The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and two contenders vying for your attention are the ZTE Axon 20 5G Extreme and the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro. Both offer compelling features at attractive price points, but which one reigns supreme? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro takes the crown thanks to its significantly more powerful Snapdragon 860 chipset, offering superior performance. While the Axon 20 5G boasts an under-display camera, the Poco X3 Pro's overall package of performance, battery life, and display quality makes it the better choice for most users.
| 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, 38, 40, 41 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA 800 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, December 03. Released 2020, December 22 | 2021, March 22 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, eco leather back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 172.1 x 77.9 x 8 mm (6.78 x 3.07 x 0.31 in) | 165.3 x 76.8 x 9.4 mm (6.51 x 3.02 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 215 g (7.58 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| 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 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 90Hz | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 2404Hz PWM, HDR10, 450 nits (typ) |
| | 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 (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 Gold & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 Gold & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 620 | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 10, MiFavor 10.5 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 13 for POCO |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-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 | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | - | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, HDR, 10‑bit video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, (wide), under display | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio, recording |
| 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, QC4, 60% in 30 min | 33W wired, 59% in 30 min, 100% in 59 min |
| Type | Li-Ion 4220 mAh | Li-Po 5160 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Sunrise Yellow | Phantom Black, Frost Blue, Metal Bronze |
| Models | A2121 | M2102J20SG, M2102J20SI |
| Price | About 440 EUR | $ 128.04 / £ 249.99 |
| SAR | - | 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.57 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 112h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1401:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.1 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 453223 (v8)
GeekBench: 2574 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 38fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE Axon 20 5G Extreme
- Under-display camera
- Slightly more compact design
- Decent performance for everyday tasks
- 5G Connectivity
- Weaker chipset compared to Poco X3 Pro
- Under-display camera image quality is not top-tier
- Battery life not as impressive as Poco X3 Pro
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro
- Powerful Snapdragon 860 chipset
- Exceptional battery life
- Fast charging (33W)
- Excellent value for money
- Good camera performance
- Larger size may not suit everyone
- Design is somewhat generic
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 6.67-inch display with a 1401:1 contrast ratio, suggesting excellent blacks and vibrant colors. The Poco X3 Pro likely has a slightly brighter panel, offering better visibility in direct sunlight. The Axon 20 5G's display might benefit from slightly better color accuracy due to ZTE's tuning, but the difference is likely minimal.
Camera Comparison
The Axon 20 5G's main selling point is its under-display camera, a novelty feature. However, image quality from this camera is generally considered inferior to traditional front-facing cameras. The Poco X3 Pro's camera setup is more conventional but likely delivers better overall image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. Both phones offer decent main rear cameras, but the Poco X3 Pro's processing might be slightly more refined.
Performance
This is where the Poco X3 Pro truly shines. The Snapdragon 860 is a substantial upgrade over the Snapdragon 765G. Expect significantly faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a much better gaming experience on the Poco X3 Pro. The Axon 20 5G is still capable, but it won't handle demanding tasks as effortlessly.
Battery Life
The Poco X3 Pro boasts an impressive endurance rating of 112 hours, indicating exceptional battery life. The Axon 20 5G's battery life is respectable, but it falls short of the Poco X3 Pro's longevity. The Poco X3 Pro's 33W charging is also slightly faster than the Axon 20 5G's 30W charging.
Buying Guide
The ZTE Axon 20 5G Extreme is ideal for users prioritizing an under-display camera and a slightly more compact design. The Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro is perfect for gamers, power users, and anyone seeking top-tier performance and exceptional battery life without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Axon 20 5G's under-display camera any good?
While it's a unique feature, the under-display camera's image quality isn't as good as traditional front-facing cameras. It's more of a novelty than a significant advantage.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Snapdragon 860 chipset. It will handle demanding games with higher frame rates and smoother performance.
