ZTE Axon 30 5G vs. Axon 40 Pro: A Head-to-Head Comparison

ZTE has been steadily improving its smartphone offerings, and the Axon 30 5G and Axon 40 Pro are prime examples. Both phones pack a Snapdragon 870 chipset, but subtle differences in features and design might make one a better choice for you. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Axon 30 5G edges out the Axon 40 Pro due to its significantly longer battery life (86h endurance rating vs. unknown for the 40 Pro) and potentially a brighter display. While both share the same powerful processor, the Axon 30's endurance makes it the more practical choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	ZTE Axon 30 5G	ZTE Axon 40 Pro

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 - Europe
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, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - Europe
5G bands	1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - Europe	1, 3, 5, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA - Europe
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	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - ROW

Launch
Announced	2021, July 27	2022, May 09
Status	Available. Released 2021, August 03	Available. Released 2022, May 31

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame	-
Dimensions	170.2 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm (6.70 x 3.06 x 0.31 in)	162.9 x 72.9 x 8.7 mm (6.41 x 2.87 x 0.34 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	189 g (6.67 oz)	199 g (7.02 oz)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass	-
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 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz	AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 1000 nits (peak)
	Always-on display	-

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)	Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)	Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)
GPU	Adreno 650	Adreno 650
OS	Android 11, MyOS 11	Android 12, MyOS 12

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	No
Internal	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB 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	108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Single	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), under display	16 MP, (wide)
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, HDR, 10‑bit video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), under display	16 MP, (wide)
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps

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	5.2, 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/6, 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	65W wired, PD, QC4
Type	Li-Ion 4200 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Aqua	Dream black, Crystal blue, Gold
Models	A2322, A2322G	A2023G, A2023
Price	About 500 EUR	About 410 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

Exceptional battery life (86h endurance)

Potentially older design
Camera specs unknown

ZTE Axon 40 Pro

Potentially more modern design (assumed)
Snapdragon 870 5G

Unknown battery life
Camera specs unknown

Display Comparison

Both phones likely feature similar OLED displays, but the Axon 30 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 438 nits, suggesting a potentially better outdoor visibility. The contrast ratio of 'Infinite' on the Axon 30 is nominal and doesn't provide concrete information. The Axon 40 Pro's display details are missing, making a direct comparison difficult.

Camera Comparison

Camera specifications are incomplete for both phones. However, given ZTE's focus on camera technology, it's likely the Axon 40 Pro may have camera improvements. Without detailed specs, it's impossible to definitively compare image quality or video capabilities.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Snapdragon 870 5G chipset and the same CPU configuration, guaranteeing smooth performance for everyday tasks, gaming, and multitasking. Differences in RAM and storage (not specified) could slightly impact real-world performance, but the core processing power is identical.

Battery Life

This is where the Axon 30 5G shines. Its impressive endurance rating of 86 hours significantly surpasses the unknown battery performance of the Axon 40 Pro. This suggests the Axon 30 5G offers substantially longer battery life.

Buying Guide

The ZTE Axon 30 5G is ideal for users prioritizing battery life and a potentially brighter display. The Axon 40 Pro might appeal to those seeking a slightly more modern design (assuming it has design improvements not reflected in the provided specs) and are less concerned about extended battery performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 870 chipset still good in 2024?

Yes, the Snapdragon 870 is still a very capable chipset, offering excellent performance for most users and handling demanding tasks with ease.

❓ What are the key differences between the Axon 30 5G and Axon 40 Pro?

Based on the provided specs, the main difference is battery life, with the Axon 30 5G having a significantly longer endurance rating. Design and camera improvements are likely in the Axon 40 Pro, but details are unavailable.