ZTE Axon 50 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: A Clash of Titans

The smartphone landscape is fiercely competitive, and two contenders stand out: the ZTE Axon 50 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Both offer premium features, but cater to different priorities. This comprehensive comparison will break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which device deserves your investment.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy S22 Ultra offers a more polished and feature-rich experience with its superior camera system, brighter display, and established ecosystem. However, the Axon 50 Ultra delivers exceptional performance thanks to its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset and significantly faster charging, all at a more competitive price.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE Axon 50 Ultra Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2023, April 122022, February 09
StatusCancelledAvailable. Released 2022, February 25
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame
Dimensions161.8 x 73.1 x 8.9 mm (6.37 x 2.88 x 0.35 in)163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight199 g (7.02 oz)228 g / 229 g (mmWave) (8.04 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus, 2.8ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~90.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 144HzDynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1750 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) - EuropeOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) - ROW
ChipsetQualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)Exynos 2200 (4 nm) - EuropeQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) - ROW
GPUAdreno 730Xclipse 920 - EuropeAdreno 730 - ROW
OSAndroid 12, MyOS 12Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad-108 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
Triple64 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, (telephoto), PDAF, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 116˚ (ultrawide), PDAF-
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.5, (wide)40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.82", 0.7µm, PDAF
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 BDS Satellite Message (Emergency SOS service)Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging80W wired, PD3.0, QC445W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlackPhantom Black, White, Burgundy, Green, Graphite, Red, Sky Blue, Bora Purple
Models-SM-S908B, SM-S908B/DS, SM-S908U, SM-S908U1, SM-S908W, SM-S908N, SM-S9080, SM-S908E, SM-S908E/DS
Price-€ 397.07 / $ 269.98 / £ 304.99 / ₹ 63,899
SAR-1.18 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.05 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life-Endurance rating 108h
Camera-Photo / Video
Display-Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker--27.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance-AnTuTu: 968359 (v9) GeekBench: 3657 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE Axon 50 Ultra

  • Exceptional Performance (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1)
  • Blazing-Fast 80W Charging
  • Competitive Price
  • Sleek Design

  • Camera Not as Good as S22 Ultra
  • Software Support Less Established
  • Display Not as Bright

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G

  • Superior Camera System
  • Brighter and More Accurate Display
  • Established Brand and Software Support
  • Versatile Feature Set (S Pen)

  • Slower Charging Speed
  • Higher Price
  • Performance Can Throttle Under Load

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra boasts a stunning Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a peak brightness of 1266 nits, offering exceptional visibility even in direct sunlight. Its infinite contrast ratio ensures deep blacks and vibrant colors. The Axon 50 Ultra's display is also excellent, but lacks the sheer brightness and color accuracy of the S22 Ultra. While the Axon 50 Ultra has a resolution of 2400 x 1080, the S22 Ultra has a resolution of 1440 x 3088, providing a sharper image.

Camera Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra reigns supreme in the camera department. Its versatile camera system, featuring a 108MP main sensor, offers exceptional image quality, impressive zoom capabilities, and excellent video recording. The Axon 50 Ultra's camera is capable, but doesn't match the S22 Ultra's overall performance, especially in low-light conditions. The S22 Ultra's software processing is also more refined.

Performance

Here, the Axon 50 Ultra takes a clear lead. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset is significantly more powerful than the Exynos 2200 (or even the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in some S22 Ultra models). This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance. The S22 Ultra's performance is still good, but it can occasionally exhibit throttling under sustained load.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive battery life, with the S22 Ultra boasting an endurance rating of 108 hours. The Axon 50 Ultra's battery life is also very good, though slightly less than the S22 Ultra. However, the Axon 50 Ultra's 80W wired charging is a game-changer, allowing it to charge from 0% to 100% in around 30 minutes, significantly faster than the S22 Ultra's 45W charging.

Buying Guide

The ZTE Axon 50 Ultra is ideal for users prioritizing raw performance, fast charging, and value for money. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is best suited for those who demand a top-tier camera, a vibrant display, and the reliability of a well-established brand with a robust software support.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the ZTE Axon 50 Ultra worth buying?
If you prioritize performance and fast charging and are looking for a great value, the Axon 50 Ultra is an excellent choice. However, if camera quality and brand reputation are paramount, the S22 Ultra is a better option.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra benefits from Samsung's long-term software support commitment, including multiple years of Android updates and security patches. ZTE's software support is less established.