ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition vs. Apple iPhone XR: A Clash of Titans
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Axon 40 Ultra offers significantly more power and a superior camera system, especially for photography enthusiasts. However, the iPhone XR boasts exceptional battery life and the seamless iOS ecosystem. Ultimately, the Axon wins on specs, but the XR's longevity and user-friendliness are compelling.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition | Apple iPhone XR |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| CDMA2000 1x | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, November 29 | 2018, September 12. Released 2018, October 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, December 06 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, ceramic back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame (7000 series) |
| Dimensions | 163.3 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.33 in) | 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm (5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China) |
| Weight | 204 g (7.20 oz) | 194 g (6.84 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Scratch-resistant glass |
| Resolution | 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 828 x 1792 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~326 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~92.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.3 cm2 (~79.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak) | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) | Hexa-core (2x2.5 GHz Vortex + 4x1.6 GHz Tempest) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Apple A12 Bionic (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
| OS | Android 12, MyOS 12 | iOS 12, upgradable to iOS 18.7 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 18GB RAM | 64GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 256GB 3GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | NVMe | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, PDAF, OIS |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.6, 35mm (standard), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/3.5, 91mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom (vs. 26mm cam) 64 MP, f/2.4, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/1.7", PDAF | - |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display | 7 MP, f/2.2, 32mm (standard) SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 80W wired, PD3.0, QC4 | 15W wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min Wireless (Qi) |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 2942 mAh, non-removable (11.16 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black | Black, Red, Yellow, Blue, Coral, White |
| Models | A2023P | A2105, A1984, A2107, A2108, A2106, iPhone11,8 |
| Price | About 800 EUR | About 150 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.13 W/kg (head) 1.16 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 78h |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 341196 (v7), 422465 (v8) GeekBench: 11437 (v4.4), 2690 (v5.1) GFXBench: 58fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition
- Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- Stunning AMOLED display with 120Hz
- Versatile and high-resolution camera system
- 80W fast charging
- Battery life not as impressive as iPhone XR
- Android OS may not appeal to all users
- Potential for software update delays
Apple iPhone XR
- Exceptional battery life (78h endurance)
- User-friendly iOS ecosystem
- Durable build quality
- Wireless charging (Qi)
- Older chipset (A12 Bionic) compared to Axon
- LCD display not as vibrant as AMOLED
- Single camera system lacks versatility
- Slower charging speed
Display Comparison
The Axon 40 Ultra boasts a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant colors and smooth scrolling. The iPhone XR features a 6.1-inch LCD display with a standard 60Hz refresh rate. While the iPhone's display is perfectly adequate, the Axon's AMOLED technology and higher refresh rate provide a noticeably more premium visual experience.
Camera Comparison
The Axon 40 Ultra's camera system is a major highlight, featuring a 108MP main sensor, an ultrawide lens, and a telephoto lens. It excels in various lighting conditions and offers impressive detail. The iPhone XR's single 12MP camera is still capable of producing good photos, but it lacks the versatility and advanced features of the Axon's system.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Axon 40 Ultra delivers significantly more processing power than the A12 Bionic in the iPhone XR. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better performance in demanding games. While the A12 is still capable, the Axon's chipset is in a different league.
Battery Life
The iPhone XR shines in this category, offering exceptional battery life thanks to its endurance rating of 78h. The Axon 40 Ultra, while supporting 80W fast charging, doesn't match the XR's longevity. However, the Axon's fast charging can quickly replenish its battery when needed.
Buying Guide
The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition is ideal for users seeking high-end performance, a stunning display, and a versatile camera system, particularly those comfortable with Android. The Apple iPhone XR is a great choice for those prioritizing ease of use, a long-lasting battery, and integration within the Apple ecosystem, especially those new to smartphones.