ZTE Axon 40 Ultra vs vivo iQOO 9 Pro: A Clash of Flagships
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iQOO 9 Pro takes the crown thanks to its blazing-fast 120W charging, significantly brighter display, and generally more polished software experience. While the Axon 40 Ultra boasts impressive battery endurance, the iQOO 9 Pro's superior charging and display make it the more compelling choice for most users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE Axon 40 Ultra | vivo iQOO 9 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - Europe | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - Europe | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA - Europe | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International | CDMA2000 1x | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, May 09 | 2022, January 05 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, May 13 | Available. Released 2022, January 12 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Panda Glass), aluminum frame, glass back or aramid fiber back |
| Dimensions | 163.3 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.33 in) | 164.8 x 75.2 x 8.8 mm |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 204 g (7.20 oz) | 204 g or 210 g (7.20 oz) |
| - | Splash and dust resistant | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Panda Glass |
| Resolution | 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~518 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~92.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak) | LTPO2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 500 nits (typ), 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-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) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, MyOS 13 | Android 12, Funtouch 12 (International), OriginOS Ocean (China) |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 (V6) | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR | Dual-LED lash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm |
| 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 | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 60mm (telephoto), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2.5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.3, 15mm, 150˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video | 8K@30fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with dual speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 65W wired, PD3.0, QC4 | 120W wired, 50% in 8 min, 100% in 20 min 50W wireless 10W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | 4700 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Gold, Silver | Legend (White w/ BMW M branding), Dark Cruise, Orange |
| Models | A2023P, A2023PG | V2172A, I2022 |
| Price | About 380 EUR | About 630 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 104h | Endurance rating 97h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -25.8 LUFS (Very good) | -24.8 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 862324 (v8), 997948 (v9) GeekBench: 3708 (v5.1) GFXBench: 46fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
- Excellent battery endurance
- High-resolution main camera
- Understated design
- Competitive price (potentially)
- Lower display brightness
- Slower charging speed
- Software experience may be less polished
vivo iQOO 9 Pro
- Blazing-fast 120W charging
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Potentially better camera processing
- Feature-rich software
- Higher price
- Design may be less appealing to some
- Battery endurance slightly lower than Axon 40 Ultra
Display Comparison
The iQOO 9 Pro's display is a clear winner. It boasts a measured 1000 nits of peak brightness compared to the Axon 40 Ultra's 680 nits, making it significantly easier to view outdoors. The iQOO 9 Pro also touts an 'infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels and vibrant colors. While both use AMOLED panels, the iQOO 9 Pro's superior brightness and contrast provide a noticeably better viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is subjective and depends on individual preferences. Both phones feature capable camera systems, but the iQOO 9 Pro often receives praise for its image processing and video stabilization. The Axon 40 Ultra's camera setup is known for its high megapixel count, potentially offering more detail in well-lit conditions. A detailed camera comparison would require extensive testing, but initial impressions favor the iQOO 9 Pro's overall image quality.
Performance
Both phones are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, ensuring flagship-level performance. While the chipset itself is identical, software optimization and thermal management can differ. Anecdotally, the iQOO 9 Pro often demonstrates slightly better sustained performance due to vivo's cooling solutions. However, for everyday tasks and most games, both phones will feel incredibly fast.
Battery Life
The Axon 40 Ultra holds a slight edge in endurance rating (104h vs 97h), suggesting it might last a bit longer on a single charge under moderate usage. However, the iQOO 9 Pro's 120W charging completely negates this advantage. It can charge from 0% to 50% in just 8 minutes and 100% in 20 minutes, making it incredibly convenient for users who need a quick power boost.
Buying Guide
The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is a good choice for users prioritizing battery life and a more understated design. It's a solid performer at a potentially lower price point. The vivo iQOO 9 Pro is ideal for power users who demand the fastest charging speeds, a vibrant display, and a feature-rich software experience, even if it comes at a premium.