ZTE Axon 30 5G vs Xiaomi Mi Max 3: A Clash of Titans
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The ZTE Axon 30 5G boasts significantly superior performance thanks to its Snapdragon 870 chipset and faster charging. However, the Xiaomi Mi Max 3 wins on battery endurance and offers a larger display, making it ideal for media consumption. Ultimately, the Axon 30 5G is the better all-rounder.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE Axon 30 5G | Xiaomi Mi Max 3 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 18, 19, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - Europe | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - Europe | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| 1, 3, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA - China | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, July 27 | 2018, July. Released 2018, July |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 03 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 170.2 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm (6.70 x 3.06 x 0.31 in) | 176.2 x 87.4 x 8 mm (6.94 x 3.44 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 189 g (6.67 oz) | 221 g (7.80 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | To be confirmed |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~350 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.92 inches, 107.0 cm2 (~80.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.9 inches, 122.9 cm2 (~79.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz | IPS LCD |
| Always-on display | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SDM636 Snapdragon 636 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 509 |
| OS | Android 11, MyOS 11 | Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, MIUI 12 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | eMMC 5.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12 MP, f/1.9, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF Auxiliary lens |
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), under display | - |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, HDR, 10‑bit video | 4K@30fps, 720p/1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@120fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), under display | 8 MP, f/2.0, 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| 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 | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG | USB Type-C |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 65W wired, PD, QC4 | 18W wired, QC3 |
| Type | Li-Ion 4200 mAh | Li-Ion 5500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Aqua | Black, Champagne Gold, Blue |
| Models | A2322, A2322G | M1804E4A |
| Price | About 500 EUR | About 310 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.58 W/kg (head) 1.42 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -93.7dB / Crosstalk -94.0dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 86h | Endurance rating 115h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: 1462 (nominal), 3.061 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | -27.7 LUFS (Good) | Voice 68dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 83dB |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 701991 (v9) GeekBench: 3160 (v5.1) GFXBench: 59fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 119229 (v7) GeekBench: 4907 (v4.4) GFXBench: 6fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE Axon 30 5G
- Superior Performance (Snapdragon 870)
- Faster Charging (65W)
- Likely Better Camera System
- Modern Design
- Shorter Battery Life than Mi Max 3
- Potentially Smaller Display
Xiaomi Mi Max 3
- Exceptional Battery Life (115h Endurance)
- Large, Immersive Display
- Budget-Friendly Price
- Slower Performance (Snapdragon 636)
- Slower Charging (18W)
- Older Design
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi Mi Max 3's massive 6.93-inch display offers an immersive viewing experience, particularly impressive with its sunlight readability (3.061 contrast ratio). While the Axon 30 5G's display (likely around 6.5 inches, based on typical Axon models) has a respectable 438 nits brightness, it lacks the Mi Max 3's exceptional outdoor visibility. The Axon 30 5G likely has a higher resolution and potentially a smoother refresh rate, but the Mi Max 3's sheer size is a major advantage for media.
Camera Comparison
While both phones have 'Photo / Video' capabilities listed, the Axon 30 5G is expected to have a superior camera system. ZTE often emphasizes camera technology in their Axon series. The Mi Max 3's camera is decent but lacks the advanced features and image processing capabilities of the Axon 30 5G. Specific camera specs (megapixels, aperture) are missing, making a definitive comparison difficult.
Performance
Here's where the Axon 30 5G truly shines. The Snapdragon 870 is a powerhouse, delivering significantly faster performance than the Mi Max 3's Snapdragon 636. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a much better gaming experience on the Axon 30 5G. The Mi Max 3 is adequate for everyday tasks, but struggles with demanding applications.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 takes the crown in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 115 hours. The Axon 30 5G's 86-hour rating is still good, but falls short of the Mi Max 3's longevity. However, the Axon 30 5G's 65W charging significantly reduces charging times, offsetting some of the battery life difference.
Buying Guide
The ZTE Axon 30 5G is perfect for users prioritizing speed, gaming, and a modern design. The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 is a great choice for those who value long battery life, a large screen for watching videos, and a more budget-friendly price point.