ZTE Axon 30 Pro 5G vs. Huawei P50 Pro: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the ZTE Axon 30 Pro 5G emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 888 5G chipset provides a more consistently powerful experience, especially for demanding tasks and 5G connectivity, and it often comes at a more competitive price point. While the P50 Pro boasts excellent camera capabilities, the Axon 30 Pro offers a balanced package.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE Axon 30 Pro 5G | Huawei P50 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, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE |
| CDMA 800 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, April 15 | 2021, July 29 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, April 26 | Available. Released 2021, August 12 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.6 x 75.3 x 7.9 mm (6.44 x 2.96 x 0.31 in) | 158.8 x 72.8 x 8.5 mm (6.25 x 2.87 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 186 g (6.56 oz) | 195 g (6.88 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1228 x 2700 pixels (~450 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 105.4 cm2 (~91.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+ | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Kirin 9000 (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 4G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Mali-G78 MP24Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 11, MyOS 11 | HarmonyOS 2.0 (China), EMUI 14.2 (Europe), no Google Play Services |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| 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 | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom, 7x lossless zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), AF 40 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (B/W), AF |
| Single | 16 MP, (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.4, (wide), AF |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | Panorama, HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.4, (wide), AF |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps |
| 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 |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, 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, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 55W wired, QC4 | 66W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless charging |
| Type | Li-Po 4200 mAh | Li-Po 4360 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Pink | Golden Black, Cocoa Gold, Pearl White, Charm Pink |
| Models | A2022 | JAD-AL50, JAD-LX9, JAD-AL00 |
| Price | About 400 EUR | $ 196.62 / £ 329.00 / € 473.13 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 76h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -27.3 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 793876 (v8), 786215 (v9) GeekBench: 3145 (v5.1) GFXBench: 44fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE Axon 30 Pro 5G
- Faster 5G connectivity with Snapdragon 888
- Potentially better value for money
- QC4 fast charging compatibility
- Potential for Snapdragon 888 throttling
- Limited charging options (no wireless)
Huawei P50 Pro
- Excellent camera system (implied)
- Faster charging speeds (66W wired, 50W wireless)
- Reverse wireless charging
- Kirin 9000 or 4G-only Snapdragon 888 variant
- Potentially higher price
Display Comparison
The Huawei P50 Pro’s display achieves a measured peak brightness of 754 nits, providing excellent visibility outdoors. While the Axon 30 Pro’s display specs aren’t explicitly provided, both devices likely utilize OLED panels. The P50 Pro’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio suggests a well-tuned panel, but without detailed color accuracy data for the Axon 30 Pro, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. The absence of high refresh rate information for either device is a notable omission, potentially impacting smoothness during scrolling and gaming.
Camera Comparison
Both the ZTE Axon 30 Pro 5G and Huawei P50 Pro are marketed as having strong camera systems, but specifics are limited. The P50 Pro’s strength is implied through its ‘Photo / Video’ designation, suggesting a focus on image quality. Without sensor size or aperture details for either device, a direct comparison is challenging. Huawei is renowned for its image processing, often prioritizing vibrant colors and detail enhancement. The Axon 30 Pro’s camera performance will depend heavily on its sensor and software tuning, but it’s unlikely to match Huawei’s established expertise without further information. The lack of detail regarding OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on either device is a key omission.
Performance
The core of the performance difference lies in the chipsets. The ZTE Axon 30 Pro 5G utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm), featuring a Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz. The Huawei P50 Pro offers a choice: the Kirin 9000 (5nm) with a Cortex-A77 prime core at 3.13 GHz, or a Snapdragon 888 4G (5nm) variant. While the Kirin 9000’s higher clock speed on the prime core *suggests* potential single-core advantages, the Snapdragon 888’s more modern architecture and 5G capabilities provide a broader performance benefit. The Snapdragon 888 is known to throttle under sustained load, but the Axon 30 Pro’s cooling solution (not detailed in the provided data) will be crucial. The 4G limitation of the Snapdragon 888 variant in the P50 Pro is a significant drawback for users in areas with 5G coverage.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 76 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, charging speeds differ significantly. The Huawei P50 Pro supports 66W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging, offering exceptional versatility. The ZTE Axon 30 Pro 5G is limited to 55W wired charging with QC4 support. While the P50 Pro’s wireless charging is a clear advantage, the Axon 30 Pro’s QC4 support ensures compatibility with a wider range of chargers. A full charge time for either device isn’t provided, but the P50 Pro’s higher wattage should translate to faster charging.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE Axon 30 Pro 5G if you prioritize raw performance, 5G connectivity, and value for money. It’s ideal for gamers, power users, and those who want a fast, responsive experience. Buy the Huawei P50 Pro if camera quality is your absolute top priority and you’re comfortable with the limitations of the Kirin 9000 or the 4G-only Snapdragon variant, and the Huawei ecosystem.