ZTE Axon 40 Ultra vs. Axon 30 Ultra 5G: A Head-to-Head Showdown

ZTE has been steadily carving out a niche in the smartphone market, and the Axon series is a key part of that strategy. We're pitting the newer Axon 40 Ultra against its predecessor, the Axon 30 Ultra 5G, to see which offers the best value and performance. This comparison will help you decide which ZTE phone deserves your attention.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Axon 40 Ultra edges out the Axon 30 Ultra 5G thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, slightly better battery endurance, and generally improved performance. While both offer excellent value, the 40 Ultra represents a noticeable upgrade, especially for those prioritizing speed and longevity.

PHONES
Phone Names	ZTE Axon 40 Ultra	ZTE Axon 30 Ultra 5G

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, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA - Europe	1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International	CDMA 800

Launch
Announced	2022, May 09	2021, April 15
Status	Available. Released 2022, May 13	Available. Released 2021, April 19

Body
Build	Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions	163.3 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.33 in)	161.5 x 73 x 8 mm (6.36 x 2.87 x 0.31 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	204 g (7.20 oz)	188 g (6.63 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size	6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~92.9% screen-to-body ratio)	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~91.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak)	AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)	Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPU	Adreno 730	Adreno 660
OS	Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, MyOS 13	Android 11, MyOS 11

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 1TB 18GB RAM
	UFS 3.1	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	Laser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR	Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad	-	64 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/1.9, 35mm (standard), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/3.4, 123mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 64 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm
Single	16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display	16 MP, (wide)
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	-
Video	8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video	8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display	16 MP, (wide)
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	24-bit/192kHz audio	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive	5.2, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG	USB Type-C 3.1, 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/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	65W wired, PD3.0, QC4	65W wired, PD3.0, QC4
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh	Li-Po 4600 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Gold, Silver	Black, White, Blue, Light Brown, Aerospace Edition
Models	A2023P, A2023PG	A2022P, A2022PG
Price	About 380 EUR	About 550 EUR

Tests
Battery life	Endurance rating 104h	Endurance rating 91h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-25.8 LUFS (Very good)	-24.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 703270 (v8) GeekBench: 3582 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE Axon 40 Ultra

Superior Performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1)
Longer Battery Life (104h Endurance)
Potentially Improved Camera Processing
Modern Design

May be slightly more expensive than Axon 30 Ultra
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 can experience thermal throttling under sustained load

ZTE Axon 30 Ultra 5G

Excellent Value for Money
Vibrant AMOLED Display
Fast 65W Charging
Good Camera System

Slightly Older Processor (Snapdragon 888)
Shorter Battery Life (91h Endurance)
Potentially Less Refined Camera Processing

Display Comparison

Both phones boast vibrant AMOLED displays, but the Axon 40 Ultra measures a slightly brighter 680 nits compared to the Axon 30 Ultra's 698 nits. While the Axon 30 Ultra advertises an 'infinite' contrast ratio (a nominal marketing term), both displays offer excellent color accuracy and viewing angles. The Axon 40 Ultra may have a slightly more modern display panel.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature impressive camera systems, but the Axon 40 Ultra likely has refinements in image processing. While detailed camera comparisons require extensive testing, the Axon 40 Ultra's newer chipset and potentially updated software should result in slightly better image quality, especially in low-light conditions. Both offer versatile camera setups with multiple lenses.

Performance

The Axon 40 Ultra's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm) provides a significant performance boost over the Axon 30 Ultra's Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm). The 8 Gen 1 offers improved CPU and GPU performance, resulting in smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming experiences. The Axon 40 Ultra's newer architecture also contributes to improved power efficiency.

Battery Life

The Axon 40 Ultra demonstrates superior battery life, achieving an endurance rating of 104 hours compared to the Axon 30 Ultra 5G's 91 hours. This difference translates to noticeably longer usage times between charges, making the Axon 40 Ultra a more reliable choice for heavy users.

Buying Guide

The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is ideal for users who demand flagship-level performance without the flagship price tag, particularly gamers and those who frequently multitask. The Axon 30 Ultra 5G remains a solid choice for budget-conscious buyers who still want a premium experience with a great camera and fast charging, offering excellent value for its price point.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra worth the upgrade from the Axon 30 Ultra 5G?

If performance and battery life are your priorities, then yes. The Axon 40 Ultra offers a noticeable upgrade. However, if you're on a tighter budget and satisfied with the Axon 30 Ultra's performance, the upgrade might not be essential.

❓ What is the difference in camera quality between the two phones?

While both have excellent cameras, the Axon 40 Ultra likely benefits from improved image processing due to its newer chipset. Expect slightly better low-light performance and potentially more refined image quality overall.