ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition vs Google Pixel 7 Pro: The Ultimate Showdown

The smartphone market is brimming with options, making it tough to choose. Today, we're pitting two compelling contenders against each other: the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition, boasting impressive specs, and the Google Pixel 7 Pro, renowned for its camera and software. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide which one deserves your money.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Pixel 7 Pro wins overall due to its superior camera, smoother software experience, and guaranteed updates. While the Axon 40 Ultra offers a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and faster charging, the Pixel's ecosystem and computational photography give it the edge for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition Google Pixel 7 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GE2AE
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 781, 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 - GE2AE
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GP4BC
Launch
Announced2022, November 292022, October 06
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, December 06Available. Released 2022, October 13
Body
BuildGlass front, ceramic back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.3 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.33 in)162.9 x 76.6 x 8.9 mm (6.41 x 3.02 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight204 g (7.20 oz)212 g (7.48 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~512 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~92.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.6 cm2 (~88.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak)LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Mali-G710 MP7
OSAndroid 12, MyOS 12Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 18GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm
Triple64 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", PDAF50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 126˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm, AF
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging80W wired, PD3.0, QC423W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlackObsidian, Snow, Hazel
ModelsA2023PGP4BC, GE2AE, GFE4J
PriceAbout 800 EUR€ 248.84 / $ 204.00 / £ 259.99 / ₹ 36,999
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 83h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 796369 (v9) GeekBench: 3187 (v5.1) GFXBench: 34fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition

  • Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset
  • 80W fast charging
  • Potentially lower price
  • Unique design

  • Software support may be limited
  • Camera not as refined as Pixel
  • Brand recognition less established

Google Pixel 7 Pro

  • Exceptional camera with Google's computational photography
  • Clean and smooth Android experience
  • Guaranteed software updates
  • Bright and vibrant display

  • Slower charging speed
  • Tensor G2 not as powerful as Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  • Can be more expensive

Display Comparison

The Pixel 7 Pro boasts a brighter display (1090 nits) and an impressive infinite contrast ratio, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Axon 40 Ultra's display is likely excellent, but lacks the same level of measured brightness and contrast. Pixel 7 Pro wins here.

Camera Comparison

This is where the Pixel 7 Pro truly shines. Google's computational photography is unmatched, delivering consistently excellent photos and videos in various conditions. The Axon 40 Ultra has a capable camera system, but it doesn't match the Pixel's image processing prowess. Pixel 7 Pro is the clear winner.

Performance

The Axon 40 Ultra's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is a powerhouse, offering raw processing speed. However, the Pixel 7 Pro's Tensor G2, while not as rawly powerful, is optimized for Google's AI and machine learning tasks, resulting in a smoother, more responsive user experience, especially with camera features. It's a close call, but Pixel's optimization gives it a slight edge.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with an endurance rating of 83h. However, the Axon 40 Ultra's 80W charging significantly outperforms the Pixel 7 Pro's 23W wired charging, allowing for much faster top-ups. Draw, with a slight advantage to Axon for charging speed.

Buying Guide

The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition is ideal for power users seeking raw performance and fast charging at a potentially lower price point. The Google Pixel 7 Pro is perfect for photography enthusiasts, those prioritizing a clean Android experience, and users who value long-term software support.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Google Pixel 7 Pro offers guaranteed software updates and a cleaner Android experience, making it the clear winner in this category.
❓ Is the Axon 40 Ultra worth considering if I'm on a budget?
Yes, the Axon 40 Ultra offers excellent performance for its price, making it a compelling option for budget-conscious buyers who prioritize raw power.