ZTE Axon 20 5G Extreme vs Samsung Galaxy A54: A Head-to-Head Showdown

The smartphone market is overflowing with options, making it tough to choose. Today, we're pitting two compelling contenders against each other: the ZTE Axon 20 5G Extreme, known for its under-display camera, and the Samsung Galaxy A54, a popular mid-range champion. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone emerges victorious.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A54 takes the crown overall. While the Axon 20 5G boasts a unique under-display camera and decent performance, the A54’s superior display, longer battery life, and Samsung’s software support make it the more well-rounded and reliable choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE Axon 20 5G Extreme Samsung Galaxy A54
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, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2020, December 03. Released 2020, December 222023, March 15
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, March 24
Body
BuildGlass front, eco leather back, plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions172.1 x 77.9 x 8 mm (6.78 x 3.07 x 0.31 in)158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight198 g (6.98 oz)202 g (7.13 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2460 pixels (~388 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.92 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 90HzSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)
 Always-on display-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 620Mali-G68 MP5
OSAndroid 10, MiFavor 10.5Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 12GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad64 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Single-32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, HDR, 10‑bit video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR-
Single32 MP, f/2.0, (wide), under display32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only)
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging30W wired, QC4, 60% in 30 min25W wired
TypeLi-Ion 4220 mAh5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsSunrise YellowLime, Graphite, Violet, White
ModelsA2121SM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W
PriceAbout 440 EUR€ 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999
SAR-0.81 W/kg (head)     0.67 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.69 W/kg (head)     1.34 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 119h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.6 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE Axon 20 5G Extreme

  • Unique under-display camera
  • 5G connectivity
  • Faster charging (30W)
  • Generally more affordable

  • Less impressive display
  • Weaker performance than A54
  • Less refined camera
  • Software support may be limited

Samsung Galaxy A54

  • Excellent display (brightness, contrast)
  • Longer battery life
  • Better camera performance
  • Samsung's software and support
  • More powerful processor

  • Slower charging (25W)
  • Potentially higher price

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A54’s display is a clear winner. Its 980 nits peak brightness and infinite contrast ratio offer a significantly more vibrant and immersive viewing experience compared to the Axon 20 5G. While the Axon 20 5G has a decent display, it lacks the A54’s color accuracy and brightness.

Camera Comparison

While the Axon 20 5G's under-display camera is a novelty, the Galaxy A54 consistently delivers better photo and video quality. Samsung's image processing is generally more refined, resulting in more natural-looking images and better low-light performance. The A54 also offers more versatile camera features.

Performance

The Snapdragon 765G in the Axon 20 5G is still capable, but the Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A54 offers a noticeable performance boost, especially in demanding tasks. The A54's newer architecture and 5nm process contribute to better efficiency and smoother multitasking.

Battery Life

The Galaxy A54 dominates in battery life. Its endurance rating of 119h is exceptional, significantly outperforming the Axon 20 5G. The A54’s efficient chipset and optimized software contribute to its impressive longevity.

Buying Guide

The ZTE Axon 20 5G Extreme is a good pick for those fascinated by innovative camera technology and seeking a budget-friendly 5G phone. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is ideal for users prioritizing a vibrant display, excellent battery life, a reliable camera system, and the stability of Samsung's software ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Axon 20 5G's under-display camera any good?
While innovative, the under-display camera on the Axon 20 5G doesn't match the quality of traditional cameras. It tends to produce softer images with less detail.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Samsung is known for its longer software update support, making the Galaxy A54 a more future-proof choice.