The ZTE Axon 20 5G arrived with significant buzz surrounding its under-display camera, aiming to disrupt the market with innovation. However, the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G, released around the same time, countered with a more traditional approach focused on raw performance and extended battery life. This comparison dissects the key differences between these two 5G smartphones, helping you determine which best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user, the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 865 chipset delivers significantly better performance, and its substantially larger battery provides a 118-hour endurance rating compared to the Axon 20 5G’s 82 hours. While the Axon 20 5G’s under-display camera is a novelty, the Mi 10T Pro offers a more polished and reliable experience.
| 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, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 - Europe | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 78 SA/NSA - Europe | 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 |
| | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, September 01. Released 2020, September 10 | 2020, September 30. Released 2020, October 13 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back or 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 + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 218 g (7.69 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.92 inches, 107.0 cm2 (~79.8% 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 | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB 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 | Black, Gold, Blue, Purple, Sunrise Yellow | Cosmic Black, Lunar Silver, Aurora Blue |
| Models | A2121, A2121E, A2121G | M2007J3SG, M2007J3SP, M2007J3SI, M2007J17C |
| Price | About 720 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 82h
|
Endurance rating 118h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: 1185:1 |
| Loudspeaker |
-27.3 LUFS (Good)
|
-26.4 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 320399 (v8)
GeekBench: 1957 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 18fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 563961 (v8)
GeekBench: 3311 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 46fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE Axon 20 5G
- Innovative under-display camera technology
- Competitive price point (likely)
- 5G connectivity
- Inferior performance compared to Snapdragon 865
- Significantly shorter battery life
- Under-display camera image quality compromises
Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G
- Powerful Snapdragon 865 chipset
- Exceptional battery life (118h endurance)
- Brighter and higher contrast display
- Traditional display design (no under-display camera)
- May be slightly more expensive
- Larger form factor (potentially)
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 630 nits compared to the Axon 20 5G’s 406 nits. This translates to better visibility outdoors. Furthermore, the Mi 10T Pro’s 1185:1 contrast ratio provides richer, more vibrant colors, while the Axon 20 5G offers an 'infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, which doesn't necessarily equate to superior visual quality. While the Axon 20 5G’s under-display camera is a unique feature, it impacts display uniformity and image quality, a trade-off the Mi 10T Pro avoids with its traditional notch-less design.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but the Mi 10T Pro likely holds an edge due to its more powerful image signal processor (ISP) integrated within the Snapdragon 865. While specific sensor details are missing, the Mi 10T Pro’s chipset allows for faster image processing and potentially better low-light performance. The Axon 20 5G’s under-display camera, while innovative, suffers from image quality compromises compared to traditional front-facing cameras. The Mi 10T Pro’s video capabilities are also likely superior, benefiting from the 865’s enhanced video encoding/decoding capabilities.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+), while the ZTE Axon 20 5G is equipped with the Snapdragon 765G (7nm). The 865’s Cortex-A77 prime cores, clocked at 2.84 GHz, offer a substantial performance advantage over the Axon 20 5G’s Kryo 475 Prime core at 2.4 GHz. This difference is particularly noticeable in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. The Mi 10T Pro’s more powerful GPU will deliver higher frame rates and smoother gameplay. While both use 5G, the 865’s modem is generally more mature and offers wider carrier compatibility.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro dominates in battery life, achieving an endurance rating of 118 hours versus the Axon 20 5G’s 82 hours. This significant difference is due to a combination of a larger battery capacity (not specified in the data, but generally larger than the Axon 20 5G) and the more efficient Snapdragon 865 chipset. Both support fast charging – 33W for the Mi 10T Pro (PD3.0) and 30W for the Axon 20 5G (QC4) – but the Mi 10T Pro’s superior battery capacity means you’ll spend less time tethered to a charger.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE Axon 20 5G if you are an early adopter fascinated by emerging technologies like under-display cameras and are willing to compromise on performance and battery life for that experience. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G if you prioritize sustained performance for gaming and demanding applications, coupled with exceptional battery life and a more established camera system. The Mi 10T Pro is the better choice for power users and those seeking long-term reliability.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 865 in the Mi 10T Pro experience throttling under sustained load?
While the Snapdragon 865 can exhibit some throttling during prolonged, intensive tasks like extended gaming sessions, the Mi 10T Pro’s cooling system is generally effective at mitigating this. The phone’s large chassis helps dissipate heat, allowing for sustained performance for longer periods than the Axon 20 5G, which has a less powerful chipset and likely a less robust cooling solution.
❓ Is the under-display camera on the ZTE Axon 20 5G suitable for high-quality video calls?
The Axon 20 5G’s under-display camera is primarily a novelty. While functional for basic video calls, image quality is noticeably lower than traditional front-facing cameras due to the display layer interfering with light reaching the sensor. Expect softer details and reduced dynamic range, making it less ideal for important video conferences or high-quality selfies.
❓ What kind of gaming performance can I expect from the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro?
The Mi 10T Pro delivers excellent gaming performance. The Snapdragon 865 and its Adreno 650 GPU can handle most mobile games at maximum settings with high frame rates. You can expect smooth gameplay in titles like PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Genshin Impact, though some demanding titles may require minor graphical adjustments to maintain consistently high frame rates.
❓ How does the charging speed compare in real-world usage?
Both phones offer relatively fast charging, but the Mi 10T Pro’s 33W charging with PD3.0 is slightly faster than the Axon 20 5G’s 30W charging with QC4. While both can reach around 60% charge in 30 minutes, the Mi 10T Pro’s larger battery means it will take longer to fully charge, but the overall time spent plugged in will likely be less due to its superior battery life.
