The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and two contenders vying for your attention are the ZTE Axon 30S and the Motorola Edge S30. Both offer impressive specs at attractive prices, but which one delivers the better overall experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Motorola Edge S30 edges out the ZTE Axon 30S thanks to its superior Snapdragon 888+ chipset and faster charging. While the Axon 30S boasts a unique under-display camera and slightly better battery life, the Edge S30's performance advantage makes it the more compelling choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, September 26 | 2021, December 12 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, September 26 | Available. Released 2021, December 21 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 170.2 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm (6.70 x 3.06 x 0.31 in) | 168.1 x 75.5 x 8.9 mm (6.62 x 2.97 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 189 g (6.67 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| | - | Water-repellent design |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.92 inches, 107.0 cm2 (~80.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz | LCD, 144Hz, HDR10 |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) | Octa-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 12, MyOS 12 | Android 11, MYUI 2.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB 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 | - |
| Triple | - | 108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF
13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, HDR, 10‑bit video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30ps, 10-bit HDR10+, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), under display | 16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | Ready For support |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 55W wired, PD, QC4 | 33W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 4200 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue | Glacier Blue, Phantom Black |
| Models | A2322 | XT2175-2 |
| Price | About 250 EUR | About 280 EUR |
ZTE Axon 30S
- Unique under-display camera
- Slightly longer battery life
- Fast 55W charging
- Good display quality
- Under-display camera image quality compromised
- Slightly slower performance than Edge S30
- Less premium feel
Motorola Edge S30
- Superior Snapdragon 888+ performance
- Faster 33W charging
- Better selfie camera
- Premium feel
- Shorter battery life than Axon 30S
- Charging speed slower than Axon 30S
Display Comparison
Both phones feature vibrant OLED displays with 144Hz refresh rates, offering smooth scrolling and immersive visuals. The Edge S30 has a slightly smaller 6.5-inch display compared to the Axon 30S's 6.67-inch, but both offer excellent color accuracy and brightness. Resolution is generally comparable.
Camera Comparison
The Axon 30S's under-display camera is its defining feature, though image quality is a trade-off. It generally offers decent selfies but lacks the detail and dynamic range of a traditional front-facing camera. The Edge S30 has a more conventional punch-hole camera, delivering superior selfie quality. Both phones feature triple rear camera systems with main, ultrawide, and macro lenses, with the Edge S30 potentially offering slightly better overall image processing.
Performance
Here's where the Edge S30 truly shines. The Snapdragon 888+ is noticeably faster than the Snapdragon 870, resulting in smoother multitasking, quicker app loading times, and better gaming performance. While the Axon 30S is still capable, the Edge S30 provides a more premium feel.
Battery Life
The Axon 30S has a slightly larger battery capacity (4500mAh vs 4000mAh), potentially translating to slightly longer battery life under moderate usage. However, the Edge S30's 33W charging is significantly faster than the Axon 30S's 55W, allowing for quicker top-ups.
Buying Guide
The ZTE Axon 30S is ideal for users prioritizing a unique under-display camera experience and slightly longer battery life. The Motorola Edge S30 is best suited for those who demand top-tier performance and faster charging speeds, even if it means sacrificing some battery endurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the ZTE Axon 30S's under-display camera any good?
The under-display camera is a novelty, but image quality is noticeably lower than a traditional front-facing camera. It's usable, but don't expect flagship-level selfies.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Motorola Edge S30 is the clear winner for gaming due to its more powerful Snapdragon 888+ chipset.
