ZTE Axon 40 Pro vs Honor 70 Lite: A Clash of Mid-Range Titans

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the ZTE Axon 40 Pro and the Honor 70 Lite. Both promise a solid experience, but which one truly delivers?

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The ZTE Axon 40 Pro is the clear winner, boasting a significantly more powerful processor, faster charging, and likely a better camera system. The Honor 70 Lite offers a more budget-friendly option, but compromises on performance and features. If performance matters, choose the Axon.

PHONES
Phone Names	ZTE Axon 40 Pro	Honor 70 Lite

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - Europe	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - Europe	LTE
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA - Europe	SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - ROW	-

Launch
Announced	2022, May 09	2023, March 20
Status	Available. Released 2022, May 31	Available. Released 2023, March 31

Body
Dimensions	162.9 x 72.9 x 8.7 mm (6.41 x 2.87 x 0.34 in)	163.7 x 75.1 x 8.7 mm (6.44 x 2.96 x 0.34 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	199 g (7.02 oz)	194 g (6.84 oz)

Display
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density)
Size	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio)	6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 1000 nits (peak)	TFT LCD, 90Hz

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 460 & 6x1.9 GHz Kryo 460)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)	Qualcomm SM4350-AC Snapdragon 480+ 5G (8 nm)
GPU	Adreno 650	Adreno 619
OS	Android 12, MyOS 12	Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, Magic UI 8

Memory
Card slot	No	Unspecified
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM	128GB 4GB RAM
	UFS 3.1	-

Main Camera
Features	Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad	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, (wide)	8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Triple	-	50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	-
Single	16 MP, (wide)	8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	Yes
35mm jack	No	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes
	24-bit/192kHz audio	-

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE	5.1, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	No	Unspecified
USB	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0, 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity
	-	24-bit/192kHz audio

Battery
Charging	65W wired, PD, QC4	22.5W wired
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Dream black, Crystal blue, Gold	Ocean Blue, Titanium Silver, Midnight Black
Models	A2023G, A2023	RBN-NX1
Price	About 410 EUR	About 120 EUR

ZTE Axon 40 Pro

Significantly faster processor
65W fast charging
Likely better camera
Potentially better display (AMOLED, 120Hz)
5G Connectivity

Potentially higher price
Design might be less premium than Honor

Honor 70 Lite

More affordable
Sleek design (likely)
Decent battery life
5G Connectivity

Slower processor
22.5W slow charging
Likely inferior camera
LCD display (likely)
Less responsive

Display Comparison

The ZTE Axon 40 Pro likely features a higher resolution AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant colors and smooth scrolling. The Honor 70 Lite probably has an LCD display, potentially with a lower refresh rate, resulting in less vibrant colors and a less fluid experience. Expect the Axon to have better outdoor visibility too.

Camera Comparison

While both phones likely have multiple rear cameras, the Axon 40 Pro's superior chipset and potentially better sensors should result in better image quality, especially in low light. Expect more detail, better dynamic range, and more accurate colors from the Axon. The Axon likely has a higher resolution main sensor.

Performance

Here's where the Axon 40 Pro truly shines. The Snapdragon 870 is a flagship-level chipset from a previous generation, offering significantly more processing power than the Snapdragon 480+ in the Honor 70 Lite. Expect smoother gaming, faster app loading times, and better overall responsiveness on the Axon.

Battery Life

The Axon 40 Pro's 65W charging is a game-changer, allowing for incredibly fast charging times. The Honor 70 Lite's 22.5W charging is considerably slower. Both phones likely have similar battery capacities (around 4500-5000mAh), but the Axon's faster charging gives it a significant advantage.

Buying Guide

The ZTE Axon 40 Pro is ideal for users who prioritize performance, smooth multitasking, and faster charging. It's great for gamers and those who use demanding apps. The Honor 70 Lite is a good choice for budget-conscious users who primarily need a phone for basic tasks like calls, texts, and social media.