ZTE Axon 40 Ultra vs. Red Magic 8 Pro: A Detailed Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Red Magic 8 Pro takes the crown thanks to its significantly improved Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, longer battery life, and optimized gaming features. While the Axon 40 Ultra offers a vibrant display and competitive charging, the Red Magic 8 Pro's overall performance and endurance make it the better choice for most users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE Axon 40 Ultra | ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 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, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA - Europe | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, May 09 | 2022, December 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, May 13 | Available. Released 2022, December 28 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.3 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.33 in) | 164 x 76.4 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 204 g (7.20 oz) | 228 g (8.04 oz) |
| - | Pressure sensitive zones (520Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan Aviation aluminum middle frame | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~92.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 1300 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, MyOS 13 | Android 13, Redmagic OS 6 |
| 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, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 4.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display |
| 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/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2 (China), 3.1 (International), OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort |
| 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/7, tri-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 | 80W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 35 min (advertised) - China 65W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 43 min (advertised) - International |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 6000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Gold, Silver | Black, Transparent |
| Models | A2023P, A2023PG | NX729J |
| Price | About 380 EUR | $ 659.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 104h | Endurance rating 131h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -25.8 LUFS (Very good) | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 1288866 (v9) GeekBench: 5211 (v5.1) GFXBench: 97fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
- Excellent main camera
- Vibrant display
- Fast 65W charging
- Sleek design
- Older Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset
- Shorter battery life
- Less optimized for gaming
ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
- Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
- Exceptional battery life
- Fast charging (advertised)
- Gaming-focused features (cooling, shoulder triggers)
- High refresh rate display
- Design may be less appealing to some
- Camera not as emphasized as Axon 40 Ultra
- International charging speeds may be slower
Display Comparison
Both phones feature excellent displays, but the Red Magic 8 Pro boasts a potentially superior contrast ratio (advertised as infinite, though likely nominal). The Axon 40 Ultra's 680 nits brightness is respectable, ensuring good visibility outdoors. The Red Magic 8 Pro's display likely offers a smoother gaming experience due to its higher refresh rate (typically 120Hz or higher on Red Magic devices).
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer capable camera systems, detailed camera comparisons require more in-depth testing. The Axon 40 Ultra is known for its impressive main camera sensor, potentially offering excellent image quality in good lighting conditions. The Red Magic 8 Pro's camera is generally good, but not its primary focus. Expect the Axon 40 Ultra to potentially have slightly better image processing.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Red Magic 8 Pro is a substantial upgrade over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Axon 40 Ultra. Expect significantly faster processing speeds, improved graphics performance, and better power efficiency on the Red Magic 8 Pro. The Red Magic's cooling system also provides a distinct advantage during extended gaming sessions.
Battery Life
The Red Magic 8 Pro's endurance rating of 131h significantly surpasses the Axon 40 Ultra's 104h. Coupled with its faster charging speeds (advertised 35-43 minutes for a full charge), the Red Magic 8 Pro offers a clear advantage in battery life and convenience.
Buying Guide
The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is ideal for users seeking a well-rounded flagship experience with a focus on photography and a sleek design. The ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro is the clear winner for gamers and power users who prioritize performance, cooling, and extended battery life.