ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition vs Huawei P50 Pro: A Clash of Titans

The smartphone market is brimming with options, and choosing the right device can be overwhelming. Today, we pit two compelling flagships against each other: the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition and the Huawei P50 Pro. Both offer premium features, but cater to slightly different needs. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide which one deserves your money.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Axon 40 Ultra boasts a more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and faster charging. However, the P50 Pro shines with its exceptional camera system and impressive battery life. Ultimately, the choice depends on your priorities: performance and speed versus photography and endurance.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition Huawei P50 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, 6, 7, 8, 9, 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, 78-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE
 CDMA2000 1x 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
Launch
Announced2022, November 292021, July 29
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, December 06Available. Released 2021, August 12
Body
BuildGlass front, ceramic back, aluminum frameGlass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions163.3 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.33 in)158.8 x 72.8 x 8.5 mm (6.25 x 2.87 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight204 g (7.20 oz)195 g (6.88 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Resolution1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)1228 x 2700 pixels (~450 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~92.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.6 inches, 105.4 cm2 (~91.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak)OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Kirin 9000 (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 4G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Mali-G78 MP24Adreno 660
OSAndroid 12, MyOS 12HarmonyOS 2.0 (China), EMUI 14.2 (Europe), no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 18GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1-
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad-50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom, 7x lossless zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), AF 40 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (B/W), AF
Single16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display13 MP, f/2.4, (wide), AF
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", PDAF-
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRPanorama, HDR
Single16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display13 MP, f/2.4, (wide), AF
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps
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
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
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, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging80W wired, PD3.0, QC466W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless charging
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 4360 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlackGolden Black, Cocoa Gold, Pearl White, Charm Pink
ModelsA2023PJAD-AL50, JAD-LX9, JAD-AL00
PriceAbout 800 EUR$ 196.62 / £ 329.00 / € 473.13
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 76h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 793876 (v8), 786215 (v9) GeekBench: 3145 (v5.1) GFXBench: 44fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition

  • Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  • 80W Fast Charging
  • Sleek Design
  • High Refresh Rate Display (likely)

  • Camera not as strong as P50 Pro
  • Software support potentially limited
  • Battery life not as impressive

Huawei P50 Pro

  • Exceptional Camera System
  • Long Battery Life (76h endurance)
  • Premium Design
  • Wireless Charging (50W) & Reverse Wireless Charging

  • Less Powerful Chipset
  • Potential Software Limitations (Huawei ecosystem)
  • Slower Wired Charging (66W)

Display Comparison

Both phones feature excellent displays. The P50 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 754 nits and an infinite contrast ratio, suggesting vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Axon 40 Ultra likely has a similarly high-quality AMOLED display, though specific brightness figures are harder to find. The P50 Pro's display arguably has a slight edge in contrast.

Camera Comparison

The Huawei P50 Pro is renowned for its exceptional camera system, particularly its image processing capabilities. While the Axon 40 Ultra has a capable camera setup, the P50 Pro consistently delivers stunning photos and videos. The P50 Pro's computational photography is a major strength.

Performance

The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 offers a significant performance advantage over the P50 Pro's Kirin 9000/Snapdragon 888 4G combination. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Axon 40 Ultra. The Kirin chipset, while capable, is not as competitive in today's market.

Battery Life

The Huawei P50 Pro takes the lead in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 76 hours. The Axon 40 Ultra's battery capacity is likely smaller, and while its 80W charging is faster, it won't compensate for the P50 Pro's superior endurance.

Buying Guide

The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition is ideal for users who prioritize raw performance, gaming, and fast charging. The Huawei P50 Pro is a better choice for photography enthusiasts and those who value long battery life and a refined user experience, despite potential software limitations.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra have Google Play Services?
No, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra does not officially have Google Play Services. It uses ZTE's own app store, which has a limited selection of apps.
❓ Is the Huawei P50 Pro worth buying in 2024?
The Huawei P50 Pro remains a compelling option in 2024, especially for its camera and battery life. However, be aware of the limitations of the Huawei ecosystem and the lack of Google Play Services.