The ZTE Axon 30 5G and Xiaomi Poco F3 GT represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone market. While both aim to deliver flagship-level performance without the flagship price tag, they achieve this through different approaches – Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 5G versus MediaTek’s Dimensity 1200. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-around performance and battery longevity, the ZTE Axon 30 5G emerges as the stronger contender. Its Snapdragon 870 offers a refined balance of power and efficiency, coupled with a respectable 86-hour endurance rating, making it a reliable daily driver. However, gamers may lean towards the Poco F3 GT.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 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, 5, 8, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - Europe | 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA - China | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, July 27 | 2021, July 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 03 | Available. Released 2021, July 26 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5) |
| Dimensions | 170.2 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm (6.70 x 3.06 x 0.31 in) | 161.9 x 76.9 x 8.3 mm (6.37 x 3.03 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 189 g (6.67 oz) | 205 g (7.23 oz) |
| | - | Physical pop-up gaming triggers
IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | 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 (~80.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ) |
| | Always-on display | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 1200 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Mali-G77 MC9 |
| OS | Android 11, MyOS 11 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 13 for POCO |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| 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 | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm |
| Triple | - | 64 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, HDR, 10‑bit video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), under display | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, HDR |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio
Tuned by JBL |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 65W wired, PD, QC4 | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 42 min |
| Type | Li-Ion 4200 mAh | Li-Po 5065 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Aqua | Predator Black, Gunmetal Silver |
| Models | A2322, A2322G | MZB09C6IN, M2104K10I |
| Price | About 500 EUR | About 300 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.48 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 86h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
-27.7 LUFS (Good)
| - |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 701991 (v9)
GeekBench: 3160 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 59fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
ZTE Axon 30 5G
- Excellent battery life (86h endurance)
- Efficient Snapdragon 870 processor
- Versatile 65W charging with PD/QC4
- Display brightness could be higher
- Camera details are lacking
Xiaomi Poco F3 GT
- Faster 67W charging (42 min to 100%)
- Potentially higher peak performance with Dimensity 1200
- Designed for gaming
- Dimensity 1200 may throttle under sustained load
- Battery life likely shorter than Axon 30 5G
Display Comparison
The ZTE Axon 30 5G boasts a display capable of 438 nits of peak brightness, a respectable figure for outdoor visibility. While the Poco F3 GT’s display specifications aren’t provided, the Axon 30’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio suggests a typical OLED panel. The lack of refresh rate information for the Poco F3 GT is a notable omission, but the Axon 30’s display is likely to offer a more color-accurate and generally pleasing viewing experience given its measured brightness.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed with ‘Photo / Video’ capabilities, offering minimal insight. Without sensor size or aperture details, a meaningful comparison is impossible. The market segment suggests both will feature capable, but not class-leading, camera systems. The presence of a 2MP macro lens on either device would be largely inconsequential, offering limited practical benefit over the main sensor.
Performance
The core of the difference lies in the chipsets. The ZTE Axon 30 5G utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G (7nm), known for its stable performance and efficiency. Its octa-core configuration (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585, 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585, 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) provides a balanced approach. The Poco F3 GT, however, features the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 (6nm). While the Dimensity 1200’s Cortex-A78 cores (1x3.0 GHz, 3x2.6 GHz) offer potentially higher peak performance, the 6nm process doesn’t necessarily guarantee superior thermal management. The Snapdragon 870’s architecture is generally more efficient, leading to less throttling during extended gaming sessions. The absence of RAM specifications for both devices makes a direct comparison difficult, but LPDDR5 is expected in both.
Battery Life
The ZTE Axon 30 5G achieves an impressive endurance rating of 86 hours, indicating strong battery optimization. The Poco F3 GT compensates with faster charging – 67W wired, promising a full charge in 42 minutes. The Axon 30 5G supports 65W wired charging with PD and QC4, a versatile charging solution. While the Poco F3 GT’s faster charging is convenient, the Axon 30 5G’s superior endurance suggests it will require less frequent top-ups, potentially offsetting the charging speed difference.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE Axon 30 5G if you need a phone that consistently delivers solid performance across all tasks, with a focus on battery life and a smooth user experience. Buy the Xiaomi Poco F3 GT if you prioritize raw gaming power and are willing to accept potentially shorter battery life and more aggressive thermal throttling under sustained load. The F3 GT is geared towards those who demand maximum frame rates, even at the cost of efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Dimensity 1200 in the Poco F3 GT overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The MediaTek Dimensity 1200 is a powerful chip, but its 6nm process isn't as thermally efficient as the Snapdragon 870's 7nm process. Expect some degree of throttling during extended gaming, potentially leading to frame rate drops. The Poco F3 GT may require active cooling solutions for optimal sustained performance.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 870's efficiency impact daily usage on the ZTE Axon 30 5G?
The Snapdragon 870's efficiency translates to longer battery life and less heat generation during everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and video streaming. This results in a smoother, more consistent user experience without the need for aggressive power-saving measures.
❓ Does the 67W charging on the Poco F3 GT make a significant difference compared to the Axon 30 5G's 65W charging?
While both phones offer fast charging, the Poco F3 GT's 67W charging promises a full charge in 42 minutes. The Axon 30 5G's 65W charging is still very fast, but the difference of 2W, combined with potential software optimizations, gives the Poco F3 GT a slight edge in charging speed. However, the Axon 30 5G's superior battery life may negate the need for such rapid charging.
