ZTE Axon 30 Pro 5G vs. Google Pixel 6 Pro: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Androids
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Google Pixel 6 Pro emerges as the superior choice. Its Tensor chip, coupled with Google’s software optimization, provides a smoother, more intelligent experience, and its camera system is demonstrably more capable. However, the Axon 30 Pro remains a strong contender for those prioritizing raw performance and faster charging at a potentially lower price.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE Axon 30 Pro 5G | Google Pixel 6 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 4, 12, 17, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GLUOG, G8VOU |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G8VOU |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA 800 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GLUOG | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, April 15 | 2021, October 19 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, April 26 | Available. Released 2021, October 28 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.6 x 75.3 x 7.9 mm (6.44 x 2.96 x 0.31 in) | 163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 2.99 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 186 g (6.56 oz) | 210 g (7.41 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~512 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 110.6 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+ | LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Google Tensor (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Mali-G78 MP20 |
| OS | Android 11, MyOS 11 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 64 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | 16 MP, (wide) | 11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 104mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 4x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, (wide) | 11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| 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/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 55W wired, QC4 | 23W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4200 mAh | Li-Ion 5003 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Pink | Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny, Stormy Black |
| Models | A2022 | GLUOG, G8VOU, GF5KQ |
| Price | About 400 EUR | € 199.99 / $ 204.99 / £ 275.00 / ₹ 29,699 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 84h |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 585485 (v8), 719815 (v9) GeekBench: 2831 (v5.1) GFXBench: 39 fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE Axon 30 Pro 5G
- Faster 55W wired charging
- Potentially stronger GPU performance for gaming
- Often available at a lower price point
- Less sophisticated camera software
- May experience more thermal throttling
- Less consistent software updates
Google Pixel 6 Pro
- Superior camera performance and AI features
- Smoother software experience with Google’s optimizations
- Long-term software support from Google
- Slower 23W wired charging
- Tensor chip may not match Snapdragon 888 in raw GPU power
- Higher initial price
Display Comparison
The Pixel 6 Pro boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 846 nits, compared to an unspecified peak brightness for the Axon 30 Pro. While both offer excellent viewing experiences, the Pixel 6 Pro’s infinite (nominal) contrast ratio suggests deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. The Pixel 6 Pro’s display is also likely to benefit from LTPO technology, enabling variable refresh rates for improved power efficiency, a feature not confirmed on the Axon 30 Pro. Bezels are comparable, but the Pixel 6 Pro’s curved display edges contribute to a more premium feel.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 6 Pro’s camera system is a clear differentiator. While specific sensor details for the Axon 30 Pro are missing, the Pixel 6 Pro’s computational photography prowess, driven by the Tensor chip, delivers superior image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. Google’s image processing excels in dynamic range and detail preservation. The Pixel 6 Pro’s advanced features like Magic Eraser and Motion Mode further enhance its photographic capabilities. The Axon 30 Pro likely offers a competent camera experience, but lacks the software sophistication of the Pixel.
Performance
Both phones utilize an octa-core CPU configuration with Cortex-X1 prime cores, but differ in their supporting cores and chipsets. The Axon 30 Pro’s Snapdragon 888 features a 1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 cores, built on a 5nm process. The Pixel 6 Pro’s Google Tensor uses 2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1, 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 cores, also on a 5nm process. While clock speeds are similar, the Tensor chip’s focus on AI and machine learning tasks gives it an edge in areas like image processing and voice recognition. The Snapdragon 888 is known for its strong GPU performance, potentially benefiting gamers, but may exhibit more thermal throttling under sustained load.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 84 hours, suggesting comparable battery life in typical usage scenarios. However, the charging speeds differ significantly. The Axon 30 Pro supports 55W wired charging with QC4, enabling significantly faster charging times than the Pixel 6 Pro’s 23W wired charging (PD3.0, 50% in 30 min). The Pixel 6 Pro compensates with 23W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Axon 30 Pro. The faster wired charging of the Axon 30 Pro is a boon for users who frequently need to quickly replenish their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE Axon 30 Pro 5G if you prioritize raw CPU and GPU power for demanding games and applications, and value the inclusion of 55W fast charging for quick top-ups. Buy the Google Pixel 6 Pro if you prefer a more refined software experience, exceptional camera capabilities powered by AI, and long-term software support directly from Google, even if it means slightly slower charging.