11 SE 5G emerges as the stronger choice. Its Dimensity 800 chipset provides a noticeable performance edge over the Realme 8 5G’s Dimensity 700, making it better suited for demanding tasks and gaming. While both offer similar battery endurance and charging speeds, the Axon 11 SE’s superior processing power justifies its slight price premium.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE Axon 11 SE 5G | Realme 8 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA 800 | 1, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, June 01. Released 2020, June 22 | 2021, April 21 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, April 28 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 162.7 x 76.3 x 8.8 mm (6.41 x 3.00 x 0.35 in) | 162.5 x 74.8 x 8.5 mm (6.40 x 2.94 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 184 g (6.49 oz) | 185 g (6.53 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.53 inches, 104.7 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 480 nits (typ), 600 nits |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 800 (7 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57MP4 | Mali-G57 MC2 |
| OS | Android 10, MiFavor 10.1 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, Realme UI 4.0 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide) |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, 50% in 30 min | 18W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Aurora Glamour, Aurora Glacier | Supersonic Blue, Supersonic Black |
| Models | - | RMX3241 |
| Price | About 250 EUR | About 170 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 118h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: 1413:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -27.8 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 302059 (v8), 361505 (v9) GeekBench: 1784 (v5.1) GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE Axon 11 SE 5G
- More powerful Dimensity 800 chipset
- Potentially better sustained performance
- Stronger multi-core performance for multitasking
- Camera specs are less defined
- Software experience may be less refined than Realme
Realme 8 5G
- Potentially more polished software experience
- Good battery life with 118h endurance rating
- Competitive price point
- Dimensity 700 chipset is less powerful
- May struggle with demanding games or apps
- Camera performance is uncertain
Display Comparison
Both the ZTE Axon 11 SE 5G and the Realme 8 5G share a nominal contrast ratio of 1413:1, suggesting similar visual pop. However, detailed display specs like peak brightness, color gamut coverage, and panel type (LCD vs AMOLED) are missing. Given Realme’s tendency to prioritize display quality in this segment, it’s reasonable to assume the Realme 8 5G might offer slightly more vibrant colors or better outdoor visibility, but without concrete data, this remains speculative. Both devices likely utilize LCD panels, common in this price bracket.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details regarding sensor size, aperture, or optical image stabilization (OIS). The absence of these details makes a direct comparison difficult. It’s likely both devices rely on a multi-camera setup with a primary sensor, ultrawide, and potentially a macro lens. Given the market trends, the Realme 8 5G might have a slightly more polished camera software experience, but the ZTE Axon 11 SE’s processing power could potentially allow for faster image processing and better low-light performance. The inclusion of a 2MP macro lens on either device is likely a marketing gimmick with limited real-world utility.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The ZTE Axon 11 SE 5G’s Mediatek Dimensity 800 (7nm) features an octa-core configuration with 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A76 cores and 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. The Realme 8 5G, conversely, uses the Dimensity 700 (7nm) with 2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 cores and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. While the Realme 8 5G has slightly faster peak clock speeds on its prime cores, the Axon 11 SE’s four performance cores versus two on the Realme 8 5G should translate to better sustained multi-core performance. This difference will be most noticeable in demanding applications and multitasking scenarios. Both devices likely utilize LPDDR4X RAM, a standard for this price point.
Battery Life
Both the ZTE Axon 11 SE 5G and the Realme 8 5G share an endurance rating of 118 hours, indicating comparable battery life under typical usage. Both also support 18W wired charging, with a claimed 50% charge in 30 minutes. This suggests similar charging speeds and overall battery performance. The actual 0-100% charging time will likely be around 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on usage during charging. The similar endurance ratings suggest that battery capacity is likely in the 4500-5000 mAh range for both devices.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE Axon 11 SE 5G if you prioritize raw processing power for gaming, multitasking, or future-proofing. Its Dimensity 800 chipset offers a tangible performance advantage. Buy the Realme 8 5G if you value a consistently smooth experience for everyday tasks and appreciate a potentially more refined software experience, and are less concerned with pushing the phone to its absolute limits.