ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition vs Huawei P60 Pro: A Deep Dive Comparison

The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition and Huawei P60 Pro represent compelling alternatives in the flagship smartphone space, particularly for users seeking high-end features without the premium price tags of Samsung or Google. This comparison focuses on dissecting their core differences – from chipset performance and camera capabilities to battery life and charging speeds – to determine which device best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Huawei P60 Pro emerges as the stronger choice. While the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra offers a competitive Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, the P60 Pro’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 provides a noticeable performance uplift, coupled with faster 88W wired and 50W wireless charging, making it a more well-rounded flagship.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition Huawei P60 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
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, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China
Launch
Announced2022, November 292023, March 23
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, December 06Available. Released 2023, March 31
Body
BuildGlass front, ceramic back, aluminum frame-
Dimensions163.3 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.33 in)161 x 74.5 x 8.3 mm (6.34 x 2.93 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight204 g (7.20 oz)200 g (7.05 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Kunlun Glass
Resolution1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)1220 x 2700 pixels (~444 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~92.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.7 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 730
OSAndroid 12, MyOS 12HarmonyOS 3.1 (China), EMUI 13.1 (Europe), no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 18GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS
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 display-
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", PDAF48 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 25mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/2.1, 90mm (telephoto), PDAF, sensor-shift OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), AF
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS, HDR Vivid
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRPanorama, HDR
Single16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display13 MP, f/2.4, (ultrawide)
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, HDR Vivid
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 (B1I+B1c+B2a), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), 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
 -BDS Satellite Message
Battery
Charging80W wired, PD3.0, QC488W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 4815 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlackBlack, Green, Violet, Rococo Pearl
ModelsA2023PMNA-AL00, MNA-LX9
PriceAbout 800 EUR€ 738.50
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 96h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1030473 (v9) GeekBench: 4422 (v6) GFXBench: 65fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition

  • Competitive price point
  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 offers solid performance
  • 80W wired charging is reasonably fast

  • Older chipset compared to the P60 Pro
  • Limited charging options (no wireless)
  • Camera specs are unknown

Huawei P60 Pro

  • Faster Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor
  • 88W wired and 50W wireless charging
  • High peak display brightness

  • Limited to 4G connectivity
  • Potentially higher price
  • Camera details are limited

Display Comparison

The Huawei P60 Pro boasts a display capable of reaching 1135 nits of peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Axon 40 Ultra’s display specs aren’t provided, Huawei’s contrast ratio is listed as infinite (nominal), suggesting a high-quality OLED panel. The P60 Pro’s brightness advantage is significant, particularly for outdoor use. Without detailed specs on the Axon 40 Ultra’s panel, it’s difficult to assess color accuracy or refresh rate, but the P60 Pro’s brightness gives it a clear edge.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are marketed as photography powerhouses, but specifics are limited. Both are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities. Without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, the P60 Pro’s brand reputation for image processing and camera quality is strong. The absence of detailed camera specs on the Axon 40 Ultra makes it hard to assess its capabilities beyond marketing claims. We can assume both phones will offer a variety of shooting modes, but the P60 Pro likely benefits from Huawei’s established computational photography algorithms.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra utilizes the Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm), while the Huawei P60 Pro features the SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G (4nm). The ‘+’ generation chip in the P60 Pro offers a clock speed increase (3.19 GHz vs 3.00 GHz on the X2 core) and higher clock speeds on the A710 cores (2.75 GHz vs 2.50 GHz), translating to improved multi-core performance. Crucially, the 8+ Gen 1 is built on an optimized 4nm process, leading to better thermal efficiency and sustained performance. However, the P60 Pro is limited to 4G connectivity, a significant drawback for users requiring 5G speeds. The Axon 40 Ultra’s LPDDR5 RAM is standard, while the P60 Pro’s RAM configuration isn’t specified, but the chipset advantage generally outweighs RAM differences.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an impressive endurance rating of 96 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life. However, the P60 Pro offers a more versatile charging solution with 88W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging. The Axon 40 Ultra is limited to 80W wired charging. While the difference isn’t massive, the P60 Pro’s wireless charging capabilities and faster wired charging provide added convenience. The similar endurance ratings suggest that despite the different chipsets, both phones are well-optimized for power efficiency.

Buying Guide

Buy the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition if you prioritize value and are comfortable with a slightly older chipset. It’s an excellent option for users who enjoy mobile gaming but aren’t demanding the absolute highest frame rates. Buy the Huawei P60 Pro if you value a more refined overall experience, faster charging (both wired and wireless), and a potentially more efficient processor, even with the 4G limitation.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the 4G limitation on the Huawei P60 Pro significantly impact daily use?
For users in areas with strong 4G coverage, the impact may be minimal for tasks like browsing and social media. However, those who frequently stream high-resolution video, download large files, or rely on 5G for gaming will experience noticeably slower speeds. Consider your typical network environment before choosing the P60 Pro.
❓ How does the thermal management of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra compare to the 8+ Gen 1 in the P60 Pro during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the P60 Pro is more thermally efficient due to its optimized 4nm process. This means it’s less prone to overheating and throttling during prolonged gaming, resulting in more consistent frame rates and performance compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Axon 40 Ultra.
❓ Is the lack of detailed camera specifications for the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra a cause for concern?
Yes, it is. Without knowing sensor sizes, aperture values, or OIS capabilities, it’s difficult to assess the camera’s true potential. Huawei has a strong track record in mobile photography, and the P60 Pro likely benefits from their expertise. The Axon 40 Ultra’s camera performance remains largely unknown.