ZTE Axon 50 Ultra vs. nubia Z50 Ultra: The Ultimate Showdown

ZTE has been making waves in the smartphone market, and these two devices – the Axon 50 Ultra and the nubia Z50 Ultra – represent their flagship ambitions. Both offer premium features and impressive specs, but which one truly delivers the best experience? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The nubia Z50 Ultra edges out the Axon 50 Ultra thanks to its newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, offering superior performance and efficiency. While both have excellent cameras and fast charging, the Z50 Ultra's overall package makes it the slightly better choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE Axon 50 Ultra ZTE nubia Z50 Ultra
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 bandsLTELTE
5G bandsSA/NSASA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x CDMA2000 1x
Launch
Announced2023, April 122023, March 07
StatusCancelledAvailable. Released 2023, March 14
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frame-
Dimensions161.8 x 73.1 x 8.9 mm (6.37 x 2.88 x 0.35 in)163.9 x 76.3 x 8.3 mm (6.45 x 3.00 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight199 g (7.02 oz)228 g (8.04 oz)
Display
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 144HzAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x2.0 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)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 740
OSAndroid 12, MyOS 12Android 13, MyOS 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, Ring-LED, dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Single-16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display
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), PDAF64 MP, f/1.6, 35mm (standard), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/3.3, 85mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", PDAF, OIS, 3.3x optical zoom (vs. 26mm cam) 50 MP, f/2.X, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), PDAF
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.5, (wide)16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.3, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1+L2+L5), GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, 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, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 BDS Satellite Message (Emergency SOS service)-
Battery
Charging80W wired, PD3.0, QC480W wired, PD3.0, QC4
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlackBlack, Silver, Starry Sky
Models-NX712J
Price-About 540 EUR

ZTE Axon 50 Ultra

  • Excellent camera system
  • Powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
  • Fast 80W charging
  • Competitive price (potentially)

  • Older chipset compared to Z50 Ultra
  • Software support may be shorter

ZTE nubia Z50 Ultra

  • Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
  • Potentially brighter display
  • Improved performance and efficiency
  • Premium design and build quality

  • Higher price point
  • Software experience may vary

Display Comparison

Both phones feature vibrant AMOLED displays with high refresh rates (likely 120Hz). The nubia Z50 Ultra likely has a slightly brighter display and potentially a more advanced LTPO panel for improved power efficiency. Expect excellent color accuracy and viewing angles on both.

Camera Comparison

Both phones boast impressive camera systems, likely featuring high-resolution main sensors and versatile lens setups. The nubia Z50 Ultra may have a slight edge in image processing and low-light performance due to its newer chipset and potentially improved algorithms. Expect excellent photo and video quality from both devices.

Performance

The nubia Z50 Ultra's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 provides a noticeable performance boost over the Axon 50 Ultra's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Z50 Ultra. Both phones should handle demanding tasks with ease, but the Gen 2 is the clear winner.

Battery Life

Both phones offer 80W wired charging, promising rapid charging times. Battery capacity is likely similar (around 5000mAh), so expect comparable battery life under typical usage. The nubia Z50 Ultra's more efficient chipset could translate to slightly better overall battery endurance.

Buying Guide

The ZTE Axon 50 Ultra is a great choice for users seeking a high-performance phone with a stunning camera system at a potentially lower price point. The nubia Z50 Ultra is ideal for power users and those who demand the absolute best performance and cutting-edge features, even if it comes with a slightly higher price tag.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 significantly faster than the 8+ Gen 1?
Yes, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers a noticeable performance improvement, particularly in CPU and GPU performance, as well as improved power efficiency.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
It's difficult to say definitively, but ZTE's track record with software updates is not as strong as some other brands. The nubia Z50 Ultra might receive updates for a slightly longer period.