The ZTE Axon 20 5G Extreme arrived with a unique under-display camera, aiming for a truly bezel-less experience. However, it launched alongside more conventionally powerful contenders like the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G. Now, with price drops on both devices, the question arises: does the Axon 20’s innovation outweigh the Mi 10T Pro’s raw performance?
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G is the better buy. Its Snapdragon 865 chipset delivers significantly faster performance, crucial for demanding tasks and gaming, while maintaining comparable battery life thanks to efficient power management. The Axon 20’s under-display camera is a novelty, but doesn’t justify the performance gap.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 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, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA 800 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, December 03. Released 2020, December 22 | 2020, September 30. Released 2020, October 13 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, eco leather back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 172.1 x 77.9 x 8 mm (6.78 x 3.07 x 0.31 in) | 165.1 x 76.4 x 9.3 mm (6.5 x 3.01 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 218 g (7.69 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~388 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.92 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 90Hz | IPS LCD, 144Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 650 nits (peak) |
| | Always-on display | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 620 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 10, MiFavor 10.5 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12.5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 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 | - |
| Triple | - | 108 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS
13 MP, f/2.4, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
5 MP (macro), AF |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, HDR, 10‑bit video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, (wide), under display | 20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, QC4, 60% in 30 min | 33W wired, PD3.0 |
| Type | Li-Ion 4220 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Sunrise Yellow | Cosmic Black, Lunar Silver, Aurora Blue |
| Models | A2121 | M2007J3SG, M2007J3SP, M2007J3SI, M2007J17C |
| Price | About 440 EUR | € 141.52 / £ 169.99 |
| SAR | - | 0.97 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.57 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 8GB RAM | - | $ 385.00 |
| 256GB 8GB RAM | - | $ 415.00 |
| RENEWED | - | £ 564.00 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 118h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1185:1 |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.4 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 563961 (v8)
GeekBench: 3311 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 46fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE Axon 20 5G Extreme
- Unique under-display camera for a truly bezel-less experience
- Competitive price point (depending on current deals)
- Decent battery life for everyday use
- Significantly weaker performance compared to the Mi 10T Pro
- Under-display camera image quality is a compromise
- Less established brand reputation
Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G
- Powerful Snapdragon 865 chipset for excellent performance
- Fast 33W wired charging
- Long battery life (118-hour endurance rating)
- Traditional notch or punch-hole display
- May be slightly more expensive than the Axon 20
- Software experience can be divisive (MIUI)
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 120Hz display with a 1185:1 contrast ratio, suggesting similar visual quality in terms of color reproduction and black levels. However, the Mi 10T Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 630 nits, likely providing better outdoor visibility than the Axon 20, whose brightness is not specified. The Axon 20’s under-display camera is a key differentiator, but image quality from that camera is a known compromise, while the Mi 10T Pro utilizes a more conventional, and likely higher-quality, front-facing camera.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer a 'Photo / Video' experience, the details matter. The Mi 10T Pro likely benefits from the more powerful ISP within the Snapdragon 865, enabling faster image processing and potentially better low-light performance. Without specific sensor details for the Axon 20, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison, but the Mi 10T Pro’s processing capabilities give it an edge. The Axon 20’s under-display camera, while innovative, is known to suffer from lower image quality compared to traditional front cameras.
Performance
The Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro’s Snapdragon 865 5G chipset represents a substantial leap in performance over the ZTE Axon 20’s Snapdragon 765G. The 865, built on a 7nm+ process, features a more powerful Cortex-A77 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz compared to the Axon 20’s 2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and significantly improved gaming performance. While both use 5G, the 865’s superior processing power will handle 5G-intensive tasks more efficiently. The Axon 20’s 765G is adequate for everyday use, but will struggle with demanding applications.
Battery Life
Both phones offer comparable battery endurance, with the Mi 10T Pro achieving an impressive 118-hour rating. The Mi 10T Pro’s 33W wired charging (PD3.0) is slightly faster than the Axon 20’s 30W (QC4), allowing for a quicker top-up. The Axon 20 can reach 60% charge in 30 minutes, while the Mi 10T Pro’s charging speed is likely similar or faster, despite not having a specific time listed. The Snapdragon 865’s efficiency, combined with the 118-hour endurance rating, suggests the Mi 10T Pro can comfortably last a full day of moderate to heavy use.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE Axon 20 5G Extreme if you prioritize a truly bezel-less display and are willing to compromise on processing power for a unique aesthetic. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G if you value performance, gaming capabilities, and a more established camera system, even if it means a traditional notch or punch-hole.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 765G in the Axon 20 struggle with graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact?
Yes, the Snapdragon 765G is a mid-range chipset and will likely require significant graphics settings reductions to achieve playable frame rates in demanding games like Genshin Impact. Expect noticeable frame drops and potential stuttering, whereas the Mi 10T Pro’s Snapdragon 865 can handle these games at higher settings.
❓ How does the under-display camera on the Axon 20 affect video call quality?
The under-display camera on the Axon 20 generally produces softer images with less detail compared to traditional front-facing cameras. This translates to lower video call quality, particularly in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. The Mi 10T Pro’s front camera will offer a sharper and more detailed video call experience.
❓ Is the 120Hz refresh rate on both phones noticeable in everyday use?
Yes, the 120Hz refresh rate on both devices makes scrolling through social media, browsing the web, and navigating the UI feel significantly smoother and more responsive than phones with a standard 60Hz display. The difference is particularly noticeable when quickly scrolling through long lists or playing fast-paced games.
❓ What kind of storage and RAM does the Mi 10T Pro offer, and is it expandable?
The Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro is available in 128GB 8GB RAM ($385) and 256GB 8GB RAM ($415) configurations. Unfortunately, it does *not* offer expandable storage via microSD card, so choosing the right storage size upfront is crucial.
