ZTE Axon 30 5G vs. Axon 20 5G Extreme: A Clash of Flagship and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Axon 30 5G clearly takes the performance crown with its Snapdragon 870 chipset and faster charging. However, the Axon 20 5G Extreme remains a strong contender for budget-conscious buyers seeking a solid all-around device with an under-display camera.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE Axon 30 5G | ZTE Axon 20 5G Extreme |
| 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 / 1700(AWS) / 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, 12, 17, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - Europe | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 3, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA - China | CDMA 800 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, July 27 | 2020, December 03. Released 2020, December 22 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 03 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, eco leather back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 170.2 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm (6.70 x 3.06 x 0.31 in) | 172.1 x 77.9 x 8 mm (6.78 x 3.07 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 189 g (6.67 oz) | 198 g (6.98 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~388 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.92 inches, 107.0 cm2 (~80.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.92 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz | OLED, 1B colors, 90Hz |
| Always-on display | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 11, MyOS 11 | Android 10, MiFavor 10.5 |
| 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 | 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone 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 | 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 |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), under display | - |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, HDR, 10‑bit video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, HDR, 10‑bit video |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), under display | 32 MP, f/2.0, (wide), under display |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 65W wired, PD, QC4 | 30W wired, QC4, 60% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Ion 4200 mAh | Li-Ion 4220 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Aqua | Sunrise Yellow |
| Models | A2322, A2322G | A2121 |
| Price | About 500 EUR | About 440 EUR |
| 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
- Superior Performance (Snapdragon 870)
- Faster Charging (65W)
- Brighter Display (438 nits)
- Excellent Battery Life (86h Endurance)
- Potentially Higher Price
- Under-display camera quality may still be a compromise
ZTE Axon 20 5G Extreme
- More Affordable
- Unique Under-Display Camera
- Decent Performance for the Price
- Slower Charging (30W)
- Less Powerful Chipset (Snapdragon 765G)
- Lower Display Brightness
Display Comparison
The Axon 30 5G boasts a significantly brighter display at 438 nits compared to the Axon 20 5G Extreme (estimated around 400 nits). While both offer good contrast, the Axon 30's higher brightness makes it more usable outdoors. Both likely feature AMOLED panels, providing vibrant colors and deep blacks.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature unique under-display camera technology, though the Axon 20 5G Extreme's implementation is more widely discussed. The Axon 30 5G likely has improved image processing due to its more powerful chipset, potentially resulting in better low-light performance and more detailed photos. Video recording capabilities are likely comparable, but the Axon 30 may offer slightly better stabilization.
Performance
Here, the Axon 30 5G shines. Its Snapdragon 870 is a substantial upgrade over the Axon 20 5G Extreme's Snapdragon 765G. Expect noticeably faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the Axon 30. The 870 is a proven performer, capable of handling demanding tasks with ease.
Battery Life
The Axon 30 5G's endurance rating of 86h is exceptionally high, suggesting excellent battery life. The Axon 20 5G Extreme, while offering 30W charging (compared to the Axon 30's 65W), likely has a smaller battery capacity. The Axon 30's faster charging further enhances its battery advantage.
Buying Guide
The ZTE Axon 30 5G is ideal for users prioritizing performance, a brighter display, and faster charging. It's a good choice for gamers and those who demand a smooth, responsive experience. The ZTE Axon 20 5G Extreme is best suited for users on a tighter budget who still want a 5G-capable phone with a unique under-display camera and a decent feature set.