ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition vs Honor Magic4 Pro: A Clash of Flagships

The smartphone market is brimming with powerful devices, but two stand out: the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition and the Honor Magic4 Pro. Both pack flagship specs and premium features, but cater to slightly different audiences. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to help you decide which one deserves your money.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Honor Magic4 Pro edges out the Axon 40 Ultra thanks to its significantly faster charging, superior wireless charging capabilities, and potentially more refined software experience. While the Axon offers a unique design, the Magic4 Pro delivers a more complete flagship package.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition Honor Magic4 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 781, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2022, November 292022, February 28
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, December 06Available. Released 2022, April 09
Body
BuildGlass front, ceramic back, aluminum frameGlass front, aluminum frame, glass back
Dimensions163.3 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.33 in)163.6 x 74.7 x 9.1 mm or 9.2 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight204 g (7.20 oz)209 g / 215 g (7.37 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Aluminosilicate glass
Resolution1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)1312 x 2848 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~92.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.81 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~93.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 730
OSAndroid 12, MyOS 12Android 12, Magic UI 6
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 18GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1-
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
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/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF 50 MP, f/2.2, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.5", AF 64 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom TOF 3D (depth)
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10-bit video
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-bit audio stereo recording
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging80W wired, PD3.0, QC4100W wired, 100% in 30 min 100W wireless, 50% in 15 min Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 4600 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlackBlack, White, Cyan, Gold, Orange
ModelsA2023PLGE-NX9, LGE-N49B, LGE-N19B, LGE-AN10, GBD-NX9
PriceAbout 800 EUR€ 469.41 / £ 397.48
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 82h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -23.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 980755 (v9) GeekBench: 3512 (v5.1) GFXBench: 59fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition

  • Unique under-display selfie camera
  • Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor
  • Competitive price (potentially)
  • Stylish design

  • Slower charging compared to Magic4 Pro
  • Software support may be less consistent
  • Lower peak brightness display

Honor Magic4 Pro

  • Blazing-fast 100W wired and wireless charging
  • Excellent display brightness
  • Refined software experience (Magic UI)
  • Versatile camera system

  • Higher price point
  • Design less distinctive than Axon 40 Ultra
  • Potential software bloat (Magic UI)

Display Comparison

Both phones feature stunning OLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate. The Honor Magic4 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 957 nits, offering better outdoor visibility. The Axon 40 Ultra's display is also excellent, but lacks the same level of brightness. The Magic4 Pro's 'Infinite' contrast ratio is a marketing term, but suggests deep blacks and vibrant colors.

Camera Comparison

The Axon 40 Ultra is known for its impressive 108MP main camera and unique under-display selfie camera. The Honor Magic4 Pro features a versatile triple-camera system with a strong emphasis on computational photography. While both offer excellent image quality, the Magic4 Pro's software processing might provide more consistent results across different scenarios. Video recording capabilities are comparable on both devices.

Performance

Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, both phones deliver blazing-fast performance. Expect smooth multitasking, demanding gaming, and effortless app navigation. Real-world performance differences are likely to be minimal, though software optimization could play a role.

Battery Life

The Honor Magic4 Pro shines in this category with its 100W wired and wireless charging. A full charge takes just 30 minutes wired and 15 minutes wirelessly. The Axon 40 Ultra's 80W wired charging is still fast, but not as impressive. Both phones have an endurance rating of 82h, suggesting comparable battery life under moderate usage.

Buying Guide

The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition is ideal for users seeking a unique design and a powerful processor at a potentially lower price point. The Honor Magic4 Pro is best suited for those prioritizing fast charging, wireless charging, and a polished software experience, even if it comes at a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra have good software support?
ZTE's software support has historically been a concern, but they are improving. However, Honor generally offers more consistent and timely updates.
❓ Which phone is better for mobile gaming?
Both phones offer excellent gaming performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The Honor Magic4 Pro's slightly better cooling system might provide a marginal advantage during extended gaming sessions.